Can natural remedies help manage asthma symptoms. How do diet and lifestyle changes impact asthma control. What are the risks and benefits of alternative therapies for asthma. Which breathing techniques can alleviate asthma attacks.

Understanding Asthma and the Role of Natural Remedies

Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that affects millions of people worldwide. While there is no cure for asthma, many individuals seek natural remedies to complement their conventional treatments and manage symptoms more effectively. It’s important to note that natural remedies should not replace prescribed medications or medical advice, but they may offer additional support in controlling asthma symptoms.

Do natural remedies offer a cure for asthma? Despite claims made by some alternative treatments, there is currently no known cure for asthma. However, certain natural approaches may help alleviate symptoms and improve overall respiratory health when used in conjunction with traditional medical care.

Dietary Approaches to Asthma Management

Can diet play a role in managing asthma symptoms? Research suggests that certain dietary choices may indeed impact asthma control. Here are some dietary approaches that have shown promise:

• Omega-3 fatty acids: Found in fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, and cod, these nutrients may help reduce inflammation in the body.
• Mediterranean diet: Rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and healthy fats, this eating pattern has been associated with improved asthma symptoms.
• DASH diet: Similar to the Mediterranean diet, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan may also benefit asthma control.
• Weight management: Maintaining a healthy weight can improve lung function and reduce the risk of complications that may exacerbate asthma.

How does the Mediterranean diet benefit asthma patients? The anti-inflammatory properties of this diet, which emphasizes plant-based foods and healthy fats, may help reduce airway inflammation and improve overall respiratory function.

Herbal Remedies and Supplements for Asthma Relief

Various herbs and natural supplements have been explored for their potential benefits in managing asthma symptoms. While more research is needed to confirm their effectiveness, some promising options include:

• Vitamins C, D, and E: These antioxidants may help lower the risk of asthma symptoms.
• Magnesium: Some studies suggest that magnesium supplementation may have bronchodilating effects.
• Fish oil: Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil supplements may help reduce inflammation associated with asthma.
• Chinese herbs: Traditional Chinese medicine has long used various herbs to treat respiratory conditions, though more research is needed to validate their efficacy.

Are herbal remedies safe for asthma patients? While some herbal supplements may offer potential benefits, it’s crucial to consult with a healthcare provider before incorporating them into your asthma management plan. Some herbs can interact with medications or cause adverse effects.

Breathing Techniques and Physical Practices for Asthma Control

Several breathing techniques and physical practices have shown promise in helping individuals manage their asthma symptoms:

1. Buteyko breathing: This technique focuses on slow breathing and controlled breath-holding to improve overall breathing patterns.
2. Papworth method: A relaxation and breathing system that emphasizes diaphragmatic breathing to maximize lung capacity.
3. Yoga: Combining physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation, yoga may help relieve stress and improve asthma control.
4. Pursed-lip breathing: This technique helps slow down breathing and keep airways open longer during an asthma attack.
5. Belly breathing: Also known as diaphragmatic breathing, this practice can help strengthen the diaphragm and improve overall lung function.

How can breathing exercises help during an asthma attack? Techniques like pursed-lip and belly breathing can help slow down breathing, reduce anxiety, and improve airflow during an acute asthma episode. However, these should be practiced regularly and used in conjunction with prescribed rescue medications.

Alternative Therapies for Asthma Symptom Relief

Several alternative therapies have been explored for their potential benefits in managing asthma symptoms:

• Acupuncture: This traditional Chinese practice involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to potentially alleviate asthma symptoms.
• Biofeedback: Learning to control physiological processes like heart rate may help some individuals better manage their asthma.
• Caffeine: As a mild bronchodilator, caffeine may help improve airway function in some people with asthma.

Does acupuncture effectively treat asthma? While some individuals report symptom relief with acupuncture, scientific evidence supporting its efficacy in asthma treatment remains limited. More research is needed to determine its true potential as an asthma management tool.

The Role of Stress Management in Asthma Control

Emotional stress can trigger asthma attacks in some individuals. Incorporating stress-reduction techniques into your daily routine may help improve overall asthma control:

• Deep breathing exercises
• Progressive muscle relaxation
• Guided imagery
• Meditation
• Regular physical activity

How does stress impact asthma symptoms? Stress can lead to rapid, shallow breathing and increased muscle tension, potentially exacerbating asthma symptoms. By practicing relaxation techniques, individuals may be able to reduce the frequency and severity of stress-induced asthma episodes.

Creating an Effective Asthma Management Plan

While exploring natural remedies, it’s essential to maintain a comprehensive asthma management plan in collaboration with your healthcare provider. Key components of an effective plan include:

1. Regular use of prescribed medications
2. Identifying and avoiding asthma triggers
3. Monitoring symptoms with a peak flow meter
4. Keeping an asthma diary to track symptoms and potential triggers
5. Developing an action plan for managing asthma attacks
6. Scheduling regular check-ups with your healthcare provider

Why is an asthma action plan important? An asthma action plan provides clear guidelines on how to manage your condition day-to-day and what to do in case of an asthma attack. This personalized plan helps you recognize early warning signs and take appropriate action to prevent symptoms from worsening.

Potential Risks and Considerations of Natural Asthma Remedies

While natural remedies may offer potential benefits, it’s crucial to be aware of possible risks and limitations:

• Interactions with medications: Some herbs and supplements may interact with asthma medications, potentially reducing their effectiveness or causing adverse effects.
• Lack of regulation: Many natural products are not strictly regulated, which can lead to inconsistencies in quality and potency.
• Delayed treatment: Relying solely on natural remedies may delay necessary medical treatment, potentially leading to severe asthma attacks.
• Individual variations: What works for one person may not be effective for another, as asthma triggers and symptoms can vary greatly between individuals.

How can you safely incorporate natural remedies into your asthma management plan? Always consult with your healthcare provider before trying any new natural remedy. They can help you evaluate the potential benefits and risks based on your individual health status and current treatment regimen.

The Importance of Continued Medical Supervision

While exploring natural remedies for asthma, it’s crucial to maintain regular communication with your healthcare provider. They can help you:

• Monitor the effectiveness of your current treatment plan
• Assess the potential benefits and risks of natural remedies
• Adjust your medications as needed
• Identify any changes in your asthma symptoms or triggers
• Provide guidance on integrating natural approaches safely into your overall asthma management strategy

Should you inform your doctor about natural remedies you’re using? Absolutely. Open communication with your healthcare provider is essential to ensure that all aspects of your asthma management, including natural remedies, work together safely and effectively.

Lifestyle Modifications to Support Asthma Management

In addition to natural remedies, certain lifestyle modifications can play a significant role in managing asthma symptoms:

1. Maintaining a clean living environment to reduce exposure to allergens and irritants
2. Using air purifiers to improve indoor air quality
3. Practicing good hygiene to minimize the risk of respiratory infections
4. Quitting smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke
5. Engaging in regular, appropriate physical activity to improve overall lung function
6. Managing comorbid conditions, such as allergies or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

How can regular exercise benefit individuals with asthma? When done safely and with proper precautions, regular physical activity can improve cardiovascular fitness, strengthen respiratory muscles, and enhance overall lung function. This can lead to better asthma control and improved quality of life for many individuals.

The Role of Allergen Avoidance in Asthma Management

For many people with asthma, allergens can trigger symptoms or exacerbate existing ones. Implementing strategies to reduce allergen exposure can be an effective natural approach to managing asthma:

• Using allergen-proof bedding covers
• Regularly washing bedding in hot water
• Keeping pets out of bedrooms
• Using a HEPA filter vacuum cleaner
• Removing carpets and opting for hard flooring
• Controlling humidity levels to prevent mold growth

Can eliminating allergens from your environment cure asthma? While allergen avoidance cannot cure asthma, it can significantly reduce symptoms and the frequency of asthma attacks in individuals whose asthma is triggered by specific allergens.

Emerging Research in Natural Asthma Management

The field of natural asthma management is continually evolving, with ongoing research exploring new potential therapies and refining our understanding of existing approaches. Some areas of current interest include:

• Probiotics and the gut-lung axis
• Mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques
• Traditional medicines from various cultures
• The role of vitamin D in asthma prevention and management
• Environmental interventions to reduce asthma triggers

What role might probiotics play in asthma management? Emerging research suggests that the balance of gut bacteria may influence immune function and inflammation throughout the body, including in the lungs. While more studies are needed, probiotics may offer a promising avenue for supporting respiratory health in individuals with asthma.

The Future of Integrative Asthma Care

As our understanding of asthma and natural remedies grows, the future of asthma management may increasingly involve integrative approaches that combine conventional medical treatments with evidence-based natural therapies. This holistic approach could offer patients more personalized and comprehensive care, potentially leading to better symptom control and improved quality of life.

How might integrative asthma care benefit patients? By addressing multiple aspects of health and well-being, integrative approaches may help patients achieve better overall asthma control while minimizing side effects and improving their sense of empowerment in managing their condition.

Empowering Patients Through Education and Self-Management

One of the most powerful tools in asthma management is patient education. By learning about their condition, understanding their triggers, and becoming proficient in self-management techniques, individuals with asthma can take a more active role in their care. Key areas of focus for patient education include:

1. Understanding the mechanics of asthma and how it affects the body
2. Recognizing early warning signs of an asthma attack
3. Proper use of inhalers and other asthma medications
4. Identifying and avoiding personal asthma triggers
5. Implementing appropriate lifestyle modifications
6. Knowing when to seek medical attention

How can patient education improve asthma outcomes? Empowered patients are more likely to adhere to their treatment plans, effectively manage their symptoms, and communicate effectively with their healthcare providers. This can lead to better asthma control, fewer hospitalizations, and an improved overall quality of life.

The Role of Support Groups and Community Resources

Living with asthma can be challenging, but individuals don’t have to face it alone. Support groups and community resources can provide valuable emotional support, practical tips, and opportunities for shared learning. These resources may include:

• Local asthma support groups
• Online forums and communities
• Asthma education classes
• Respiratory therapist consultations
• Community health initiatives focused on respiratory health

How can support groups benefit individuals with asthma? Connecting with others who share similar experiences can provide emotional support, practical advice, and a sense of community. This can help reduce feelings of isolation and empower individuals to take an active role in managing their asthma.

In conclusion, while there is no cure for asthma, a combination of conventional treatments, natural remedies, and lifestyle modifications can help many individuals effectively manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. By working closely with healthcare providers and staying informed about the latest research and management strategies, people with asthma can take control of their condition and lead full, active lives. Remember that every individual’s experience with asthma is unique, and what works for one person may not work for another. The key is to develop a personalized approach that addresses your specific needs and goals, always prioritizing safety and effectiveness in your asthma management journey.

Natural Remedies for Asthma

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• What Are Natural Remedies for Asthma?
• 10 Natural Remedies for Asthma
• Are There Natural Remedies for Asthma Attacks?
• Natural Asthma Remedy Risks
• Make an Asthma Action Plan
• Use a Peak Flow Meter
• Keep an Asthma Diary
• Goals of Managing Asthma
• More

With all the studies on alternative medicine and natural remedies, you may wonder if there’s a natural cure for asthma. Unfortunately, there is no cure for asthma at this point. In fact, you should avoid any treatment or product — natural or otherwise — that claims to be a “cure” for asthma.

Some natural therapies may help you manage symptoms of asthma. For instance, a negative response to emotional stress can cause an asthma attack. Some natural relaxation remedies like deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, and biofeedback can help relieve stress.

Other findings suggest that diet plays a role in easing asthma symptoms. For example, omega-3 fatty acids found naturally in high-fat fish like salmon, mackerel, and cod may help your body fight inflammation. Whether this may help people who have asthma is still unproven.

Many things get credit for being natural asthma remedies. But because studies on complementary and alternative treatments for asthma have been limited, it’s not clear how safe and effective all of them are.

These natural remedies have been studied:

Acupuncture. This traditional Chinese treatment involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body. While some people with asthma say acupuncture eases their symptoms, there’s little proof that it works as an asthma treatment.

Biofeedback. Learning to control your heart rate may help you manage your asthma, but more studies are needed to confirm a benefit.

Herbs and natural dietary supplements. Many people use herbs, plants, and supplements, especially Chinese herbs, to treat asthma. It’s not clear how well many of them work. More research is needed on supplements like magnesium and fish oil (omega-3 fatty acids). But vitamins C, D, and E may help lower your risk of symptoms.

Asthma diet. If you have a food allergy, avoiding trigger foods may also help with some asthma symptoms.

Plant-based diet. Several studies have found benefits for people with asthma who follow the Mediterranean diet.It involves lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and healthy fats like olive oil. You eat more fatty fish and poultry than red meat. Experts think this diet helps with asthma symptoms because it helps fight inflammation in your body. A similar eating plan called DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) may also improve asthma control.

Weight loss. Most people who have extra pounds carry them in the middle of their body. This can make it harder for your lungs to work. Losing weight can improve lung volume and lower your chances of conditions that make asthma worse, like diabetes or high blood pressure. It may also make exercise easier, which could improve your asthma symptoms.

Caffeine. Caffeine is a mild bronchodilator, which means it helps open your airways. Studies have found that it may improve airway function in people who have asthma.

Yoga. Stress may trigger asthma symptoms. Breathing exercises used in yoga have been found to help some people with asthma control breathing and relieve stress, a common asthma trigger.

Buteyko breathing. This technique focuses on slow breathing and short periods when you hold your breath. It doesn’t treat asthma, but it may help improve the pattern of your breathing.

Papworth method. This relaxation and breathing system teaches you to breathe from your diaphragm so your lungs fill with as much air as possible.

The typical treatment for an asthma attack is a quick-acting (rescue) inhaler with medication. Sit upright and take slow, steady breaths. Try to stay calm. Follow the asthma action plan that you’ve set up with your doctor. If your breathing doesn’t get better or if you’re so short of breath that you can’t talk, get medical help right away.

Some breathing exercises can help with symptoms of an asthma attack.

• Pursed-lip breathing. This slows your breathing and helps hold your airways open longer so your lungs work better. With your mouth closed, breathe in slowly through your nose. Then breathe out through your mouth, with your lips pursed like you’re whistling, for twice as long.
• Belly breathing. This technique uses the same steps as pursed-lip breathing. But as you breathe in, focus on the movement of your belly. Picture it filling with air like a balloon. It may help to keep your hands on your belly so you can concentrate on the air going in and out.

As you consider the different types of natural asthma remedies, it’s very important to carefully balance your desire to breathe easier with the possible dangers of the treatments, which may be unknown. Keep these things in mind:

• Never use any dietary supplement before checking with your doctor.
• Some natural herbal products, such as bee pollen, may trigger an asthma attack if you’re allergic to the specific plant.
• Never stop using your asthma drugs without your doctor’s knowledge. If you don’t follow your treatment plan, the results can be very serious and even deadly.

If you’re not sure about the claims on a natural dietary supplement product label, call your doctor before taking it. They can check the product to let you know if it has any health benefits.

If you don’t have one already, work with your doctor to create an asthma action plan. This is something you talk about and write down. It helps you tell how well-controlled your asthma is and what to do about it. Your action plan might include:

• How much medicine to take and when
• A list of your triggers and ways to avoid them
• What to do when you have specific symptoms of trouble

A peak flow meter is an inexpensive handheld gadget. You use it to measure how fast air comes out when you exhale hard after a full breath in. This number is called a peak expiratory flow (PEF).

Your doctor may want you to use a peak flow meter to help you recognize signs of trouble. Many asthma symptoms result from not being able to move air out of your lungs. If your PEF goes down, that’s a sign that your asthma is getting worse and that you need to do something.

A diary can help you keep track of how well-controlled your asthma is. Every day, write down:

• Any asthma symptoms you had and how you’re feeling
• Where you were and what you were doing right before a flare
• When you’re using medication and how much
• Your PEF numbers

All of this information, collected in one place, helps you and your doctor see patterns and recognize warnings of asthma attacks. You can learn to prevent them or stop them before you get very ill.

Your doctor can also check your diary to see how well your asthma action plan is working.

Even though there’s no natural cure for asthma, your symptoms can be treated and controlled with several asthma medications. Your goal in managing asthma is to:

• Get an accurate asthma diagnosis.
• Work with your doctor to come up with an asthma action plan.
• Monitor your peak flow rate daily and do the right things when it drops.
• Keep an asthma diary so you can track all your symptoms and medication use.
• Avoid asthma triggers or causes of asthma, including outdoor irritants like smog.
• Seek medical advice and treatment for problems that can worsen asthma symptoms, like GERD, allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis.
• Exercise daily to boost your aerobic fitness.
• Prevent exercise-induced asthma by medicating before exercise.
• Eat nutritious foods to boost your immune defenses against viral and bacterial infections.
• Stay at a normal weight.
• Get plenty of restful sleep.
• Call your health care provider at the first sign of asthma symptoms.
• Check in with your health care provider regularly for breathing tests to make sure your asthma is managed and your medications are working at their best.

You hold the key to living well with asthma. Trust your health care provider to give you guidance, and then take daily responsibility for your breathing with proven ways to take care of yourself.

Top Picks

Natural Remedies for Asthma

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• What Are Natural Remedies for Asthma?
• 10 Natural Remedies for Asthma
• Are There Natural Remedies for Asthma Attacks?
• Natural Asthma Remedy Risks
• Make an Asthma Action Plan
• Use a Peak Flow Meter
• Keep an Asthma Diary
• Goals of Managing Asthma
• More

With all the studies on alternative medicine and natural remedies, you may wonder if there’s a natural cure for asthma. Unfortunately, there is no cure for asthma at this point. In fact, you should avoid any treatment or product — natural or otherwise — that claims to be a “cure” for asthma.

Some natural therapies may help you manage symptoms of asthma. For instance, a negative response to emotional stress can cause an asthma attack. Some natural relaxation remedies like deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, and biofeedback can help relieve stress.

Other findings suggest that diet plays a role in easing asthma symptoms. For example, omega-3 fatty acids found naturally in high-fat fish like salmon, mackerel, and cod may help your body fight inflammation. Whether this may help people who have asthma is still unproven.

Many things get credit for being natural asthma remedies. But because studies on complementary and alternative treatments for asthma have been limited, it’s not clear how safe and effective all of them are.

These natural remedies have been studied:

Acupuncture. This traditional Chinese treatment involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body. While some people with asthma say acupuncture eases their symptoms, there’s little proof that it works as an asthma treatment.

Biofeedback. Learning to control your heart rate may help you manage your asthma, but more studies are needed to confirm a benefit.

Herbs and natural dietary supplements. Many people use herbs, plants, and supplements, especially Chinese herbs, to treat asthma. It’s not clear how well many of them work. More research is needed on supplements like magnesium and fish oil (omega-3 fatty acids). But vitamins C, D, and E may help lower your risk of symptoms.

Asthma diet. If you have a food allergy, avoiding trigger foods may also help with some asthma symptoms.

Plant-based diet. Several studies have found benefits for people with asthma who follow the Mediterranean diet. It involves lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and healthy fats like olive oil. You eat more fatty fish and poultry than red meat. Experts think this diet helps with asthma symptoms because it helps fight inflammation in your body. A similar eating plan called DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) may also improve asthma control.

Weight loss. Most people who have extra pounds carry them in the middle of their body. This can make it harder for your lungs to work. Losing weight can improve lung volume and lower your chances of conditions that make asthma worse, like diabetes or high blood pressure. It may also make exercise easier, which could improve your asthma symptoms.

Caffeine. Caffeine is a mild bronchodilator, which means it helps open your airways. Studies have found that it may improve airway function in people who have asthma.

Yoga. Stress may trigger asthma symptoms. Breathing exercises used in yoga have been found to help some people with asthma control breathing and relieve stress, a common asthma trigger.

Buteyko breathing. This technique focuses on slow breathing and short periods when you hold your breath. It doesn’t treat asthma, but it may help improve the pattern of your breathing.

Papworth method. This relaxation and breathing system teaches you to breathe from your diaphragm so your lungs fill with as much air as possible.

The typical treatment for an asthma attack is a quick-acting (rescue) inhaler with medication. Sit upright and take slow, steady breaths. Try to stay calm. Follow the asthma action plan that you’ve set up with your doctor. If your breathing doesn’t get better or if you’re so short of breath that you can’t talk, get medical help right away.

Some breathing exercises can help with symptoms of an asthma attack.

• Pursed-lip breathing. This slows your breathing and helps hold your airways open longer so your lungs work better. With your mouth closed, breathe in slowly through your nose. Then breathe out through your mouth, with your lips pursed like you’re whistling, for twice as long.
• Belly breathing. This technique uses the same steps as pursed-lip breathing. But as you breathe in, focus on the movement of your belly. Picture it filling with air like a balloon. It may help to keep your hands on your belly so you can concentrate on the air going in and out.

As you consider the different types of natural asthma remedies, it’s very important to carefully balance your desire to breathe easier with the possible dangers of the treatments, which may be unknown. Keep these things in mind:

• Never use any dietary supplement before checking with your doctor.
• Some natural herbal products, such as bee pollen, may trigger an asthma attack if you’re allergic to the specific plant.
• Never stop using your asthma drugs without your doctor’s knowledge. If you don’t follow your treatment plan, the results can be very serious and even deadly.

If you’re not sure about the claims on a natural dietary supplement product label, call your doctor before taking it. They can check the product to let you know if it has any health benefits.

If you don’t have one already, work with your doctor to create an asthma action plan. This is something you talk about and write down. It helps you tell how well-controlled your asthma is and what to do about it. Your action plan might include:

• How much medicine to take and when
• A list of your triggers and ways to avoid them
• What to do when you have specific symptoms of trouble

A peak flow meter is an inexpensive handheld gadget. You use it to measure how fast air comes out when you exhale hard after a full breath in. This number is called a peak expiratory flow (PEF).

Your doctor may want you to use a peak flow meter to help you recognize signs of trouble. Many asthma symptoms result from not being able to move air out of your lungs. If your PEF goes down, that’s a sign that your asthma is getting worse and that you need to do something.

A diary can help you keep track of how well-controlled your asthma is. Every day, write down:

• Any asthma symptoms you had and how you’re feeling
• Where you were and what you were doing right before a flare
• When you’re using medication and how much
• Your PEF numbers

All of this information, collected in one place, helps you and your doctor see patterns and recognize warnings of asthma attacks. You can learn to prevent them or stop them before you get very ill.

Your doctor can also check your diary to see how well your asthma action plan is working.

Even though there’s no natural cure for asthma, your symptoms can be treated and controlled with several asthma medications. Your goal in managing asthma is to:

• Get an accurate asthma diagnosis.
• Work with your doctor to come up with an asthma action plan.
• Monitor your peak flow rate daily and do the right things when it drops.
• Keep an asthma diary so you can track all your symptoms and medication use.
• Avoid asthma triggers or causes of asthma, including outdoor irritants like smog.
• Seek medical advice and treatment for problems that can worsen asthma symptoms, like GERD, allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis.
• Exercise daily to boost your aerobic fitness.
• Prevent exercise-induced asthma by medicating before exercise.
• Eat nutritious foods to boost your immune defenses against viral and bacterial infections.
• Stay at a normal weight.
• Get plenty of restful sleep.
• Call your health care provider at the first sign of asthma symptoms.
• Check in with your health care provider regularly for breathing tests to make sure your asthma is managed and your medications are working at their best.

You hold the key to living well with asthma. Trust your health care provider to give you guidance, and then take daily responsibility for your breathing with proven ways to take care of yourself.

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Treatment of bronchial asthma

Bronchial asthma is a disease in which there is a periodic narrowing of the bronchi due to the contraction of their smooth muscles. Narrowing is manifested by sudden shortness of breath mainly on expiration or even suffocation , coughing or coughing attacks, attacks of whistling and dry wheezing in the lungs.

In the absence of treatment bronchial asthma can lead to irreversible changes in the bronchial wall and further in the lung tissue itself. Which is especially sad when it comes to the health of fairly young people. Asthma is treated by a pulmonologist.

Initial appointment with a pulmonologist

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Frequent complaints in bronchial asthma (manifestations)

Periodic coughing – the manifestation occurs suddenly, on certain smells or when it enters certain rooms, in certain months of the year. With non-allergic bronchial asthma, it can manifest itself at certain times of the day (an adult coughs at night), in the cold and during exercise.

Feeling of incomplete inspiration – occurs due to incomplete exhalation, which is prevented by narrowing of the bronchial lumen. In other words, there is already air in the lungs, so it is impossible to inhale even more, even if you really want to.

Sudden shortness of breath in asthma also manifests itself when exposed to allergens (odors, mold and fungus, animals), often combined with cough, dry rales or whistling. If sudden shortness of breath occurs at night, you can think of non-allergic asthma.

I suffocate, asthma attacks – this manifestation of asthma occurs due to a sudden narrowing of the bronchi. Asthma is primarily suspected when a cough is combined with suffocation. However, the appearance of suffocation in heart disease, COPD is possible, especially in adults at a respectable age. People can suffocate with pneumonia. When contacting a pulmonologist, tests and examinations are carried out to identify the causes of asthma attacks.

Wheezing when taking a deep breath – with bronchial asthma, dry: wheezing, buzzing, extended, appear at the beginning of expiration and usually disappear during inspiration. Wheezing during inhalation can be a manifestation of advanced bronchial asthma or when an infection is attached.

I can’t breathe cold air – an adult patient with so-called cold bronchial asthma can present such a complaint. It appears due to the release of histamine in the bronchi in the cold. In addition, cold air is known to promote respiratory tract infections, which often trigger non-allergic asthma.

I suffocate from household chemicals – many adults with allergic bronchial asthma have this manifestation. Substances from household chemicals enter the lungs, where, in the presence of allergies, they cause a contraction of the smooth muscles of the bronchi and the release of mucus. There may be complaints of the same plan: “I suddenly suffocate”, “I suffocate from smells”, “I suffocate at night”.

Dry wheezing and heaviness in the lungs can be a manifestation of both infectious diseases and asthma. Sudden appearance and disappearance, association with smells or the season of the year with a high probability indicates the presence of bronchial asthma.

Whistling in the lungs during breathing – is a variant of dry rales. It is formed from the narrowing of the smallest bronchi, so it has a high tone. Without treatment, other manifestations of asthma join the whistling in the lungs: complete shortness of breath or even asthma attacks.

Forms of bronchial asthma

The form of bronchial asthma is helped to determine the data of the medical history, special respiratory tests – spirometry (FEV1 / FVC), skin tests with allergens, laboratory tests for asthma (sputum and blood). The choice of drugs for the treatment of bronchial asthma and the distribution of accents during it largely depend on the form of the disease.

• Allergic or atopic bronchial asthma occurs due to allergic reactions to various substances of biological or chemical origin. Even in small doses, these substances cause a rapid narrowing of the bronchi, down to the smallest ones, the secretion of mucus in them. Hence the manifestations of asthma: cough, dry wheezing, whistling in the lungs, shortness of breath mainly on exhalation. Allergic asthma often occurs at a young age. With the help of examinations and laboratory tests, it is possible to detect the presence of allergic immunoglobulins (antibodies) E, general and specific, a decrease in respiratory rates when exposed to allergens.
• Non-allergic or non-atopic bronchial asthma occurs due to exposure to poorly understood causes, often due to chronic infections (staphylococcus aureus, viruses, mycoplasmas, chlamydia). Tests for allergic asthma do not show a reaction to any specific allergen. The amount of total immunoglobulin E may be normal or elevated. Non-allergic asthma may be indicated by attacks (shortness of breath, choking, coughing, wheezing, and wheezing) at night, in response to exposure to cold, exercise, or aspirin. And also, the occurrence in adulthood.
• Mixed bronchial asthma is a combination of both main forms. Accordingly, with it, it is possible to single out some group of allergens to which an attack occurs. And at the same time, there are some internal changes that lead to periodic effects on the walls of the bronchi. Perhaps, as asthma is studied, an increasing (percentage) number of patients will be included in this group.

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Can asthma cause complications?

Bronchial asthma can and often causes complications. Especially when it manifests itself in adults against the background of concomitant pathology or when the patient refuses basic treatment.

Respiratory failure – in addition to short-term effects from a lack of oxygen (feelings of suffocation, shortness of breath, dizziness) that an adult feels during the attack itself, there are also long-term effects (weakness, decreased performance, mental and physical retardation in children).

Pulmonary emphysema – the formation of air-filled blisters with connective (scar) tissue in the walls. It arises from increased pressure in the lungs when coughing and intense attempts to exhale during an asthma attack. In conditions of a closed lumen of the bronchi, this leads to ruptures and stretching of the lung tissue.

Pulmonary fibrosis – replacement of lung tissue involved in respiration with scar tissue, which only maintains its shape (not always successfully). Fibrosis eventually occupies an increasing part of the volume of the lungs, which makes their functioning less and less efficient.

Pulmonary edema occurs due to increased pressure in the capillaries and leakage of blood plasma into the intercellular space, often leading to a fatal outcome.

Methods of treating bronchial asthma

Gradual treatment of bronchial asthma is by far the main one for any form. Depending on the number and duration of attacks, 4 or 5 steps are distinguished in the treatment. The first two steps use inhaled glucocorticoids and short-acting beta-2-agonists. With each next step, the dosage of glucocorticoids and the frequency of inhalation increase, it becomes preferable to use various combinations of basic drugs for bronchial asthma, as well as long-acting drugs that expand the bronchi. The added drugs largely depend on the form of bronchial asthma and are selected by a pulmonologist or allergist.

Self-treatment is unacceptable, any treatment is possible only on prescription.

The effectiveness of the treatment of bronchial asthma is controlled not only by the patient’s feelings (decrease in the number of attacks of shortness of breath, suffocation, dry cough), but also with the help of breath tests prescribed periodically during the selection of the optimal drug combinations.

In case of allergic and mixed asthma, against the background of stepwise treatment and a clear definition of allergens, it is also possible to conduct allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT), which over time can eliminate or reduce the need for basic therapy (glucocorticoids or other drugs).

In case of non-allergic and mixed asthma, also against the background of the basic stepwise treatment, it is possible to treat chronic lung infections (from staphylococcus, chlamydia, mycoplasmas and viruses).

If the sputum in bronchial asthma becomes yellow or green, this may indicate the addition of an infection. An allergist or pulmonologist may prescribe expectorants or inhalants that dissolve the sputum to make it easier to pass such sputum.

Asthma physiotherapy and massage help drugs to penetrate deeper and work more effectively.

The restructuring of the bronchial wall by scar tissue can also be partially corrected by the appointment of drugs that absorb scar tissue.

Average treatment times

Asthma treatment is usually lifelong. In the case of ASIT (allergen-specific immunotherapy), the treatment takes on average up to 4 years, and then it can be hoped that basic therapy will not be required for several years. With non-allergic and mixed asthma in the case of treatment of chronic lung infections with antibiotics or immunomodulators, one should not hope for complete success and the abolition of basic therapy is not worth it, such treatment will largely be experimental. The answer to the question: “Is asthma in adults completely treated?” – will be negative.

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Investigations, diagnostics for suspected asthma

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To diagnose the functions of external respiration in bronchial asthma, medical spirographs and spirometers are used, which record the volumes of inhaled and exhaled air, the speed of the process under conditions of physical exertion, in the presence of an allergen and a drug that dilates the bronchi. For home use, devices are much simpler and cheaper – peak flow meters. Allergen skin tests are used to look for an allergen. The more allergens are used, the easier it is to control the manifestations of bronchial asthma in the future. Laboratory analyzers determine the total levels of immunoglobulin E in the blood or sputum. If desired, you can determine the amount of specific immunoglobulins E against certain allergens. In this case, the doctor will be clear which allergens are the strongest.

Popular questions:

How to treat asthma?

Current guidelines describe stepwise asthma management. The central place in it is occupied by basic therapy with inhaled glucocorticoid drugs (budesonide, fluticasone propionate, mometasone furoate, beclomethasone dipropionate), sodium cromoglycate, antileukotriene drugs. It is basic therapy that can prevent serious changes in the lungs. To expand the bronchi during an attack, beta-2-agonists, ipratropium bromide, theophylline are used. How to treat asthma – in each case, the doctor determines, the delivery of the drug, dosage, frequency of use are of considerable importance.

What is asthma in adults?

An illness characterized by sudden attacks of coughing, shortness of breath, choking, coughing, dry wheezing, heaviness in the chest, or whistling in the lungs. Bronchial asthma usually continues throughout life. Over time, it can lead to severe complications or even death.

Causes of asthma in adults

Occurs due to an allergy to some substances in the air or as a result of poorly understood processes in the bronchi themselves (possibly chronic viral and bacterial infections). Ultimately, the smooth muscles of the bronchi begin to contract on their own, narrowing their lumen and making exhalation predominantly difficult.

How does bronchial asthma manifest itself?

Bronchial asthma can also occur at a young age. Then it manifests itself with sudden attacks, most often associated with the presence of allergens. It can be shortness of breath mainly with difficulty exhaling, coughing fits, coughing, dry wheezing (whistling) in the lungs, heaviness in the chest. Older adults may have the same manifestations, but associated with taking aspirin, inhaling cold air, falling at night, and this will also be a manifestation of bronchial asthma.

Is asthma in adults completely treatable?

Modern step / basic therapy has a minimum of side effects and in most cases completely prevents severe complications and death from bronchial asthma. Independent attempts to abandon basic therapy in most cases only lead to a deterioration in the condition and the appearance of complications. Allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) and/or treatment of chronic lung infections makes it possible to reduce the doses of basic drugs.

What helps with bronchial asthma?

Bronchial asthma is helped by glucocorticoids and beta-2-agonists, which are used for inhalation (inhalation). Pharmacies already have ready-made combinations of these drugs. However, in addition to these basic tools, there are others that can be extremely useful in your case. In the treatment of bronchial asthma, the lack of specific drugs in the home pharmacy helps to a greater extent. And the ability to apply them and specific knowledge that can be obtained during the visit to a pulmonologist and / or an allergist.

Fitness trainer Eduard Kanevsky – about how he beat asthma – Moscow 24, 01/13/2019

January 13, 2019, 00:03

Sports

Moscow 24 portal browser, fitness expert and TV presenter Eduard Kan Evsky told his story how from an asthmatic he became a master of sports.

Photo: courtesy of the author

Everything that I will tell you now is my personal story and methods that suit me specifically. Never forget that before choosing a method of treatment or rehabilitation, it is necessary to fully consult with specialists.

Bronchial asthma is a serious disease, it is characterized by attacks of suffocation and, unfortunately, deaths often occur. My grandmother died of an asthma attack, from whom I inherited this disease. And it is not surprising why doctors in every way forbade me to play sports in childhood, because the lungs do not work well, and with such a diagnosis, not only will there be no serious sports achievements, but an attack may also occur. This is now well known to many famous Norwegian skiers and biathletes: they say that most of them are asthmatics, and that is why they are allowed to use a number of drugs so that they can fully engage in sports. Whether they use them or not, I personally do not know. But I know for sure that then, in the late eighties, our doctors did not hear anything about training with asthma, or any special medications, so they simply forbade training. Absolutely no!

But the beginning of the 1990s came, and along with them Western products, fashion and cinema flooded into the country. And, believe it or not, it was Hollywood films, or rather, the first part of the movie “Rocky” that acted on me, as a kid, as the best example and motivator to just go in for sports. The hero of Sylvester Stallone inspired, inspired and motivated me for the rest of my life. I remember that I liked the ending of the movie so much that the very next day I went out for my first conscious run.

At that time I didn’t understand sports at all, I didn’t really know anything, so running and push-ups, as well as timid attempts to work out on the horizontal bars in the school yard were my first, but regular workouts. As I remember now, I was surprised that, contrary to the recommendations of doctors, it was not that asthma attacks did not happen from physical exertion, but on the contrary, it even became better, easier. And so, intuitively, I continued to study for the first year.

Photo: courtesy of the author

Yes, I continued to take the drugs, went with an inhaler, and with every hoarse wheeze, which is characteristic of asthmatics, I immediately used it like a man possessed. Looking ahead, I’ll say: my first coach, who introduced me specifically to power sports, forbade me to use any inhalers at all. And I was also lucky that my mother, who raised me and my brother alone, did not succumb to the panic of the doctors (they say, there is nothing for the kid to play sports, he is forbidden), but simply trusted her intuition and supported me.

This is how I got into athletics, where I started to really train for the first time. Running, running and running again, tens, hundreds of kilometers – everything I did.

Athletics training at the Znamensky Brothers Stadium in the Sokolniki district, where we often practiced not only in the arena, but also in the fresh air, has borne fruit. Actually, it was by running that I developed my lungs, increased their “vital” volume, in fact, performing some kind of breathing exercises, which are prescribed to all asthmatics. Its meaning is to constantly blow on some objects, for example, to roll a battery on a table with air – a very boring task. Running is another matter: breathing quickens in a natural way, the cardiovascular system, chest muscles work, and the lungs become simply “stronger”. Believe it or not, once I started jogging regularly, I didn’t have a single asthma attack. Paradox, you say. Maybe, but this method worked for me.

In the future, I also went in for other sports, one way or another connected with running, such as rugby and boxing. True, again recalling Hollywood films and really pumped-up heroes, I really liked the big muscle mass, because as a kid I was not only an asthmatic, but also frankly thin (in other words, dry).

And it is quite natural that as soon as I had the opportunity to start working with hardware for the first time, I took advantage of this opportunity. By the way, this moment of my biography determined my fate, because it was with the gym that I connected my profession, having received the certificate of “personal trainer”, later passing on the “master of sports” in the “deadlift” movement, began acting on television in projects about fitness, work on the radio, wrote a book about home workouts. And it’s all thanks to the hardware.