Allergies And Asthma

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

A host of other things can bring on an asthma attack in susceptible people. These include: Respiratory infections Irritants Industrial fumes and dusts at work Air pollution Exercise Nighttime Weather Emotions Hormonal changes Health problems Respiratory Infections Asthma can be made worse by common colds, sinusitis, and influenza (the flu). Viral infections are known triggers

Triggers are things that can make asthma worse in susceptible people by irritating inflamed airways. Here is a list of common triggers: Allergies Yes No Pollens (trees, grasses, ragweed)     Molds     Animals and animal products (dander, wool, feathers, down pillows)     Insect parts and dust mites     Note: Dust is

There are two completely different types of asthma medications, and they are used for completely different purposes: Medications to prevent asthma symptoms from developing Medications to relieve asthma symptoms once they’ve started Need To Know Medication to prevent asthma attacks will not relieve an asthma attack. They are intended to prevent attacks, not treat it. They do

Knowing how airway inflammation prompts asthma symptoms, researchers have developed powerful “preventer medicines” for asthma that halt inflammation in a number of ways, including: Stopping the production of chemicals in the body that cause inflammation Blocking the release of these harmful chemicals from the cells that make them Competing with these harmful chemicals so as

Asthma medications that relieve the muscle spasms responsible for narrowing of the airways are called reliever medicines. The medications that best accomplish this are the bronchodilators. (“Bronchodilate” means to open up the airway, and that’s exactly what these medications do.) Points to keep in mind concerning the bronchodilator drugs include: They relax the airway spasms

Currently there are eight classes of drugs available to treat asthma: Trade names Generic names Preventer drugs and drugs to control persistent asthma symptoms   1.Inhaled corticosteroids –These medications block the production or release of inflammatory chemicals in the body. Few side effects are produced by the inhaled drugs because of their local action in the

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