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 diseasesit 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.

Originally posted under: Asthma Treatment and Management - Natural Asthma Relief on Azmacare.com

If You're Having an Acute Asthma Episode, Contact Your Doctor Immediately

Common signs of an acute asthma episode are:

• Your coughing and/or wheezing will not stop.
• You’re breathing very fast but can’t catch your breath(Tachypnea).
• Your chest feels tight.
• You’re feeling tired AND out of breath.
• You’re agitated and anxious.
• Your pulse rate has increased.
• You’ve got allergy-like symptoms, including but not limited to a runny nose, watery or itchy eyes, scratchy throat.
• Coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath while you’re exercising or immediately afterward.
• You feel chest or abdominal pain.

Common signs and symptoms of increasing respiratory distress and acute breathing difficulty can include:

• Your inability to complete a sentence.
• You’re experiencing retractions (increased use of chest, neck, or abdominal muscles).
• You need to sit or lean forward in order breathe easier.

Make sure that you have an Asthma Action Plan in place so that you can successfully and efficiently regain control and normalize your breathing. Read Asthma Attack Action Plan – Are you prepared? as a primer if you haven’t set one up for yourself yet.

Also, be sure to read Asthma Triggers – Do you know what yours are?, Asthma Triggers – Is Your Home Causing Your Asthma?, Asthma and Outdoor Air Pollution in Southern California and Indoor Asthma Triggers – Asthma Proof Your Home if you’re unclear about your triggers or what you can do to help yourself.

The absolute best way to get through an acute asthma episode is to never have to deal with one. There is no reason why you can’t fully and confidently participate in the life of your choice. Camp, hike, bike, jog, ski, join sports leagues, take exercise classes. Just be sure you have planned ahead – just in case.

Originally posted under: Asthma Treatment and Management - Natural Asthma Relief on Azmacare.com

• You suffer from acute asthma symptoms for the first time.
• Your asthma symptoms fail to respond to your usual treatment, or if your asthma attack (episode) is severe.
• Your sputum (mucus) becomes discolored, particularly green, yellow, or bloody. This may be a sign of a bacterial infection.
• You or your family members and caregivers have not been educated about asthma treatments, or if the medication you require is not immediately available to you.
• You want to learn exactly what to do when an asthma attack (episode) begins. You can often handle acute asthma attacks (episodes) without professional help, once you’ve gotten the proper training, medication and confidence.
• You begin to use your asthma medication more often than usual. This is normally a sign that your asthma is worsening.
• You suffer from allergy induced asthma, and you want to discuss allergy shots as part of your asthma treatment.

Originally posted under: Asthma Treatment and Management - Natural Asthma Relief on Azmacare.com