 What Is Asthma
Asthma does the word make you think of people who cough and wheeze all the time? Don't people with asthma have to avoid sports and strenuous activities? And, when it comes right down to it, isn't it "all in their heads?" If you're one of over 20 million Americans with asthma, you challenge stereotypes like these every day. Learn all you can about asthma.
More than an estimated 20 million people in the United States have asthma. This health problem is the reason for nearly 500,000 hospital stays each year. People with asthma can be of any race, age or sex. Its treatment costs billions of dollars each year.
Asthma is a disease in which the airways become blocked or narrowed. These effects are usually temporary, but they cause shortness of breath, breathing trouble, and other symptoms. If an asthma episode is severe, a person may need emergency treatment to restore normal breathing.
Non-Allergic (intrinsic) asthma (asthma symptoms triggered by factors not related to allergies): Like allergic asthma, non-allergic asthma is characterized by airway obstruction and inflammation that is at least partially reversible with medication, however symptoms in this type of asthma are NOT associated with an allergic reaction. Many of the symptoms of allergic and non-allergic asthma are the same (coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath or rapid breathing, and chest tightness), but non-allergic asthma is triggered by other factors such as anxiety, stress, exercise, cold air, dry air, hyperventilation, smoke viruses or other irritants. In non-allergic asthma, the immune system is not involved in the reaction, as with allergic reaction.
Allergic (extrinsic) asthma (asthma symptoms triggered by an allergic reaction): Characterized by airway obstruction and inflammation that is at least partially reversible with medication and is always associated with allergy. Allergic asthma is the most common form of asthma. Many of the symptoms of allergic and non-allergic asthma are the same (coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath or rapid breathing, and chest tightness). However, allergic asthma is triggered by inhaling allergens such as dust mites, pet dander, pollens, mold, etc. Through a complex reaction, these allergens cause the passages in the airways of the lungs to become inflamed and swollen. This results in coughing, wheezing and other asthma symptoms.
Asthma is strongly associated with pollution. The incidence of asthma has risen sharply in the last 30 years along with a rise in industrialization and higher levels of environmental pollution.
Asthma attacks may also be brought on by pollen, house dust mites, tobacco smoke, feathers and other allergens. Even a temperature change, or the cold morning air, can cause broncho spasm and increase the likelihood of an attack.
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.
In some individuals, anxiety can precipitate an asthma attack and stress and are therefore a contributory factor. There is a strong hereditary link and asthma can often be seen to 'run in families'.
Naturopaths and homeopaths recognize that immune system functioning can play a vital role in helping to control the symptoms of asthma and strengthen the body's defenses against environmental allergens.
Herbal and homeopathic asthma treatment can be extremely effective. Depending on the severity of the asthma, they can reduce or eliminate the need for the synthetic drugs and inhalers and can also be safely used to complement conventional treatment of asthma.
Used as part of a wider, holistic lifestyle management, herbal and homeopathic medicines can bring significant relief to sufferers of asthma - without the side effects or other complications of the conventional drugs.
Asthma Facts and Statistics
- Asthma is a chronic lung condition that can develop at any age.
- It affects twice as many boys as girls in childhood; more girls than boys develop asthma as teenagers, and in adulthood, the ratio becomes 1:1 males to females.
- In Canada, approximately 20 children and 500 adults die each year from asthma. However, with adequate treatment most deaths from asthma can be prevented.
- It is most common in childhood and occurs in approximately 7-10% of the pediatric population.
- Asthma affects children in varying degrees, from very mild (only during vigorous exercise) to very severe. Children with severe asthma may have symptoms every day that may cause some lifestyle restriction; in these children symptoms occur more easily and more frequently.
- Asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disease of children; it accounts for 1/4 of school absenteeism.
- There is a general trend of increased deaths and hospitalizations from asthma recorded in all the industrialized countries of the world, Canada included.
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