Do You Have Asthma?

[AJE]

Do You Have Asthma?


By: Charles Kassotis,
Dec 8th, 2005

The number of newly diagnosed asthma cases in the United States has risen dramatically over the past ten to fifteen years. Part of the reason may be due to the availability of better medical care and early diagnostic methods used by many doctors today. More people may be willing to visit their doctors for breathing-related difficulties than in previous generations. But it is also likely that more people are afflicted with asthma than ever before due to a number of environmental factors like pollution, pesticides, and even building insulation.

With increased industrialization, more factories are burning more fuel and releasing greater amounts of waste products into the air. Since a significant percentage of the population now lives in urban areas, they are undoubtedly feeling the effects of chronic exposure to airborne toxins. Conversely, even in rural areas improved technology is impacting the way that farmers grow crops and control pests. Pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers may help to ensure better crops, but runoff from fields where these substances are used can get into the water system or food products and lead to the development as asthmatic-type symptoms.

Although many people do not know if they have asthma, there are some symptoms to look for that may indicate the presence or development of this chronic condition. The most obvious clue, and one that should be checked promptly by a doctor, is shortness of breath. This may come and go or show up only when a person is exposed to certain triggers, often allergens like dust, pet dander, or household chemicals. Some foods can bring on an asthma attack, especially nuts, eggs, and shellfish, although others are likewise culprits. See your doctor promptly if you develop a breathing disorder, and if you experience difficulty catching your breath, seek emergency assistance.

[AJE]

Healthy lungs are essential to feeling good. The lungs are the organs we use to breathe. They work by taking oxygen from the air we breathe in and then exchanging it for carbon dioxide, a deadly waste product made by the cells within our body. Once this exchange has taken place, we get rid of the CO2 by exhaling.

Asthma is a disease that affects the lungs and the airways that deliver air to the lungs. It causes periodic attacks of wheezing and difficult breathing. An asthma attack occurs when the airways become inflamed in response to a trigger, such as dust, mold, pets, exercise, or cold weather. During an asthma attack, the walls of the airways become inflamed, and the mucous membrane covering the walls becomes swollen with fluid. Sticky mucus fills the remaining space, making it difficult to breathe. Because air cannot flow in and out of the lungs freely, a whistling or wheezing sound may be heard. During severe attacks, wheezing may stop because there is too little air moving to make any noise.

Asthma attacks are categorized as mild, moderate, or severe, and can last anywhere from a few minutes, to a few hours, or unfortunately several days. They can occur anywhere and at any time. Many occur at night. Sometimes, there are warning signs that an attack is evident, but sometimes they aren't.

Symptoms of Asthma

The symptoms of asthma can vary among people. Usually there is scratchy throat, or tightness in the chest, followed by a cough, wheezing, or shortness of breath.

It's time to get help if...
*Your symptoms do not get better with medicine
*Your breathing continues to get worse after treatment
*Your fingernails or lips turn grayish or blue
*It is difficult to walk or talk, or you have extreme difficulty breathing
*It feels like your neck, chest, or ribs are pulled in with each breath you take
*Your nostrils flare when you breathe

Triggers of Asthma

Although the specific things that trigger an asthma attack can vary from person to person, some common triggers are well known. These include the following:

Allergens (substances that people are allergic to)
Common allergens include pollen, mold, animal hair or fur, household dust/dust mites, cockroaches, and certain foods.

Infections
Both bacterial and viral infections can irritate the airways, triggering asthma attacks.

Sinusitis (inflammation of the nose and nasal airways)
During a sinus infection, mucus draining into the nose, throat, and lungs can cause asthma symptoms.

Irritants
Examples of irritants to the airways include strong odors and sprays (perfumes, household cleaners, paints, and varnishes); certain chemicals like coal, chalk dust, and talcum powder; air pollutants; tobacco smoke; changing weather conditions (for example, cold weather).

Smoke
Inhaling smoke from cigarettes or fires harms the airways and is especially hard on the airways of people with asthma. In fact, cigarette smoking is responsible for more than half of the cases of asthma in people over 40 years of age.

Exercise
Although exercise is good for people with asthma, it can trigger an asthma attack. People with asthma need to work with their doctors to prevent asthma attacks due to exercise (certain drugs can help prevent asthma symptoms from occurring after exercise).

Exposure to irritants on the job
Many cases of asthma are worsened or even caused by exposure to vapors, dust, gases, or fumes in the workplace. This type of asthma usually improves when the person takes a few days off from work, such as on weekends and vacations.

Sensitivity to medications and sulfites
About 5% to 20% of adults with asthma have attacks triggered by sensitivities or allergies to sulfites and to medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, indomethacin, and naproxen. People with asthma should consult their physicians before taking any new medication, including those available without a prescription. Sulfites are often used to preserve foods and beverages, including tuna, foods available at salad bars, dried apples and raisins, lemon juice, grape juice, and wine.

Emotional anxiety
Strong emotions and nervous stress can trigger asthma in some people. This may be due, in part, to the ability of emotions and stress to weaken the body's defenses.

[AJE]

Allergies and Asthma

Allergy is the leading cause of asthma, and about 90% of children under the age of 10 with asthma have allergies. About 70% of people under 30 with asthma and 50% of those over 30 with asthma also have allergies. Allergy is likely to be a contributing factor to asthma if:

*You have close relatives with allergy (that is, a mother, father, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, or child)

*Asthma begins at a young age

*Symptoms occur or worsen with different seasons (usually fall or spring)

*You have allergic symptoms like runny nose, hay fever, or a skin condition called eczema

*Tests show that your blood or saliva contains a higher than normal level of eosinophils, special cells that fight infection.

Fast Facts about Asthma
*If you have asthma, you're not alone ...I too suffer this dreaded disease as well as some 12 million other Americans.

*Although many people think asthma is "no big deal," about 5,000 Americans die of asthma each year. (We all know super model Nikki Taylor right, well her younger sister Krissy was also a aspiring model until one tragic day she collasped in her home and died as a result of an Asthma attack.) :cry:

*African-Americans are nearly three times as likely as whites to die of asthma

*Each year, asthma costs more than $4.6 billion in medical care services and time lost from school or work. My mother likes to joke that our family paid for an entire wing of the former Two Rivers Community Hospital by having ER visits and Inpatient stays over the course of 15 years thanks to my sister & I.

*Asthma is the number one reason why children miss school and the leading reason why children are admitted to the hospital. I can personal second this fact!

*More kids than adults have asthma. This is because some children usually "outgrow" their asthma attacks when they grow up.

*Percentage of people with asthma by age:
All ages 4.8%
0-18 years old 6.1%
18-44 years old 4.1%
45-64 years old 4.2%
65 years or older 5.2%

[AJE]

The following are some Frequently Asked Questions

Will I have to limit my activities because of asthma?
Most people with asthma can live a full and active life when they are treated and are careful to avoid things they know can trigger their asthma. A suggestion given from my pediatrician doctor to naturally expand my lung capacity, I choose to be active during my teen years as I played the clarinet in school. But, your doctor can help you decide what your options maybe for controlling the disease.

How can I tell if my asthma is getting worse?
There are several signs that may mean the asthma is worsening. These include:
*Symptoms at night
*A drop in the readings on a peak flow meter of 20% or more (the doctor will provide them for your family as needed.)
*The need to use a hand held inhaler more often.
If you feel that your asthma is getting worse, it is important to talk to your doctor right away. Your therapy medication may need to be changed (for example you may need to change the amount of medicine, the type of medicine, or the way you take your medicine). Believe me I have gone through it too!

How can I tell if my treatment is working well?
The goals of treatment for asthma include:
*No symptoms or minor symptoms
*Sleeping through the night without waking because of symptoms
*No lost time from school or work because of asthma
*Full participation in physical activities
*No emergency room visits or stays in the hospital
*Few or no side effects from asthma medication

Use this above list to check how well your treatment is meeting these goals. All of these goals can be met with currently available medical treatments for asthma.

Are there steps I can take to help avoid symptoms of asthma?
Yes. Often, an asthma attack can be stopped in the early stages by taking medicine. First, it is important to learn what triggers your personal attacks. That way you can make an effort to avoid or control them. You can also identify what happens right before an asthma attack, so that you can mitigate a rapid respond quickly if these warning symptoms occur. You should work with your doctor to develop two treatment plans: one for day-to-day control of asthma symptoms and one that helps you and your loved ones cope with emergencies due to asthma.

Will I always have asthma?
Some people outgrow asthma as they get older and no longer have attacks. Other people like me continue with the condition throughout my life therefore I need to be able to avoid the things which trigger my asthma attack. So for many people, asthma is a chronic disease that always requires care and treatment to prevent or minimize breathing problems.

[AJE]

Area 7 Year Old is Key to Asthma Research

Posted February 8, 2007

It appears to be nothing more than a cold.

But a virus called "RSV", which every child gets before the age of 2, can be dangerous to preemies or kids with breathing problems.

Those hospitalized with RSV are much more likely to suffer from asthma - a growing problem in Madison.

We take a closer look at a young girl who researchers say may be the key to better preventing and treating asthma.

7-year-old Hannah Olson is used to this sound - her nebulizer.

She's had it, along with other medications, since she was just 2-months old, for serious asthma.

Hannah's mom Jill Olson says, "She had severe coughing, wheezing, very difficult time breathing, belly breathing... just pretty scary"

Hannah says, "I know that I mostly have to take the inhaler lots of times"

Before Hannah turned one, they ended up in the ER several times...



:arrow:
http://www.nbc15.com/home/headlines/5703416.html

If you'd like to learn more, call UW Health Asthma Research at
608-262-5643.

[Lauri]

ASTHMA CAN BE DEVASTATING NOT JUST TO THE PERSON WHO SUFFERS FROM IT, BUT TO THE ENTIRE FAMILY! My twin daughters inherited the disease from their father...(boy, was I niave....I hoped my "healthy genes" would be dominant--they weren't!!) :roll: Well I could hope, right!

8O SLEEP DEPRIVATION RULED. For the first SEVEN YEARS a full night's sleep was a once in a year occurence. NO KIDDING!!! Between "croup" (which was finally not an issue only 12 years later) and asthma we were up nightly rocking or comforting our sick little girls.

"COLDS" WERE TRIGGERS FOR SEVERE ASTHMA ATTACKS. When a bug struck, we knew it was only a matter of time before we'd be making another trip to see the pedetrician. In the meantime, we provided at home inhalation therapy using a nebulizer and special prescribed drugs to help the girls manage their asthma. At night, the neighbors frequently heard squeeky wagon wheels turning in the middle of the night as we took a walk around the block in the cool night air to help provide relief.

EVERYONE KNEW US AT THE CLINIC...even the after hours, on call telephone lady knew us! If I received even minimum pay for the number of hours spent at the clinic, I'd have a nice little nest egg set aside.

MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT EMERGENCY ROOM TRIPS WERE GRUELING and not taken lightly because the time clock still had to be punched a few hours later. We had to travel 25 miles through deer country before we reached help and at a time when drunks typically ruled the highways. When the roads were slick, or the fog was so thick it could be cut with a knife, the trip was extremely dangerous. Once there, we knew it would be hours before we knew if the latest inhalation treatment would work well enough to allow us to return home, or if there would be yet another admission.

SOMETIMES THE ATTENDING ER PHYSCIAN SENT US HOME EARLY ONLY TO FIND THE CHILD ADMITTED ANYWAY THE NEXT MORNING. As parents we knew the pattern. We knew the early signs of distress and we could accurately gauge how soon the croup-asthma combination would become a grave life and death struggle. Take the child in too early and the ER doctor might prescribe a "steamy shower" home therapy which NEVER WORKED! Even if insurance wouldn't help cover it, one night we insisted upon the sick child being admitted because we knew the progression! This ER MD was so arrogant...he figured our ten year old would be sent home early the next day so he didn't bother to document her meds record. Three days later coming out of the bathroom, she had a grand mal seisure, pulling the IV pole on top of her when she hit the floor. The entire hospital-clinic staff (including the custodial crew!) seemed to go out of their way to apologize for THEIR screw up.

EVERYONE KNEW US ON THE PEDS WARD AT THE HOSPITAL. The girls were EACH hospitalized over 15 times for week + long admissions. When combined with viral and bacterial infections ASTHMA CAN BE DEADLY. It is heart wrenching to watch your child struggle to breath. More than once the girls faced the very real threat of having an emergency trachetomy to open up the airways if they didn't respond to the meds being given intravenously.

INSURANCE COMPANIES WAS PROBLEMATIC. Summer and Fall were the seasons that affected the girls the worst. Their grass and weed allergies had a great deal to do with their susceptibility at that time of the year. When they were twelve, our MDs told us we had to have air conditioning installed to help curtail the girl's asthma so they wrote letters to our health insurance company explaining the medical need. While the insurance company acknowledged the validity of the request for three members of our household, they denied the reimbursement saying that the other two members in the family who did not have asthma would also benefit. Go Figure! AIR CONDITIONING HELPED TO MINIMIZE FUTURE PROBLEMS AND SAVED THEM A BUNDLE! :x

OUR NEIGHBORS WERE A GOD SENT! We had no family close enough to help manage the care of the other twin and their little brother when one was admitted. Bless everyone who not only understands but actually lends a helping hand in times of need! Our friends and neighbors enabled us to spend 23 hours a day with the hospitalized child.

YES, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO NUTURE ASTHMATICS. Today the drug, Advair, has been a godsend to severe asthmatics.

[Foragist]

The best way to deal with asthma is to treat it before it gets worse.
There doesn't seem to be a cure, but there is relief. Bronchodilators, nebulizers, prednisone, etc.
The leaves of the mullein plant have bronchial relief built in. One way to use this is to take a big handful of mullein leaves, cover them with milk, and barely simmer for 20 to 30 minutes. Careful not to scald the milk! Then strain into a mug, and sweeten with honey. This light green sweetness will definitely calm your cough, relax your muscles, and help you get to sleep.
A quicker and more direct way to calm and clear the lungs, is to smoke it! Yep, dry it and smoke it. Just 2 or 3 hits of mullein smoke will make it all better...for a couple hours or so. The 1st puff will be harsh; try not to cough too hard. Then try to hold in a 2nd and 3rd puff. Then stop. Don't overdo it! Too much will be a bad thing! So don't plan on making a habit of it either. It would soon stop working and start damaging you instead.
And please don't think this will get you high. That's just stupid. It is just a good way to get you out of an emergency; that's all.
Hard to believe, I know. But it works.

[AJE]

The Asthma Capitals are considered to be the most challenging places to live with asthma; the top 10 cities for this year are:

1. Knoxville, TN
2. Tulsa, OK
3. Milwaukee, WI
4. Atlanta, GA
5. Memphis, TN
6. Allentown, PA
7. Charlotte, NC
8. Greenville, SC
9. St. Louis, MO
10. Greensboro, NC


The Foundation reviews 12 factors grouped into three categories: (1) Prevalence factors such as the crude death rate (CDR) for asthma and estimated prevalence of adult and pediatric asthma; (2) Risk factors such as air pollution, pollen counts and public smoking bans; and (3) Medical factors such as the number of asthma medications used per patient and the number of asthma specialists in the area.




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