Asthma and Allergies: News and Views
Articles on asthma and allergies: causes, symptoms and treatments

Archive for: March 2007



March 2, 2007

Effective Alternative Asthma Medicines

Filed under: Asthma, Remedies - 02 Mar 2007

Asthma is an ailment, which can be extremely scary at times. People who experience sudden breathlessness attacks can find the experience very harrowing.  Hence, besides the regular medicine and the prevention measures prescribed by your medical practitioner, many try out the available alternative asthma medicines.

Alternative asthma medicine includes treatment not generally prescribed by a medical doctor. Alternative treatments may be quite effective – however, in the absence of standard medical research studies to confirm their effectiveness, these methods are usually not approved by the FDA. Hence, once should be very careful when making a choice.

What Choices are Available?

There are many alternative asthma medicines available, each having their own advantages and disadvantages.  One such therapy is acupuncture. People who have tried it out report that they feel relieved after the treatment. The downside is that there is a small risk of being contaminated if the needles are not sterilized properly.

Then there is the chiropractic spinal manipulation, which involves certain specific manipulation of the spinal chord. This in turn promotes healing from within. Hypnosis is another alternative asthma medicine that is widely practiced. Many people find the treatment highly beneficial, however it is not recommended for everybody.

Among the modern alternative asthma medicines is laser treatment. This involves the use of a laser to shrink inflammated tissues and provide almost instant relief. However, there is always a risk of scarring and scar related complications resulting from this type of intervention.

Yoga is another popular method to control asthma. Some people report that with regular yoga practice, asthma becomes almost extinct. Yoga concentrates the inner healing power through different types of positions, which have to be practiced daily. If done properly, yoga could be quite beneficial in the long run.

The above methods are beneficial to some and not so beneficial to others. Their efficiency depends very much upon the practitioner, the stage of the disease, the receiving capacity of the patient and the length of the treatment.  People often found that when the alternative asthma medicine is combined with the main treatment, there is sustained relief. 

Other things that help in getting relief are the identification of the triggers and allergens, which should be avoided to the largest extent possible. An asthmatic patient should always be on guard so that it becomes easier to cope with the disease and lead a normal life.


Adult Asthma

Filed under: Symptoms - 02 Mar 2007

Asthma is a disease of the respiratory system that causes the airways to constrict and close up. The result is that the person suffering from asthma can’t breathe. Asthma can be very serious if not monitored and certain precautions aren’t taken. Usually, if a person has asthma, they are diagnosed as children. By following precautions early in life, they become less cumbersome and, thus, are easily followed in adulthood. However, when adult asthma occurs, it can take a lot of getting used to.

Some people suffer from adult asthma who didn’t have asthma as a child. This can be caused for a variety of reasons, such as certain allergies. If a person is diagnosed with adult asthma, they must take certain precautions they never had to deal with growing up. The old saying you can’t teach old dogs new tricks must not apply. You must follow these precautions or else your adult asthma can seriously harm you or take your life. The precautions depend on what kind of adult asthma you suffer from.

Consult Your Doctor

To determine what kind of adult asthma you suffer from, you’ll want to make an appointment with your doctor. Your doctor will be able to tell you, after performing a series of tests, what kind of asthma you have as well as what activities or things to avoid. For instance, if your adult asthma is caused by an allergy to pollen, you’ll want to stay away from areas with a high concentration of pollen. Your doctor will also prescribe you medicine, usually in the form of an inhaler.

Adult asthma doesn’t mean your life is over. Adult asthma can be serious and it can, in fact, be life threatening if certain precautions aren’t taken. It may take some getting used to but by making a small, conscious effort, you can do what you need to do in order to prevent asthma from controlling your life.

Even if you weren’t asthmatic as a child, if you have adult asthma, you can live a long, normal life, you’ll just have to make small changes to your everyday life. Stay away from those activities or things that cause your asthma and listen to your doctor. If your doctor prescribes medicine, take your medicine. If your doctor gives you an inhaler, make sure you have your inhaler with you at all times. You’ll get used to it in no time at all and your adult asthma will be something you can put in the back of your mind. Control your asthma; don’t let asthma control you.