Asthma Basics

Overview
Asthma is a chronic lung disorder characterized by both inflammation and constriction of the airways. One in ten children and one in three adults suffer from asthma, which translates into approximately 15 million Americans alone. There are varying degrees of severity of the disease, ranging from mild, intermittent symptoms to severe and persistent. Your healthcare provider can help you decipher the severity of your illness based on the severity and frequency of your symptoms. While many people have long periods of time where they are symptom-free or have relatively few chronic symptoms, asthma attacks are quite common. An acute asthma attack is caused by worsening inflammation and constriction in the airways, which leads to symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath and wheezing. While many asthma attacks are relatively mild and can be treated at home, some are more severe and may even require hospitalization.

What Causes Asthma?
Nobody really knows what causes asthma, but the tendency to develop it seems to be frequently inherited. There is a strong hereditary link and asthma can often be seen to run in families. Asthma is also strongly associated with pollution. The incidence of asthma has risen sharply in the last thirty years along with a rise in industrialization and higher levels of environmental pollutants. Children who live in houses with smokers are also at higher risk for developing asthma at some point in their lives.

Other possible causes of asthma in vulnerable individuals include allergic reactions to dietary substances like wheat, dairy products, chocolate, nuts, preservatives and other chemical food and beverage additives. Asthma attacks may also be brought on by pollen, dust mites, tobacco smoke, feathers and other allergens. Even a temperature change, or cold air can cause bronchospasms and increase the likelihood of an attack.

Symptoms
Characteristic wheezing sound, especially when exhaling
Shortness of breath
Tightness in the chest
Persistent cough, especially at night

Treatment
Conventional Western medicine manages asthma with a combination of fast-acting rescue inhalers, as well as inhaled steroids in some patients. Often times, oral steroids are prescribed to manage acute exacerbations. Other treatments take the form of homeopathic or naturopathic treatment. While conventional medical treatment may sometimes be necessary, there may be side effects for some patients. Herbal and homeopathic asthma treatments may be effective, depending upon the severity of the asthma. They can reduce or eliminate the need for synthetic drugs and inhalers and can also be safely used with conventional asthma treatments. Talk to your health care provider first before consulting with a trained homeopathic provider. You should not stop your asthma medication without first consulting your doctor or health care provider.