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Dealing With Asthma Naturally
Dealing With Asthma Naturally
Dealing With Asthma Naturally
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Dealing With Asthma Naturally

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Asthma symptoms vary from person to person. You may have infrequent asthma attacks, have symptoms only at certain times — such as when exercising — or have symptoms all the time.

Asthma signs and symptoms include:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest tightness or pain
  • Trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing
  • A whistling or wheezing sound when exhaling (wheezing is a common sign of asthma in children)
  • Coughing or wheezing attacks that are worsened by a respiratory virus, such as a cold or the flu

Signs that your asthma is probably worsening include:

  • Asthma signs and symptoms that are more frequent and bothersome
  • Increasing difficulty breathing (measurable with a peak flow meter, a device used to check how well your lungs are working)
  • The need to use a quick-relief inhaler more often

For some people, asthma signs and symptoms flare up in certain situations:

  • Exercise-induced asthma, which may be worse when the air is cold and dry
  • Occupational asthma, triggered by workplace irritants such as chemical fumes, gases or dust
  • Allergy-induced asthma, triggered by airborne substances, such as pollen, mold spores, cockroach waste or particles of skin and dried saliva shed by pets (pet dander)

When to see a doctor

Seek emergency treatment

Severe asthma attacks can be life-threatening. Work with your doctor to determine what to do when your signs and symptoms worsen — and when you need emergency treatment. Signs of an asthma emergency include:

  • Rapid worsening of shortness of breath or wheezing
  • No improvement even after using a quick-relief inhaler, such as albuterol
  • Shortness of breath when you are doing minimal physical activity

Contact your doctor

See your doctor:

  • If you think you have asthma. If you have frequent coughing or wheezing that lasts more than a few days or any other signs or symptoms of asthma, see your doctor. Treating asthma early may prevent long-term lung damage and help keep the condition from worsening over time.
  • To monitor your asthma after diagnosis. If you know you have asthma, work with your doctor to keep it under control. Good long-term control helps you feel better from day to day and can prevent a life-threatening asthma attack.
  • If your asthma symptoms get worse. Contact your doctor right away if your medication doesn't seem to ease your symptoms or if you need to use your quick-relief inhaler more often. Don't try to solve the problem by taking more medication without consulting your doctor. Overusing asthma medication can cause side effects and may make your asthma worse.
  • To review your treatment. Asthma often changes over time. Meet with your doctor regularly to discuss your symptoms and make any needed treatment adjustments.
LanguageEnglish
PublisherSepharial
Release dateJun 30, 2017
ISBN9781386244448
Dealing With Asthma Naturally
Author

Desmond Gahan

Desmond Gahan BA., (Dip. Applied Psychology) is the author and publisher of many non fiction books. His special area is psychology and psychopathology. He lives in Dublin Ireland.

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    Book preview

    Dealing With Asthma Naturally - Desmond Gahan

    Dealing With Asthma Naturally

    By Desmond Gahan, B.A.

    ––––––––

    Table of Contents

    Introduction..........................................................................................3

    Asthma might be simple to define, but...........................................4

    Asthma is more complex than it might first appear.....................7

    Known inflammatory triggers..........................................................7

    Asthma symptom triggers...................................................................9

    The list is long, but it could be longer.................................12

    Can asthma be cured?.....................................................................13

    Treating asthma with drugs is a two-stage process..................15

    Long term asthma control drugs......................................................16

    What they are and how they work..................................................16

    The side effects of each...............................................................17

    Where natural treatments begin to fit into the picture.....18

    ‘Quick fix’ asthma drugs.................................................................20

    Defining well controlled asthma....................................................21

    Using a peak flow meter................................................................21

    Spirometry........................................................................................22

    Other asthma control factors to consider...............................23

    Changing your lifestyle might be the first thing to consider..........................24

    Common natural asthma treatments..................................................26

    Multivitamins...................................................................................26

    Honey..................................................................................................27

    Garlic................................................................................................27

    Apple cider vinegar.......................................................................28

    Eliminate dairy produce................................................................28

    Eliminate wheat (gluten) based products.................................28

    Drink black coffee.........................................................................28

    Take cold showers...........................................................................28

    Herbs for fighting asthma............................................................29

    A natural asthma diet plan..........................................................30

    Less common natural asthma treatments........................................32

    Halotherapy or speleotherapy......................................................32

    Marine phytoplankton.....................................................................32

    Adopting a homeopathic approach to treating asthma.............33

    Conclusion...........................................................................................34

    2

    Introduction

    Have you or has anyone you know been diagnosed with asthma? If so, you may be a little confused by the questions that no one seems to be able to answer.

    As you will discover as you read through this book, one of the reasons that asthma sufferers often find themselves left in the dark about their condition is that although the basic definition of asthma is very straightforward, almost everything else about the condition is not.

    Consequently, in this book I’m going to answer as many asthma related questions as possible. Then, I will introduce a variety of natural treatments that have been shown to be effective to treat asthma.

    3

    Asthma might be simple to define, but...

    The first question to address is What is asthma?

    Fortunately, this is the easiest of all the asthma questions to be addressed, because the medical profession as a whole is in broad agreement as to how to define and classify asthma.

    At its most basic, doctors agree that asthma is a respiratory disease that results in ‘chronic inflammation of the airways’.

    People often show symptoms well before asthma develops, because asthma can start with something as simple as a common cold or cough. Other symptoms that could potentially become asthma include sneezing, mild shortness of breath, or even something outside your lungs or respiratory tract such as a headache.

    The bottom line is that it is extremely common for the initial signs of asthma to be ignored, because they appear to be nothing more than the symptoms of a common, everyday condition such as a cough or a cold. This lack of awareness is one of the main reasons many people do not seek treatment for their asthma.

    According to the Asthma Society of Canada, as many as six out of every ten Canadians who have asthma do not control their condition. This figure is expected to be similar in other developed Western nations.

    Because asthma is a chronic condition, it is one that has to be dealt with throughout your life. It causes inflammation,

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