Asthma

Asthma is a chronic disease identified by periods of wheezing, coughing, and difficulty breathing. Once air is drawn into the lungs it seems almost impossible to expel it. Attacks can last anywhere from a few minutes to hours, and vary greatly in severity, occurring most frequently at night time. If not treated, they often end spontaneously.

About 1 out of every 35 people in the population suffers from asthma. Of these, two-thirds develop the problem before the age of 5. Men and boys are afflicted more than Women and girls by a ratio of about 2 to 1. Thankfully, about half of the children outgrow asthma as they become adults.

Each year, five thousand deaths occur of which most of them could have been avoided with appropriate treatment programs.

An attack of asthma is a hyperactive response of the bronchi and bronchioles to some agent which causes the muscles in the bronchial walls to contract, thus narrowing the passageways; swells the lining of the air passages, further narrowing the openings; and increases the secretion of mucus, clogging the smaller tubes.

An asthmatic episode may begin gradually or suddenly. A feeling of tightness in the chest accompanies wheezing and coughing. In severe attacks the person suffering struggles to force the air out of the lungs, often becomes anxious, agitated, and even panicked. The lips and skin turn bluish because of oxygen shortage, accompanied with sweating and rapid heart rate. Coughing expels thick, tenacious mucus. As the attack subsides breathing becomes normal, while the chest may be sore.

Generally the asthmatic has an inherited sensitivity or allergy to factors which trigger an attack. These may include house dust (which contains tiny mites), grain dust, pollens, molds, dander or hair (from cats and dogs), feathers (in pillows or from pet birds), tobacco smoke, and polluted air. Other agents may include perfumes, hair sprays, furniture polish, detergents, and any of a number of chemical vapors. Some people are allergic to foods, such as sesame seeds, certain nuts, and peanut butter, chocolate, orange juice, eggs, and milk. Sudden changes in the weather, physical exertion, fatigue, infections (flu, common cold, sore throat), and even excitement and emotional upsets may provoke an attack.

Natural treatments for asthma

The first thing you should do is try to discover what triggers an attack. Keep a detailed record. Observe carefully the circumstances around which attacks occur: the time of day, the season of the year, the activity you were engaged in, whether you were at home or work, what particular foods you have eaten – in fact anything you were doing at the time. You may ask your physician to do some sensitivity tests for foods, pollens, etc.

Herbal remedy supports healthy lungs, plus helps keep air passages open for easy breathing

Homeopathic remedy to relieve tightening of the chest and to open airways during an asthma attack