Typically, asthma attacks are the result of acute spasms in the muscles surrounding your bronchi, which constricts or narrows your airways. Inflammation to the inside walls of your bronchi increases which narrows your airways even further. To top it all off, cells in your bronchi can generate additional mucus, which adds to the narrowing. The result is that you may feel as though you are “starving for air.”

Asthma Symptoms

Symptoms you’d normally experience during an asthma episode can include chest tightness, coughing, wheezing and difficulty breathing. Asthma attacks can last minutes or hours. They certainly are not all the same, some are much more severe than others. In extreme cases, vital organs will not receive enough oxygen, leading to death.

There are two forms of asthma, allergic and nonallergic. They often occur together. Because asthma symptoms may resemble those of other diseases it is difficult to distinguish it from other conditions making asthma difficult to diagnose conclusively. For example, bronchitis, lower respiratory infections and emphysema share many of the same symptoms as asthma.

Allergic Asthma

Allergic asthma can be triggered by your exposure to something your body is allergic to. Some of the more common asthma provoking allergens, also called asthma triggers, include environmental pollutants, animal dander, food additives such as sulfites, mold, chemicals, drugs, dust mites, cockroaches, exhaust fumes, feathers, and tobacco smoke.

Non-Allergic Asthma

Nonallergic asthma can be triggered by temperature changes, laughing, cold air, extreme dryness or humidity, low blood sugar, anxiety, exercise, Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), adrenal disorders and stress. Cardiac asthma is a non-allergic type of asthma caused by heart failure.

Intrinsic Asthma

Intrinsic asthma, a nonallergic asthma, tends to appear during upper respiratory viral infections, is many times associated with bronchitis or sinusitis, and usually appears during adulthood. Intrinsic asthma sufferers seem particularly vulnerable to emotional stress, exercise, changes in the weather and other factors which are related to inner feelings.

The cause of Asthma is a mystery. No one knows what causes it, although a hereditary link to Asthma was discovered in late 1999.

Adults over the age of 65 and children under the age of 16, especially those living in urban areas are most likely to suffer from asthma. It is the number one cause of school absenteeism and the number one cause of hospitalization for children.

Asthma Medications and Treatments

There are several established asthma medications and treatments, as well as several new and promising treatment options on the horizon. In general, there are three groups of allergy medications:

• quick relief asthma medications
• long term (controller) asthma medications
• allergy induced asthma medications

Within the three general groups above your doctor will recommend your asthma treatment based on your individual needs. For example, pills, inhalants and injections are available, each with their respective positive and negative effects. In fact, inhaled and systemic bronchodilators and corticosteroids are routinely prescribed, depending on the circumstances.

The bad news is that there is no cure for asthma. The good news is that asthma is very treatable and manageable.

Asthma – What is it? was originally posted on: Asthma Treatment and Management Information - Azmacare.com

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1. Quick-Relief Asthma Medications
2. Asthma Triggers – Do you know what yours are?
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Compound Herbal Elixir 2 oz. by the Eclectic Institute

I first heard about this herbal compound from an article I read entitled “Notes on the Herbal Treatment of Asthma.” I was researching white pine bark for an update to my “OPC Antioxidant” article and came across it by accident.

Compound Herbal Elixir, in particular, intrigued me because of it’s unique mix of ingredients, especially the Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra), white pine bark (Pinus strobus) and the wild cherry bark (Prunus spp.).

Here is the full list of ingredients found in Eclectic Institute Compound Herbal Elixir:

• Dried Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
• Dried organically grown Elecampane root (Inula helenium)
• Fresh organically grown Red Clover blossoms (Trifolium pratense)
• Dried wildcrafted Wild Cherry bark (Prunus spp.)
• Dried organically grown Horehound flower & leaf (Marrubium vulgare)
• Fresh organically grown Gumweed flower & leaf (Grindelia robusta)
• Dried wildcrafted Lobelia leaf & seed (Lobelia inflata)
• Dried Fennel seed (Foeniculum vulgare)
• Fresh Freeze-Dried Lomatium root (Lomatium dissectum)
• Dried wildcrafted White Pine bark (Pinus strobus)
• Fresh wildcrafted Poplar bud (Populus spp.)
• Bitter orange essential oil
• A base of kosher vegetable glycerin & water
• Organic Grape Alcohol Content of 15%

According to the “Eclectic Institute,” the ingredients found in their “Compound Herbal Elixir” were carefully chosen for their ability to work together simultaneously in treating your asthma symptoms, purifying your bloodstream and stimulating your immune system.

Once my wife and I have about six months of usage under our belts, I’ll write an update to this article and let you know how well this product has performed for us.

In the mean time, if you’d like to purchase the Eclectic Institute’s Compound Herbal Elixir, you can find it here:

Where to Buy the Eclectic Institute’s Compound Herbal Elixir:

Eclectic Institute Compound Herbal Elixir was originally posted on: Asthma Treatment and Management Information - Azmacare.com

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Assorted Fruits and Vegetables can Help in Your Fight Against Asthma

Study after study over the last 25 years has proven over and over again that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is beneficial to lung health.

An Australian study performed in 2003, involving approximately 1600 people aged 20 to 44 found that those who consumed the largest quantity of apples and pears enjoyed the lowest rates of asthma (AJCN 2003; 78:414).

In a study at the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom, scientists looking at the diets of more than 2,500 people found that eating five or more apples or three or more tomatoes a week increased lung function. Eating apples and tomatoes also reduce the risk of wheezing.

“The likelihood is that any effect is due to the concerted action of all the nutrients in apples and tomatoes, especially the antioxidants that are particularly rich in the peel of apples and contribute to the coloring of tomatoes,” says researcher Sarah Lewis, Ph.D. “Antioxidants may work by protecting the airways against the insult of tobacco smoke and other atmospheric pollutants,” she adds.

Dr. Carol Trenga, Ph.D., a research scientist at the University of Washington in Seattle, recommends that everyone eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. She also notes, “It is reasonable to suggest modest supplementation with for example, vitamin C (250 — 500 mg twice/day) and vitamin E (up to 400 IU per day), in at risk populations as a complementary therapy after considering the specific needs of the individual… these levels are very safe and have other health benefits (such as vitamin E and heart disease) in addition to potentially improving lung health.”

“There is extensive evidence from studies over the last 10 to 15 years that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is beneficial to lung health,” observes Dr. Trenga. “The most compelling evidence is linked to fruits high in vitamin C, which are associated with improved lung function in the general population of adults and children.”

On a global scale, the outlook for asthma is worrisome. Few serious measures are being taken to reduce global pollution and global warming and the national diet frequently neglects long friendly vegetables and fruits. But within that uncertain scenario, you can boost your chances of enjoying a healthy pair of lungs by eating more apples, pears and tomatoes.

Nature’s Asthma Relievers – Fruits and Vegetables was originally posted on: Asthma Treatment and Management Information - Azmacare.com

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Foods With A High Vitamin C Content Can Help Asthma Sufferers

People who suffer asthma have been found to have less vitamin C in their lungs (Inhal Tox 2003; 15:101).

According to Chris D. Metis, ND, and Jason Barker, ND, taking antioxidants “…most notably vitamin C, can modulate the impact of air pollutants to reduce their effects…including that of ozone on children with moderate-to-severe asthma” (Alt & Comp Ther 6/03).

Vitamin C Versus Air Pollution was originally posted on: Asthma Treatment and Management Information - Azmacare.com

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