Allergy Asthma

It has been found that more people in Western or developed countries have allergies compared to people in third world countries. In the United States, an estimated 15 million Americans are suffering from asthma. Out of these 15 million asthma sufferers, five million are children.

As of today, there is no cure for asthma. However, asthma sufferers can find relief from their condition with the numerous asthma medications available today. In addition, asthma sufferers can also make lifestyle changes that can help relieve them of their asthma symptoms. Just because there is no cure for asthma yet doesn't mean that asthma sufferers can't lead a happy, active and productive life.

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic illness characterized by inflammation of the airways or bronchi. This inflammation disrupts breathing. Because the airways are already inflamed, contact to allergens only make matters worse. The presence of allergens causes the airways to narrow and become tight, making it even harder for the asthmatic to breathe.

Asthma attacks are commonly triggered by allergens, excessive physical exertion and viral infections. There are asthmatic persons whose asthma attacks are triggered only when they exercise or get a viral infection.

Asthma attacks have different levels of severity. Some asthmatic people have serious asthma attacks, while some people experience less severe asthma attacks. However, a severe asthma attack can be fatal. In this case, the airways become tightly closed. The vital organs are not able to receive adequate supply of oxygen. If not given quick medical attention, the asthma sufferer may die.

At the first sign of an asthma attack (e.g., tightness in the chest), relievers (also called quick-relief) are commonly taken. Relievers are asthma medications that offer quick relief, literally in just a few minutes. Salbutamol and terbutaline are two of the more common asthma relievers.

Individuals who have persistent asthma need to take long-term asthma control medications, which must be taken every day, whether or not they are experiencing asthma symptoms. Long-term asthma control medications are more for the purpose of preventing asthma attacks. The full effects of these asthma medications can be felt in about two weeks.

Monitoring Asthma

Some people who have had asthma for a while have learned how to tell when an asthma attack is about to come. However, to measure the acuteness of asthma attacks, a doctor uses a peak expiratory flow meter, which measures exactly how tight the airways. This is done by measuring the fastest rate at which the air comes out from the mouth when air is blown out as hard as can be. It is assumed that the power of the muscles used to expend the air will not vary, so any changes in the rates measured are caused by the change in the diameter of the airways.