Allergies And Asthma

Many of the drugs given to prevent and treat asthma are inhaled. Inhaled medications do not have to be processed in any way by digestive organs in order to start working. Instead, they travel directly to the lungs, produce their effects quickly, and cause relatively few side effects. Several different inhaler devices are available to […]

The peak flow meter is an important device that can give you valuable information about your air passages. Peak flow measurements provide a very simple way of measuring how quickly air can be forced out of the lungs. Why Should I Do Peak Flow Monitoring? Measurements of forced expiration are important in the overall assessment

An asthma action plan is a written plan developed by your doctor to help in the management of asthma episodes. It is a customized plan that tells you what to do based on changes in your symptoms and peak flow numbers. It is also called a crisis intervention plan, asthma self-management instructions, or written guidelines

Asthma is an unwelcome intruder in a person’s life. It is a chronic lung disease and it can’t be cured. But there are several unique features of the disease that are not found with most other respiratory diseases. Asthma is reversible. With good treatment, the damage to the lung can be reversed or minimized. It

Ideally, your early warning signs such as a feeling of tightness in your chest, wheezing, coughing, and restlessness while trying to sleep will have given you the extra time you need to take the steps outlined in your personal action plan. If the episode is just beginning: Follow the instructions in your action plan. Take

If you are pregnant and have asthma, you should try to learn all you can about the drugs you are taking to control your asthma. Good asthma control is essential to provide the oxygen your body and the fetus needs. Your doctor will work out the asthma plan best suited to your needs while you

Here are some frequently asked questions related to asthma in adults. Q: What breathing exercises can help me during an asthma attack? A: Pursed-lip breathing involves closing the lips tightly and blowing air out past them the way you would when blowing out a candle. This action helps keep the airways open during exhalation by keeping

Here is a summary of the important facts and information related to asthma in adults. Asthma is a condition in which extra-sensitive lungs overreact to certain irritating conditions called “triggers.” In asthma, the air passages of the lung are chronically inflamed, meaning they are red and swollen. When an asthma attack occurs, the muscle in

We don’t know what causes asthma. But we do know that: Asthma and allergies are likely to run in families and may be inherited. Children who have allergies at a young age may be at greater risk for developing asthma as adults. Some adults with asthma also had asthma as teenagers and as children. In

Here are definitions of medical terms related to asthma in adults. Allergen: A foreign substance that triggers an allergic response in a susceptible person. Allergens are usually common items encountered in everyday life such as substances from insects, animals or plants (such as pollen). Allergy: An unusual response to a small amount of a foreign substance that

In some people, an asthma episode is brought on by an allergy to something in the environment. Allergies occur when the body reacts to common harmless substances that normally don’t trigger a response in another person. These substances are called allergens. In the person with allergic asthma, a flare-up of the airways can occur when