Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Treatment Options For Children And Adults Diagnosed With Asthma


by James Ellison

The relative frequency of childhood asthma and other types of asthma appears to just keep rising. According to the statistics kept by the National Institutes of Health, the widespread of asthma across all age groups and races almost doubled between 1981 and 1996.

For youngsters, ages 4-14, there was an gain of over 75%, and for youngsters between the ages of 1 and 4, the gain in the widespread of asthma was a stunning 160%. The rise in the frequency of asthma is so distressing that it is one of the conditions specifically noted in the U.S. governments Healthy People 2010 initiative. In fact, asthma care is noted in eight different objectives in that specific initiative.

The rise in the cases of asthma has also signified a rise in the research committed to asthma cures and treatments. While a lot of the research is into conventional treatments, conventional medicine is increasingly moving around to nutrition and other unconventional types of medicine for inspiration, and in some events, treatment choices for children and adults diagnosed with asthma.

These treatment alternatives range from intensive learning for both patients and families to dietary plan of action that may lower the severity and frequency of asthma attacks to health supplements that may supply lacking nutrients to patients with asthma. In some cases, they may expand to biofeedback monitoring and also color therapy.

Why are such things being considered serious enough to be worth the time and drive of scientists? Plainly put, over the past couple decades, modern science has discovered that many of the traditional treatments and therapies have a place.

Doctors have slowly come to hold as true that diet and nutrition are key components in healthy bodies and minds, and to think that patients who take a proactive position in their own treatment are far more probable to follow medical advice and recuperate. When it amounts to treating asthma, this has meant that more and more physicians are stressing environmental factors and diet as a method to reduce the frequency and severity of acute asthma attacks and help maintain chronic asthma.

Furthermore, there are some doctors that give extra weight to alternative treatments in addition to, or instead of more conventional medication and breathing care. These alternative treatments, especially when united with conventional treatment, provide asthma patients the chance to live normal lives free from fear of triggering acute, and in certain cases, deadly attacks.

They may affect dietary changes either to stay away from foods that may trigger asthma attacks, or to include those that help loosen and tone muscles. They may have using a biofeedback machine to teach an asthmatic child how to concentrate on and relax his own muscles and soothe panic breathing. Even health insurance companies, the center of conventional thinking, are loosening their regulations to permit payment for treatments like acupuncture, nutritional counseling and holistic treatment.

The one warning against certain acts that most medical professionals offer is one that makes sense. Alternative medical treatments can be useful in addressing the symptoms and basic causes of asthma, but they should not substitute conventional medicine. If your physician has ordered medication, proceed to take it as prescribed and make sure to consult your physician if you are using any alternative treatments. Some can come between the effectiveness of your regular treatment plan and others step up its effectiveness. Either way, it's important that your doctor be able to track your condition and make adjustments where required.

Jim's articles are from extensive research on each of his topics. You can learn more of asthma treatments by visiting: Asthma Treatment



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Monday, June 19, 2006

Asthma Prevention Tips

Some reported, well-known and not so well-known triggers for asthma or bronchospasm include:

Allergens (particles that cause allergies) such as dust mites, cockroaches, pollen, molds and animal dander (which are tiny scales or particles that fall off hair, feathers or skin) from any pets

Aspirin
Peanuts
Particulates (air-born pollution)
Cold air or hot stuffy environments, or sudden changes in temperature Tobacco smoke and wood smoke
Perfume, paint, hair spray, or any strong odors or fumes
Common cold, influenza, and other respiratory illnesses

Food chemicals that may trigger asthma include: Sulphites (sulphur dioxide and sodium metabisulphite)

Food colours (tartrazine) Monosodium glutamate (MSG) Alcoholic drinks (Sulfite additives have been associated with triggering asthmatic responses. They are present in significant levels in most wines, but other ingredients in wine can also trigger an asthmatic response.)

Obesity
The dramatic increase in the number of asthmatics may be linked to an increase in levels of obesity, scientists have said. Researchers have found that the fatter the adult, the greater the likelihood of asthma.

Your Occupation
Plastics

Exercise (Exercise, especially in cold air, is a frequent asthma trigger)

Overeating, or laughing excessively
Triggers That Are Still Controversial and Under Discussion.

Organophosphates – the widespread use of organophosphate insecticides to address pest infestations in lower socio-economic areas, may contribute to the very disproportionate high rates of asthma in disadvantaged black and minority communities in the US.

Toluene
72% of asthma patients in a study showed adverse reactions to perfumes; i.e., pulmonary function tests dropping anywhere between 18% and 58% below baseline (from "Affects of Odors in Asthma,"

Chang Shim, MD and M. Henry Williams, MD, American Journal of Medicine, January, 1986 Vol. 80)

Toluene-laced fragrance industry chemical products have become increasingly pervasive in the last ten years - used not only in perfumes, but also in furniture wax, tires, plastic garbage bags, inks, hair gel, hairspray, and kitty litter. A Danish toxicological journal, "Ugeskr Laegar", Vol. 153, ISS 13, 1991, p. 939-40, found perfume in kitty litter to be a cause of asthma in humans.

The only safe assumption about scented products is that they contain numerous toxic chemicals which constantly vaporize into the air and attach themselves to the hair, clothing, carpets and and surroundings of anyone who wears them. These chemicals go directly into the bloodstream when applied to our skin and are also absorbed into the skin from our clothing. We also inhale the chemical fumes, which then go straight to our brains where they can do major harm. These chemicals are skin irritants, suffocants, eye and respiratory tract irritants, and neurotoxins.

Household cleaning products and synthetic fragrances - One theory for the rise in asthma cases says that it isn't being caused by more pollutants - it's caused by the world being too clean. According to this theory, children raised without enough exposure to dirt, dust, and disease may not build up a resistance to some allergens -- causing problems later in life. My personal belief is that it is the fragrance and other toxic ingredients in our household cleaning products, air fresheners, dishwasher powder etc that is contributing to the rise.

Asthma Treatment

posted by Asthma Treatment at 5:31 PM 0 comments