Nutrition, Garlic, Yoga, and More

Prescribed asthma medication paired with diet and self-care strategies may help ease severe asthma symptoms.

Asthma is a disorder that affects the lungs, making it difficult to breathe and perform physical activities. During an attack, the airways swell, muscles constrict, and mucus fills the airways, resulting in coughing and chest tightness.

You may be curious whether there’s anything natural you can do to help reduce your symptoms. Here’s what the research says about 13 complementary therapies you may want to try for your asthma.

Although there’s no specific diet for people with asthma, there are a few nutrients and foods that may help relieve your symptoms.

1. Beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E

Being overweight or having obesity increases your risk for asthma and can worsen your symptoms. It’s important to maintain a balanced diet including plenty of fruits and vegetables.

These foods are good sources of antioxidants like beta-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E, which may help reduce inflammation around your airways.

However, if you experience a flare-up in asthma symptoms after eating certain foods, try to avoid them. You may have a food allergy that’s causing your symptoms to worsen. Talk with your doctor to confirm this.

2. The gut microbiome

Research suggests that asthma may be linked to our gut microbiome. This means asthma symptoms may worsen if there’s an imbalance of beneficial bacteria in your gut.

Consuming probiotics may help reduce inflammation. In a 2021 study, researchers found that combining probiotics with regular asthma treatment improved symptoms.

Sources of probiotics include fermented foods such as:

• yogurt or kefir
• sauerkraut
• tempeh
• kimchi
• miso
• kombucha

In addition some cheeses contain probiotics, and you can also take probiotic supplements, though getting them from your diet may be preferable.

3. Garlic

Garlic has several health benefits, including anti-inflammatory properties, according to research. Because asthma is an inflammatory disease, garlic may be able to help relieve your symptoms.

A 2019 study found that garlic extracts significantly reduced the number of inflammatory cells and white blood cells called iosinophils in laboratory mice. This, in turn, seemed to decrease bronchial inflammation.

Still, there’s no conclusive evidence that garlic is effective against preventing asthma flare-ups.

4. Ginger

Ginger is another herb that contains anti-inflammatory properties and may help with severe asthma. In particular, it contains a compound called 6-gingerol, which has been shown to decrease allergic lung inflammation in studies on mice.

These studies were specifically focused on lung inflammation induced by a dust mite allergy, which can be an asthma trigger.

Studies also suggest that ginger may help relax the trachea and airway muscles, as well as reduce mechanical ventilation time for people with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). That said, a clinical trial on ginger and asthma in human subjects is still ongoing.

5. Honey

Honey is frequently used in cold remedies to help soothe the throat and reduce coughing. You can mix honey with a hot beverage like herbal tea to help relieve your symptoms.

According to a 2019 study, honey was found to help improve breathing and lung function in people with asthma, but only when combined with other remedies such as cumin. The research did not find evidence for the effectiveness of honey on its own.

Other scientific evidence that honey should be used as an alternative asthma treatment is limited.

6. Omega-3 oils

Omega-3 oils, which can be found in fish and flax seeds, have been shown to have many health benefits. They are also associated with decreased airway inflammation, which may help improve lung function in people with severe asthma.

However, research also shows that people taking high doses of oral steroids to treat their asthma symptoms may not see as much benefit from consuming omega-3 through food or fish oil supplements.

This is because steroids block the beneficial effects of omega-3 oils. It’s a good idea to check with your dohctor before upping your intake of omega-3.

7. Caffeine

Caffeine is a bronchodilator, which means it can help open up the pathways into the lungs. Also, it can help reduce respiratory muscle fatigue.

A 2022 study found that drinking between 0.5 and 3 cups of coffee or tea daily can help reduce the likelihood of getting adult-onset asthma. Also, keeping caffeine consumption between 160 and 305 milligrams (mg) daily also reduces the chance of developing adult asthma.

Another 2020 study in a Korean population also showed that drinking 1 to 2 cups of coffee daily may help reduce the chance of getting asthma, particularly for women. But no similar link was found between asthma and caffeinated drinks like green tea or soda.

Several different breathing exercises may help relieve symptoms of asthma. These include:

8. Buteyko Breathing Technique

The Buteyko Breathing Technique (BBT) is a system of breathing exercises. BBT focuses on breathing out of your nose instead of your mouth. Breathing out of your mouth can dry your airways and make them more sensitive.

While there’s no research-based evidence that using BBT helps reduce the use of asthma medication, it may help reduce your asthma symptoms through slow, gentle breathing.

Some people may experience less respiratory infections from using this technique. Others who practice BBT believe that it helps to raise your carbon dioxide levels. Still, there isn’t conclusive evidence to support this theory.

9. Papworth method

The Papworth method is a breathing and relaxation technique used since the 1960s to help people with asthma. It involves using your nose and diaphragm to develop breathing patterns. You can then apply these breathing patterns to various activities that may cause your asthma to flare-up.

According to research, this breathing exercise does seem to help improve lung function and breathing in asthmatic people. That said, more research on the effect the Papworth method and other breathing modalities is needed to determine the full benefits.

A training course is usually recommended before adopting the exercises as part of your daily routine.

10. Yoga

Yoga incorporates stretching and breathing exercises to help boost flexibility and increase overall fitness. For many people, practicing yoga can decrease stress, which may trigger your asthma.

Studies have found that people trained in Yoga may experience fewer asthma attacks and have better results in breathing tests.

A 2023 meta-analysis of 15 studies also concluded that there is some evidence to the possitive effect of yogic breathing on mild-to-moderate asthma.

Research shows that asthma can have not only physical and environmental triggers but also psychological ones, such as stress, anxiety, or depression. Trying different ways of mental grounding or psychological treatment may help reduce asthma flare-ups in some cases.

11. Hypnotherapy

In hypnotherapy, hypnosis makes a person more relaxed and open to new ways to think, feel, and behave. Hypnotherapy may also help facilitate muscle relaxation, which may help people with asthma cope with symptoms like chest tightness.

This may explain why a 2021 study on hypnotherapy found that people with known psychological asthma triggers can find some symptom relief with this treatment.

12. Mindfulness and meditation

Mindfulness is a type of meditation that focuses on how the mind and the body are feeling in the present moment. It can be practiced almost anywhere.

All that you need is a quiet place to sit down, close your eyes, and focus your attention on the thoughts, feelings, and sensations in your body.

Because of its stress-relieving benefits, mindfulness may help to complement your prescription medication and relieve stress-related asthma symptoms.

Research shows that mindfulness practices may not directly reduce the physical symptoms caused by asthma but rather helps better manage how you experience and view those symptoms in your daily life.

Other research on the impact of mindfulness on asthma appears to be inconclusive, so more studies are needed to verify the connection.

There’s some evidence that acupuncture and speleotherapy may help reduce asthma symptom severity.

13. Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a form of Traditional Chinese medicine that involves placing small needles into specific points on the body. Some people with asthma may find that acupuncture helps to improve airflow and manage symptoms like chest pain.

One 2017 study found that adding acupuncture to your daily routine may help improve your quality of life if you’re living with allergic asthma.

Another 2015 study that compared acupuncture and traditional asthma treatments found that those who did acupuncture during the study showed more improvement in immune system and lung function tests than those who tool traditional asthma medications.

However, the long-term benefits of acupuncture have not yet been proven effective against asthma.

14. Speleotherapy

Speleotherapy is a type of dry salt therapy. It involves spending time in a salt room, introducing tiny particles into the respiratory system.

One 2018 study on asthma in children found that after 4 weeks of speleotherapy, symptoms seemed to improve, as well as levels of nitric oxide, which is a marker for asthma inflammation.

Another 2020 study found that combining speleotherapy with winter exercise or sports may help reduce asthma symptoms.

Some of these natural approaches may help reduce asthma symptoms, but you check with your doctor before trying anything.

Your doctor may also recommend you continue taking your usual asthma medications, and they may adjust your dosage if your asthma is severe.

Read this article in Spanish.

Nutrition, Garlic, Yoga, and More

Prescribed asthma medication paired with diet and self-care strategies may help ease severe asthma symptoms.

Asthma is a disorder that affects the lungs, making it difficult to breathe and perform physical activities. During an attack, the airways swell, muscles constrict, and mucus fills the airways, resulting in coughing and chest tightness.

You may be curious whether there’s anything natural you can do to help reduce your symptoms. Here’s what the research says about 13 complementary therapies you may want to try for your asthma.

Although there’s no specific diet for people with asthma, there are a few nutrients and foods that may help relieve your symptoms.

1. Beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E

Being overweight or having obesity increases your risk for asthma and can worsen your symptoms. It’s important to maintain a balanced diet including plenty of fruits and vegetables.

These foods are good sources of antioxidants like beta-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E, which may help reduce inflammation around your airways.

However, if you experience a flare-up in asthma symptoms after eating certain foods, try to avoid them. You may have a food allergy that’s causing your symptoms to worsen. Talk with your doctor to confirm this.

2. The gut microbiome

Research suggests that asthma may be linked to our gut microbiome. This means asthma symptoms may worsen if there’s an imbalance of beneficial bacteria in your gut.

Consuming probiotics may help reduce inflammation. In a 2021 study, researchers found that combining probiotics with regular asthma treatment improved symptoms.

Sources of probiotics include fermented foods such as:

• yogurt or kefir
• sauerkraut
• tempeh
• kimchi
• miso
• kombucha

In addition some cheeses contain probiotics, and you can also take probiotic supplements, though getting them from your diet may be preferable.

3. Garlic

Garlic has several health benefits, including anti-inflammatory properties, according to research. Because asthma is an inflammatory disease, garlic may be able to help relieve your symptoms.

A 2019 study found that garlic extracts significantly reduced the number of inflammatory cells and white blood cells called iosinophils in laboratory mice. This, in turn, seemed to decrease bronchial inflammation.

Still, there’s no conclusive evidence that garlic is effective against preventing asthma flare-ups.

4. Ginger

Ginger is another herb that contains anti-inflammatory properties and may help with severe asthma. In particular, it contains a compound called 6-gingerol, which has been shown to decrease allergic lung inflammation in studies on mice.

These studies were specifically focused on lung inflammation induced by a dust mite allergy, which can be an asthma trigger.

Studies also suggest that ginger may help relax the trachea and airway muscles, as well as reduce mechanical ventilation time for people with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). That said, a clinical trial on ginger and asthma in human subjects is still ongoing.

5. Honey

Honey is frequently used in cold remedies to help soothe the throat and reduce coughing. You can mix honey with a hot beverage like herbal tea to help relieve your symptoms.

According to a 2019 study, honey was found to help improve breathing and lung function in people with asthma, but only when combined with other remedies such as cumin. The research did not find evidence for the effectiveness of honey on its own.

Other scientific evidence that honey should be used as an alternative asthma treatment is limited.

6. Omega-3 oils

Omega-3 oils, which can be found in fish and flax seeds, have been shown to have many health benefits. They are also associated with decreased airway inflammation, which may help improve lung function in people with severe asthma.

However, research also shows that people taking high doses of oral steroids to treat their asthma symptoms may not see as much benefit from consuming omega-3 through food or fish oil supplements.

This is because steroids block the beneficial effects of omega-3 oils. It’s a good idea to check with your dohctor before upping your intake of omega-3.

7. Caffeine

Caffeine is a bronchodilator, which means it can help open up the pathways into the lungs. Also, it can help reduce respiratory muscle fatigue.

A 2022 study found that drinking between 0.5 and 3 cups of coffee or tea daily can help reduce the likelihood of getting adult-onset asthma. Also, keeping caffeine consumption between 160 and 305 milligrams (mg) daily also reduces the chance of developing adult asthma.

Another 2020 study in a Korean population also showed that drinking 1 to 2 cups of coffee daily may help reduce the chance of getting asthma, particularly for women. But no similar link was found between asthma and caffeinated drinks like green tea or soda.

Several different breathing exercises may help relieve symptoms of asthma. These include:

8. Buteyko Breathing Technique

The Buteyko Breathing Technique (BBT) is a system of breathing exercises. BBT focuses on breathing out of your nose instead of your mouth. Breathing out of your mouth can dry your airways and make them more sensitive.

While there’s no research-based evidence that using BBT helps reduce the use of asthma medication, it may help reduce your asthma symptoms through slow, gentle breathing.

Some people may experience less respiratory infections from using this technique. Others who practice BBT believe that it helps to raise your carbon dioxide levels. Still, there isn’t conclusive evidence to support this theory.

9. Papworth method

The Papworth method is a breathing and relaxation technique used since the 1960s to help people with asthma. It involves using your nose and diaphragm to develop breathing patterns. You can then apply these breathing patterns to various activities that may cause your asthma to flare-up.

According to research, this breathing exercise does seem to help improve lung function and breathing in asthmatic people. That said, more research on the effect the Papworth method and other breathing modalities is needed to determine the full benefits.

A training course is usually recommended before adopting the exercises as part of your daily routine.

10. Yoga

Yoga incorporates stretching and breathing exercises to help boost flexibility and increase overall fitness. For many people, practicing yoga can decrease stress, which may trigger your asthma.

Studies have found that people trained in Yoga may experience fewer asthma attacks and have better results in breathing tests.

A 2023 meta-analysis of 15 studies also concluded that there is some evidence to the possitive effect of yogic breathing on mild-to-moderate asthma.

Research shows that asthma can have not only physical and environmental triggers but also psychological ones, such as stress, anxiety, or depression. Trying different ways of mental grounding or psychological treatment may help reduce asthma flare-ups in some cases.

11. Hypnotherapy

In hypnotherapy, hypnosis makes a person more relaxed and open to new ways to think, feel, and behave. Hypnotherapy may also help facilitate muscle relaxation, which may help people with asthma cope with symptoms like chest tightness.

This may explain why a 2021 study on hypnotherapy found that people with known psychological asthma triggers can find some symptom relief with this treatment.

12. Mindfulness and meditation

Mindfulness is a type of meditation that focuses on how the mind and the body are feeling in the present moment. It can be practiced almost anywhere.

All that you need is a quiet place to sit down, close your eyes, and focus your attention on the thoughts, feelings, and sensations in your body.

Because of its stress-relieving benefits, mindfulness may help to complement your prescription medication and relieve stress-related asthma symptoms.

Research shows that mindfulness practices may not directly reduce the physical symptoms caused by asthma but rather helps better manage how you experience and view those symptoms in your daily life.

Other research on the impact of mindfulness on asthma appears to be inconclusive, so more studies are needed to verify the connection.

There’s some evidence that acupuncture and speleotherapy may help reduce asthma symptom severity.

13. Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a form of Traditional Chinese medicine that involves placing small needles into specific points on the body. Some people with asthma may find that acupuncture helps to improve airflow and manage symptoms like chest pain.

One 2017 study found that adding acupuncture to your daily routine may help improve your quality of life if you’re living with allergic asthma.

Another 2015 study that compared acupuncture and traditional asthma treatments found that those who did acupuncture during the study showed more improvement in immune system and lung function tests than those who tool traditional asthma medications.

However, the long-term benefits of acupuncture have not yet been proven effective against asthma.

14. Speleotherapy

Speleotherapy is a type of dry salt therapy. It involves spending time in a salt room, introducing tiny particles into the respiratory system.

One 2018 study on asthma in children found that after 4 weeks of speleotherapy, symptoms seemed to improve, as well as levels of nitric oxide, which is a marker for asthma inflammation.

Another 2020 study found that combining speleotherapy with winter exercise or sports may help reduce asthma symptoms.

Some of these natural approaches may help reduce asthma symptoms, but you check with your doctor before trying anything.

Your doctor may also recommend you continue taking your usual asthma medications, and they may adjust your dosage if your asthma is severe.

Read this article in Spanish.

How to avoid asthma attacks during the cold season

For people suffering from bronchial asthma, the seasonal rise in the incidence of influenza, SARS and other infections that affect the respiratory tract is of particular danger. The natural response of the body to the invasion of pathogens is inflammation – it helps to cope with the infection faster . However, against the background of asthma, this inflammatory reaction can provoke asthma attacks. Therefore, it is important to take measures to avoid exacerbation throughout the entire cold season.

Bronchial asthma is a chronic disease in which the patient experiences asthma attacks due to exposure to certain stimuli (triggers, irritants). In the course of the disease, the pre-attack period, the attack itself, the inter-attack period are distinguished, and in the absence of attacks for a long time (from 12 months or more), they speak of the onset of remission.

The less often a person has asthma attacks, the higher his chances of achieving a long-term or complete remission , in which the need for the use of drugs disappears, there are no signs of inflammation in the airways, and lung function is fully restored. For this reason, it is necessary to minimize the risk of seizures. One of the most important tasks aimed at preventing exacerbations of bronchial asthma is the prevention of acute respiratory infections that can provoke attacks, as well as reducing the activity of inflammation in the respiratory tract during the period between attacks.

Which respiratory infections increase the risk of seizures

There are many triggers that cause asthma to flare up. Among them – plant pollen , house dust, waste products of domestic mites and cockroaches, dander and animal hair, mold, household chemicals, perfumery, industrial pollution. Also, stress, food allergens , physical activity, some medications, cold air can act as incentives.

However, studies show that about 85% of cases of exacerbation of the disease in children and about 60% in adults are associated with acute respiratory infections (ARI). Moreover, this happens, including with people whose irritants belong to a different category, for example, in patients who previously reacted with seizures only to pollen or dust.

Rhinovirus, RS-virus (respiratory syncytial virus that causes respiratory tract infections), influenza and parainfluenza viruses and enterovirus act as the main infectious provocateurs of seizures. An increase in the incidence of many acute respiratory viral infections is observed in the autumn-winter period.

Seasonal incidence of viral infections that increase the risk of exacerbation of bronchial asthma

(Balkarova E. O., Chuchalin A.G.)

Firstly, pathogens themselves feel more comfortable in conditions of humidity and cold: this increases their survival rate. And, secondly, after the end of the summer holidays, children and adolescents spend most of their time in groups (school, kindergarten), where the risk of infection increases significantly.

Viruses and bacteria causing exacerbation of asthma in children, adolescents and adults

In adults, some bacteria can act as triggers. First of all, we are talking about the so-called causative agents of atypical respiratory diseases, chlamydia and mycoplasmas, which, like viruses, multiply inside the cell.

Influence of ARI on the risk of development and exacerbation of asthma

Research shows that there is a two-way relationship between respiratory infections and asthma: ARI can act both as a provocateur of seizures in an already existing disease, and serve as a prerequisite for the development of bronchial asthma . For example, it has been found that in children and adolescents after suffering an RS viral infection (caused by respiratory syncytial virus), the likelihood of developing bronchial asthma increases depending on age (according to a study conducted in 2013 at Oxford Outcomes, Canada):

• in children under 5 years old – by 13-22%;
• in children from 5 to 11 years old – by 11-27%;
• in adolescents 12 years and older – by 32%.

At the same time, the more severe the disease was (especially when it comes to damage to the lower respiratory tract with episodes of wheezing and wheezing), the higher the likelihood that asthma may develop in the future. Observations also show that in patients with bronchial asthma, acute respiratory infections often occur in a more severe form (often requiring hospitalization) than in initially healthy people. The key factor linking asthma and ARI is inflammation in the bronchi – in case of an infectious lesion of the respiratory tract, the inflammation is acute, in BA it is chronic .

With bronchial asthma, there is a kind of “breakdown” in the immune system – it leads to the fact that the body begins to react with inflammation to substances that do not pose a threat to health, for example, pollen, certain types of food. At the initial stages of the development of bronchial asthma, acute inflammation is observed, which disappears after an exacerbation. However, over time, inflammation (primarily in the absence of adequate treatment) becomes chronic and causes permanent changes in the bronchi.

Acute inflammation that occurs during bacterial or viral aggression is aimed at destroying infected cells and protecting healthy cells – thus limiting the spread of pathogens in the body. In patients with bronchial asthma, due to “breakdowns” in the immune system, inflammation, on the one hand, does not lead to the destruction of affected cells, which leads to infection of other cells and the formation of a protracted inflammatory process. On the other hand, inflammation proceeds “excessively”, that is, more “violently” than in healthy people. As a result, a respiratory infection takes longer and is more severe, and an exacerbation of inflammation provokes the development of an attack of bronchial asthma .

Main symptoms of asthma exacerbation due to respiratory infection

An exacerbation of bronchial asthma can occur both at the “height” of an acute respiratory infection, and at the moment when the disease is “decreasing”. There are characteristic symptoms of an attack, the severity of which depends on the severity of the course of asthma: shortness of breath, coughing dry or with thick viscous sputum, shortness of breath (a short sharp breath alternates with a long exhalation), etc.

If an exacerbation of asthma occurred at the peak of a respiratory infection, the symptoms of bronchial asthma will be combined with manifestations of ARI: there is an increase in body temperature, runny nose, sore throat, headache and muscle pain, and so on. Studies show that even in patients with mild asthma, the symptoms of ARI associated with bronchial damage appear 6 times more active than in initially healthy people, the risk of developing severe bronchitis with an obstructive component increases (narrowing of the airway lumen). The duration of the disease also increases, often there is a need for hospitalization.

How to prevent asthma exacerbation during the “cold season”

One of the key prerequisites for the development of attacks during the seasonal increase in the incidence of ARI is residual inflammation in the bronchi. For example, in allergic asthma, associated with a reaction to pollen , the main peak of exacerbations occurs at the end of spring and summer (although even after the end of the pollen season, residual pollen may remain in the air). However, despite the absence of seizures, the inflammatory process may persist in the bronchi. The lack of adequate therapy aimed at reducing its activity significantly increases the risk of exacerbation when faced with a respiratory infection .

In 2015, the results of a study conducted in the United States were published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The participants were 513 schoolchildren aged 6 to 17 suffering from an allergic form of bronchial asthma. For 4 months (1 month before school and three months after school), participants took either a drug that suppresses inflammation in the bronchi or a placebo (“dummy”). The study showed that the frequency of asthma exacerbations against the background of a seasonal rise in the incidence of ARI in the group receiving anti-inflammatory therapy was 2 times lower than in the placebo group. According to the authors of the publication, seasonal treatment, started 4-6 weeks before returning to school and continued for the first three months after the start of classes, helps to significantly reduce the frequency of exacerbations of bronchial asthma .

Thus, studies show that basic anti-inflammatory therapy on the eve of the epidemiological season (seasonal “burst” in the incidence of ARI) and throughout it contributes to the prevention of exacerbations of bronchial asthma. Taking anti-inflammatory drugs helps to suppress residual inflammation, reduce the likelihood of asthma attacks. In addition, the intensification of anti-inflammatory therapy against the background of ARI that has already occurred helps in the prevention of exacerbation of bronchial asthma.

As an effective means to reduce the risk of exacerbation of bronchial asthma during the epidemiological rise in the incidence of ARI and to prevent attacks against the background of a respiratory infection, it is recommended to take the non-hormonal anti-inflammatory drug Reglisam.

Against the background of taking ammonium glycyrrhizinate (the active substance of Reglisam):

• the cascade of inflammatory reactions is blocked and the activity of inflammation in the bronchi decreases, swelling of the bronchial mucosa decreases;
• suppresses the formation of histamine – a key mediator of the development of allergies;
• supports the formation of its own corticosteroids – hormones of the adrenal glands, at a level that contributes to the suppression of inflammation. This helps to reduce the dose of corticosteroids, and also increases the effectiveness of ongoing hormone therapy;
• facilitates sputum discharge.

The non-hormonal anti-inflammatory drug Reglisam is recommended for patients with bronchial asthma to take throughout the entire epidemiological season – the duration of the course can be 3-6 months. Reglisam helps in achieving remission, characterized by the absence of seizures, reduces susceptibility to ARI pathogens.

A course of Reglisam, lasting 10-14 days during the acute period of ARI (in case of infection with ARI), helps to avoid excessive inflammation, reduces the likelihood of developing asthma attacks, reduces the severity of the disease and accelerates the recovery process .

How to avoid asthma exacerbation in ARI

It is recommended to include Relisam in the complex therapy of a respiratory infection in patients with asthma. Taking the drug will allow you to quickly cope with inflammation in the upper and lower respiratory tract, reduce the likelihood of exacerbation, severe complications, hospitalization, and shorten the duration of the disease. Reglisam is recommended to be taken during the entire acute period of exacerbation of bronchial asthma, as well as 1-3 months after recovery to suppress residual inflammation in the bronchi and prevent the development of attacks.

To other articles

Treatment of bronchial asthma / Laser Doctor St. Petersburg

Edited by a doctor

July 3, 2020

Anastasia Vasilievna Fedina

Leading dermatovenereologist

Clinic:

st. Mira, 15 k. 1

Currently, bronchial asthma is considered one of the most common chronic diseases in the world. So, according to the latest data, today there are from 100 to 300 million “asthmatics” in the world. Almost all people are susceptible to diseases, regardless of gender and age. Luckily, asthma is treatable. In our new article, we will talk about this disease, what symptoms it has, how it is diagnosed, and how bronchial asthma is treated.

Diagnosis and treatment of bronchial asthma

Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways. The name of the disease asthma is Greek. It can be translated into Russian as suffocation. In fact, one of the most common symptoms of this disease is asthma attacks. Many experts tend to believe that the cause of the disease and the rapid spread of the disease is the constantly deteriorating environmental situation, as well as physical inactivity.

In general, it is believed that two types of factors can influence the appearance of bronchial asthma – external and internal.

External factors include:

• Endocrine diseases.

• Decreased immune defense.

• Malfunctions of the respiratory system.

External factors:

It is noted that allergies and smoking are among the most common provoking factors. The most common allergens are dust, animal hair, mold, certain foods, and chemicals.

Asthma symptoms

There are several main symptoms of the disease:

• Suffocation attacks. Breathing problems can occur after exposure to allergens, exercise, and sometimes without any external cause.

• Shallow breathing. This is the name of the condition in which a person cannot take a deep breath.

• Orthopnea posture. Sitting posture in which the body is slightly tilted forward. For a person during an attack, such a position is forced, since with any other, he practically cannot breathe. Especially lying down.

• Cough. Often occurs during bouts of shortness of breath. Cough can be strong, but at the same time unproductive – without sputum production.

• Wheezing. In some cases, asthma attacks are accompanied by wheezing. At the same time, they can be clearly audible even without a phonendoscope.

In the early stages of the disease, some symptoms may be absent. Seizures themselves are relatively rare. But without treatment, attacks appear more often, accompanied by symptoms that were not there before. With all the above symptoms, you should seek medical help.

Diagnosis and treatment of bronchial asthma should be carried out only by medical specialists, self-medication should not be allowed.

For diagnosis, spirometry is performed (measurement of the speed and volume of breathing). Also, diagnostics may include peak flowmetry, blood and sputum tests, as well as a study of the patient’s immune status.

Modern treatment of bronchial asthma

Medicamentous drug treatment of bronchial asthma involves taking or inhaling drugs that are prescribed after all the necessary tests and studies have been carried out. The specialist draws up a prescription, which clearly indicates the dosage of drugs and the frequency of their intake.

Non-drug treatments for asthma include:

• Therapeutic exercise. Exercise therapy sessions help reduce swelling of the bronchial mucosa and reduce the tone of smooth muscles.

• Breathing exercises. Specially designed exercises are aimed at increasing carbon dioxide in the blood in order to normalize the CO2 content and, as a result, maintain normal respiratory processes.

• Halotherapy. The method provides for the presence of patients in salt rooms for breathing air with salt aerosol. This stops the development of pathogens in the respiratory tract, as a result of which inflammatory processes are inhibited.

One of the most effective methods of treatment and prevention of bronchial asthma today is considered to be oxygen therapy in a special pressure chamber.

Oxygen therapy: procedure

The essence of the procedure is to breathe air with a high oxygen content. Modern pressure chambers are capable of maintaining an O2 concentration of up to 85-95%. For example, in ordinary air, the oxygen content is about a fifth of the volume. And in large cities, this figure is even less. In addition, the pressure in the chamber is artificially increased. Sessions of oxygen therapy have a beneficial effect on the respiratory organs, they increase the lumen of the bronchi and normalize blood circulation in the vessels of the bronchi. Oxygen therapy makes it possible to treat even severe bronchial asthma.

Before oxygen therapy

The procedure is quite simple, and therefore does not provide for any special preparation. Before the session, it will be useful to visit the toilet, and also a couple of hours before the start it is better not to smoke. It is undesirable to carry out the procedure on an empty stomach. In addition, you will need to book an initial appointment with your doctor in advance. Why is such a reception necessary before oxygen treatment of bronchial asthma in adults and children?

1. The doctor will take a medical history. This is necessary in order to select the parameters of the procedure and create an individual course of oxygen therapy in a pressure chamber just for you.

2. The specialist will identify your contraindications.

3. The doctor will hold a consultation where he will tell you about the upcoming procedure and the post-procedural period. In addition, during the consultation you will be able to ask questions about the methods of treating bronchial asthma.

Contraindications for oxygen therapy

• Violation of the patency of the auditory (Eustachian) tubes and canals.

• The presence of a pacemaker or other implanted electronic devices.

• Epilepsy, as well as other convulsive seizures.

• Acute respiratory diseases.

• Fear of closed space.

• Severe forms of hypertension (third degree).

In addition, individual contraindications and restrictions are possible for the procedure, which the doctor will also inform you about during the initial appointment. Moreover, if you do not have any contraindications, then an oxygen therapy session can be carried out immediately after the initial appointment.

How asthma is treated with oxygen

Modern treatment of bronchial asthma in a pressure chamber is absolutely safe and without any discomfort. You don’t need to undress or change. But before entering the cell itself, you will need to take off your shoes and remove jewelry so as not to lose them. You can take a gadget or a book with you.

The patient spends the entire time of the procedure lying down in the chamber. Therefore, for greater comfort, it has an orthopedic mattress and pillow. There is also a large window in the cell, and a telephone is installed inside to communicate with the doctor. At the same time, the specialist is in the office all the time during the procedure and monitors the course of the session.

After you are comfortable in the chamber, the specialist will close the airtight door and adjust the pressure and other parameters of the oxygen supply. In this case, the pressure will not increase immediately, but gradually – within five minutes. The increased pressure can make the ears feel stuffy. In this case, before the session, you will receive recommendations from a specialist on how to get rid of discomfort. During the session, you can sleep or read or sit in social networks. The average duration of the procedure is about half an hour.

Five minutes before the end of the procedure, the doctor will begin to gradually lower the pressure to normal. After that, the session will end, and you can leave the pressure chamber.

Post-procedural period after the oxygen pressure chamber

Treatment of patients with bronchial asthma in an oxygen pressure chamber does not require a rehabilitation period. But keep in mind that dizziness is possible for the first few minutes.