Asthma-14 Ways To Breath Easier-[Part-1]

If you have asthma, you know the dreaded choking

sensation, the faintness, the anxiety. It's as if someone

made you run around the block, then pinched your

nose shut and forced you to breathe through a straw.

And you know all too well that once an asthma attack

starts, it won't go away by itself. Asthma sufferers

make up an estimated five to ten percent of the

population. And while no two persons with asthma

are alike in the subtle characteristics of the condition,

they do have one thing in common: They have trouble

breathing properly. The reason is that their lungs are

supersensitive and easily provoked into constriction

by a wide variety of outside factors, called triggers.

As you have probably discovered, perhaps the hard

way, many things can set an asthma attack into

motion--someone's perfume, a smoke-filled room, a

friendly dog, a flowery garden, a strong wind, or even

a good laugh. (Asthma, however, is a hereditary

condition, so unless a person is genetically

predisposed, nothing will make asthma happen.)

Triggers can be allergic or nonallergic, and reactions

can be immediate or delayed.

While there is no cure for asthma, the good news is

that asthma--whether mild, moderate, or severe--can

be managed. Doctors who specialize in treating

asthma can be very helpful. Every patient with asthma

should see a doctor to be sure another cause of

wheezing is not present and, if true atopic asthma is

present, to develop a therapeutic program for

managing the disorder.

In addition to working with your doctor, you can take

measures to help control your asthma. The key is to

track down the triggers and, as completely as possible,

eliminate them from your life. In short, you can help

counter an asthma attack before it happens. Here's

how:

Smite the mite.

"Dust mites are microscopic insects that thrive on

food debris and high humidity," says Allan M.

Weinstein, M.D., an asthma/allergy specialist in

private practice in Washington, D.C. "Since they are

among the most common allergic asthma triggers,

dustproofing is a must." His suggestions:

* Enclose your mattress in an airtight, dustproof

cover, then cover it with a washable mattress pad.

Keep a bedspread on the bed during the day.

* Wash your sheets in hot water every week, wash

your mattress pads and synthetic blankets every two

weeks, and wash your pillows every month.

* Use polyester or dacron pillows, not those made of

kapok or feathers, and enclose them in airtight,

dustproof covers.

* Avoid carpeting, which is difficult to clean; stick to

bare floors with washable area rugs.

* Choose washable curtains instead of draperies.

* Try not to do heavy cleaning, but if you must, use

only a vacuum cleaner and damp cloth to clean; dust

mops and brooms stir up the dust. Always use hot

water. "Cold water is like a day in the sun to a dust

mite," says Weinstein.

* Wear a mask over your mouth and nose while

cleaning, and leave the room when you're done.

* Run an air conditioner or dehumidifier in warm

weather, especially in spring and fall when mites

multiply. Aim to keep the humidity level in your

home under 40 percent but above 25 percent.

* Consider using an air purifier in the bedroom to

keep the room free from dust particles.

Minimize mold.

"Fungus is a parasite that can literally 'grow on you,'"

says Stuart Young, M.D., an asthma/allergy specialist

in New York. "It can grow on nonliving organic

material, too, in several forms--mold, dry rot, and

downy mildew." Fungi reproduce by producing

spores. The spores are the real problem, as millions of

them float through the air to be inhaled in every

breath, touching off an allergic reaction that can

contribute to asthma. To stave off the spores, Young

advises you to:

* Keep your windows closed, because the mold

spores can come right in through the windows even if

the windows have screens.

* Stay out of attics, basements, and other dank, musty

places.

* Wear a face mask and give your bathroom a goingover

for signs of mold. (Better yet, have a nonallergic

family member do this.) The most likely spots for

mold growth: dark areas, such as the backs of

cabinets and under the sink.

* Examine all closets regularly to see that molds have

not set up housekeeping in unused shoes and boots.

* On a regular basis, have a family member or friend

investigate the inner workings of air conditioners,

humidifiers, and vaporizers in your home where

molds like to grow.

* Periodically check houseplants for mold growth. In

fact, getting rid of mold will help your plants, as well.

Make peace with pollen.

Pollen is released when plants are blooming--trees in

the spring, grass in the late spring and early summer,

ragweed from mid-August until the first frost. Plants

that are pollinated by the wind are much more of a

problem for asthmatics than are those pollinated by

insects. "The goal is to learn how to live with pollen,

not hide away from it," says Loomis Bell, M.D., chief

of pulmonary--critical care medicine at St. Luke's--

Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York. He

recommends that you avoid cutting grass or even

being outside while grass is being mowed. Keep your

windows closed as much as possible--pollen can get

through screens, too--and use an air conditioner to

cool your home instead. Room air purifiers are also

available that can purify recirculated air, removing

particles of all sorts that are suspended in the air and

further cleansing the air by passing it through a

charcoal filter. After being outside in the midst of

pollen, take off your clothes and wash them or at least

run a vacuum over the articles of clothing. Wash

yourself, too, and don't forget your hair.

Don't pet a pet.

The best approach is to not have a pet that can trigger

your asthma, advises Young. The problem is not the

hair of the animal but the dander--the dead, dry skin

that flakes off. The animal licks the skin, and the

dander remains in its saliva. "If giving up a pet is

impossible, the next logical step is to make very strict

rules about living with an allergenic animal," Young

warns. Do not allow your pet into the bedroom--ever.

If the animal is in the bedroom at any time during the

day, the dander will remain for hours. Leave the pet

home if you are going for a car ride that would

necessitate very close contact with the animal. If you

do have direct contact with your pet (or any animal,

for that matter), wash your hands right away. If you

simply cannot keep your hands off your pet, at least

keep your face away; kiss the air--your pet will still

get the idea. In addition, try bathing your dog or cat

once every other week in warm water with no soap.

Bathing the animal in this way significantly reduces

the amount of allergen on your pet's fur, according to

Clifton T. Furukawa, M.D., clinical professor of

pediatrics at the University of Washington School of

Medicine in Seattle.

---

[To Be Continued]

---

INTERNATIONAL ASTROLOGY NETWORK,

Surya Complex, Opp. Sukh Sadan Hospital,

Telephones : Sms:0091-988-885-8077, Reception:0091-186-223-5088, Fax:0091-186-222-5077

Email : InternationalAstroNetwork@Gmail.Com

Facebook : Www.Facebook.Com/AstroNetwork

Blogspot : http://www.astrointl.blogspot.com/

Dalhousie Road

, Pathankot-145001-Punjab-India.

Asthma-14 Ways To Breath Easier-[Part-1]