Breathing Easy: The Asthma Checklist

[Guest guest]

Good Morning!

 

Breathing Easy: The Asthma Checklist

 

Asthma is divided into two categories. Intrinsic asthma is when there

seems to be no identifiable cause and often starts later in life.

This tends to be chronic and long lasting. Extrinsic asthma, which

has a cause due to something that is usually inhaled, often

triggering an episodic attack. Exercise induced asthma falls under

this category and is usually brought on by strong exertion. Asthma is

a disorder, which affects the lungs. It causes repeated episodes of

wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early

morning coughing. Asthma can be controlled by taking medicine and

avoiding the triggers that can cause an attack. You must also remove

the triggers in your environment that can make your asthma worse.

 

Asthma attacks occur when, the muscle around the bronchi go into

spasm. The bronchi narrow and breathing becomes difficult.

Inflammation can also swell the lining of the air tubes. Mucous may

increase blockage to the air tubes as well. Symptoms include

wheezing, breathlessness, tightness in the chest and coughing.

 

The reason that bronchospasms can be triggered by allergies is that

histamine, the chemical most responsible for allergy symptoms, seems

to play a role in asthma attacks as well. But many other things

besides histamine can trigger an attack: strenuous exercise,

cigarette smoke, respiratory infections, industrial chemicals,

aspirin, pet dander, indoor pollution and the sulfites added to many

foods.

 

 

The Asthma Check List

 

1. First and foremost, remember: there is always something you can do

about your health! Learn to incorporate lifestyle change and

implement changes that work for you! You can control your asthma by

knowing the warning signs of an attack and avoid triggers that cause

an attack.

 

2. Chronic stress has been linked to a worsening of asthma and

allergies. Severe anxiety can trigger attacks, and stress generally

aggravates asthma symptoms. Get chronic stress under control.

 

3. If you have asthma you should avoid cigarette smoke, if you smoke,

quit.

 

4. You should do mild exercise...swimming, light aerobics or weight

training. Avoid strenuous physical exercise.

 

5. Eat a healthy diet. Try to determine which foods in your diet

trigger attacks and avoid them.

 

6. Those who are sensitive to mold and outdoor air pollution should

consider limiting outdoor activities when levels are high. In hot,

humid climates, this may require the use of air conditioning and/or

dehumidifiers. In large cities where air pollution problems are

prevalent, the number of emergency room visits for asthma attacks

increase when the air quality is very poor.

 

7. Those who are sensitive to pet allergens should not keep pets

indoors, ever.

 

8. Carpets keep allergens embedded within it. Remove carpets

especially from the bedroom. Frequent vacuuming will reduce the

presence of allergens. If the room has a hard surface floor, it

should be damp mopped weekly.

 

9. Keep household humidity levels at less than 50 percent. This

controls dust mites and fungus growth. Mattress covers and pillow

case covers provide a barrier between house dust mites and the person

with asthma. Down-filled pillows, quilts, or comforters should not be

used and stuffed animals and clutter should be removed from bedrooms.

 

10. Doing relaxation techniques such as yoga and meditation benefit

lung function by affecting emotional processes, muscles, and

breathing.

 

 

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.

Peacefulmind.com

Therapies for healing

mind, body, spirit

[Guest guest]

So what can I do to encourage my husband to STOP smoking? He is an

asthmatic and yet he persists in smoking. I have tried countless times to

get him off them but have failed miserably every time. This past time he

lasted about 7 weeks after having been badly injured in a car accident he

had been told to stop smoking and I had to watch him like a hawk to make

sure he did, but alas as soon as I had to go away for a few days to do a

course he was right back smoking again.

He " says " he wants to stop smoking but I know in my gut that that is not

going to happen as he has no willpower at all to go through with it and he

will lie and deceive me quite openly whenever he has supposedly " stopped " .

I am soooo angry and frustrated I am almost at the point of walking out on

him.

 

Lyndall

 

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yogiguruji

15/09/2007 12:26:08 AM

 

Breathing Easy: The Asthma Checklist

 

Good Morning!

 

Breathing Easy: The Asthma Checklist

 

 

3. If you have asthma you should avoid cigarette smoke, if you smoke,

quit.

 

 

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.

Peacefulmind.com

Therapies for healing

mind, body, spirit