Asthma Medications and Treatments

Evolution of asthma treatment

2011-10-17T12:20:00.000+08:00

In the old asthma was taken as a divine punishment, so that their treatment was based on mystical orders, prayers, exorcisms, etc..
Oriental medicine to treat asthma with acupuncture techniques, and moxibustion (a technique that uses the same points as acupuncture, but by applying the heat produced by burning a root called moxa)

Others could see the "Treaty of therapeutics and materia medica of Armand Trousseau and H. Pidoux "
1857, the council of the use of numerous compounds to treat asthma, such as: Hydrogen cyanide, arsenic, coffee, electricity, snuff, among others.
In the first edition of the Merck Manual, 1899, indicated that the snuff asthma was often beneficial and the most severe cases, recommended marijuana.
Oils could be found with alcohol and opium in the treatment of asthma and other spasmodic affections. Charles Dickens was one of the followers of this compound to relieve their asthma attacks.
The history of bronchodilator therapy in asthma dates back to 1900 with the use of an extract of adrenal glands proposed by Solis Cohen. Despite being known by the Chinese for over 5000 years ago in 1924 newly entering Western medicine ephedrine, used as a bronchodilator. Since the early 20 bronchodilator theophylline is most used among asthmatics, it is a methylxanthine with a structure similar to caffeine or theobromine. Historically its use in asthma treatment comes as a recommendation to William Withering, in 1786 recommended strong coffee as a remedy for asthma symptoms.
In 1870 shortly after Dr. Henry Hyde Slater, who was asthmatic, also claims strong coffee is the best remedy available for asthma. In 1900, since the early 30's, the lab begins to synthesize Boehringer theophylline, which is widely used to treat this condition, it is interesting to note that even being used for decades by millions of people in the treatment of asthma, now doubt its mechanism of action in asthma and its logical place in the drug scheme, apparently its molecular mechanism of action include inhibition of certain phosphodiesterases, antagonism of adenosine, stimulate release of catecholamines, inhibiting the release of mediators involved in bronchial inflammation and inhibition of intracellular calcium release. Theophylline is a nonselective inhibitor of phosphodiesterases (enzymes responsible for degradation of cyclic nucleotides in the cell, leading to an increase in the concentration of AMP and cyclic GMP). But the degree of inhibition is low (5-10%) at therapeutic concentrations of theophylline tolerable, prompting studies to develop selective and more potent inhibitors that can be used in the treatment of asthma.

What is Asthma | asthma prevention | Charles Dickens

Bronchodilators were subsequently developed more powerful and less toxicity (adrenergic agonists), which finally ended theophylline displacing the position of third-line drug, used when asthma can not be controlled by other means, or when the cost of medicine is the most important factor. About 1948 Ahlquist classified adrenergic receptors alpha and beta, the latter recognizing the quality of bronchodilation, so you start to look for drugs that act selectively on these receptors, later (1967) beta receptors are subclassified into beta 1 (cardiac stimulant action) and beta 2 (bronchodilator). Since then the search is on a drug that stimulates these receptors. In the 70 recognized in asthma inflammatory character, which modifies substantially the same treatment by adding anti-inflammatory therapy, resulting in perhaps the most important pillar today in the treatment of asthma, corticosteroids, allowing the use of bronchodilators for the control of the crisis (the latter in our days is changing with the emergence of long-acting bronchodilators). Even the early use of inhaled corticosteroids would be a "modifier evolution." With the partnership of two long-acting beta and inhaled corticosteroids should theoretically be achieved disease remission, a fact that is unfortunately not in practice, which led to the introduction of the concept of "bronchial remodeling," leading to redefine remission now not as a cure for the disease but the absence of symptoms. Began to emerge then new anti-inflammatory drugs as inhibitors of leukotriene inhibitors and phosphodiesterase that would add two main advantages: its use by the oral route and not having the undesirable effects of corticosteroids. Day by day they are creating new compounds that help asthmatics to take their disease with fewer limitations and we may think we are close to the time when the disease is fully controllable even in cases of severe asthma are as follows concern to the medical community.
Personally, as my own experience, I can recognize in the tea a great ally in the moments that Ventolin is not available to open a bit (if only) the way the precious air when this is difficult.
And you you have any recommendations?
Do you measure your grandmother makes out of these times? Leave me a comment and who can deny that you are the driver of new scientific studies

Asthma and cigarette

2011-10-17T09:48:00.000+08:00

Smoking is unhealthy for everyone, but especially for those with asthma . When a person smokes, their lungs may not work as well as they should. The person may cough and feel tired more short of breath. The snuff irritates the airways , causing them to swell, narrow, and filled with sticky mucus, exactly the same things that cause breathing problems in people with asthma. For this reason, if a person with asthma smokes , you're more likely to have asthma attacks more frequent and more severe.
Being a smoker carries an obvious risk to health, but being around people who smoke - and become smoke by breathing smoke they produce - can also cause problems. Parents can help their children or teen-age children with asthma by protecting them from the effects of smoke snuff.

How can you control the exercise-induced asthma?

2011-10-11T10:29:00.004+08:00

Stretching and proper warm-up exercises and may relieve any chest tightness that occurs with exercise. In addition, breathing through the nose and not your mouth will help warm and humidify the air before it enters the airways, protecting the delicate lining of the airways.
Other ways to help prevent an asthma attack induced by exercise include the following:

Your doctor may prescribe an inhaled asthma medication for use before exercise, which can also be used after exercise if symptoms occur.
Avoid exercising in temperatures very low.
If exercising during cold weather, wear a scarf over your mouth and nose , so the air you breathe is warm and easier to inhale.
Avoid exercising when pollen levels and air pollution are high ( if allergy plays a role in asthma) .
If inhaling air through the mouth, keep the mouth pursed (lips together to form a small "O"), so that the air is less cold and dry when it enters the airways during exercise.
Carry an inhaler , just in case an asthma attack.
Use an allergy mask during pollen season.
Avoid exercise when experiencing a viral infection.

Types of asthma

2011-10-02T11:52:00.000+08:00

There are different classifications of asthma. In terms of origin can be divided into intrinsic and extrinsic asthma asthma or allergic. The origin of intrinsic asthma is unknown and is detected more frequently in adulthood. Has a worse prognosis than allergic in nature and tends to become chronic. Extrinsic asthma, meanwhile, is an antigen-antibody reaction that triggers the process. It mainly affects children and young adults, is characterized by brief attacks and reversible bronchospasm with wheezing and shortness of breath, and controlled with proper treatment.
The allergy is a disorder of the body's defense mechanism consisting of an exaggerated reaction by means of a special antibody (immunoglobulin E), to substances that, in principle, are not harmful (pollens, mites, dander, food or drugs) . When these antibodies, which are fixed in certain cells, bind to the allergen, it causes the release of certain substances that, directly or through other cells, causing inflammation of the organ where they settle (bronchi, nose, eyes or skin ). There is an inherited predisposition to suffer from allergies, but exposure to allergens is needed to develop the disease.
Asthma can also be classified as mild, moderate or severe, depending on the frequency and intensity of symptoms, the way it affects the daily activity and the degree of bronchial obstruction. Mild asthma can be controlled by drug treatment and usually does not affect the daily lives of the sick, the treatment requires moderate asthma more severe and interferes with daily activities of patients, and severe asthma requires continuous control and can endanger the lives of people who suffer.

What is asthma?

2011-09-28T22:58:00.000+08:00

Asthma is a chronic disease of the lungs that inflames and narrows the airways. (Chronic diseases are diseases that last a long time). Asthma causes repeated periods of wheezing (wheezing), chest tightness, shortness of breath and cough . The cough often occurs at night or early morning hours.
Asthma affects people of all ages but usually begins in childhood. In the United States more than 22 million people have asthma. Nearly 6 million of these people are children.

General review

The airways are tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. People with asthma have inflamed airways. This makes the airways are swollen and very sensitive, and tend to react strongly to certain substances that are inhaled.
When the airways react, the muscles around them tighten. This makes the narrow and less air reaches the lungs. Swelling may also worsen and narrow the airways even more. The cells of these pathways may produce more mucus than normal. Mucus is a thick, sticky liquid that can further narrow the airways.
This chain reaction can cause symptoms of asthma. Whenever the airways become inflamed symptoms may occur.

Asthma

Figure A shows the location of the lungs and airways in the body. Figure B shows a cross section of a normal airway. Figure C shows a cross section of an airway during asthma symptoms.

Sometimes the symptoms are mild and disappear spontaneously or after minimal treatment with a medicine for asthma. Other times continue to worsen.
When symptoms become more intense or more symptoms, are said to be an asthma attack. Asthma attacks are also called crisis or exacerbations.
It is important to treat the symptoms as they arise. This prevents them from getting worse and cause a severe asthma attack. Severe asthma attacks may require emergency care and can be fatal.

Prospects

Asthma has no cure. Even if you feel well, you still have the disease and may worsen at any time.
However, due to knowledge and treatments we have today, most people with asthma can control the disease. They may have few symptoms or not have them. They can live a normal, active life, and sleep through the night without interruptions caused by asthma.
You can participate actively in control of their asthma. For successful treatment, complete and consistent, form a solid team with your doctor and other health caregivers.

Famous asthmatic athletes

2011-09-18T12:25:00.001+08:00

Did you know that many sports celebrities living with this disease, which is not prevented from carrying out highly competitive sports? ...
Some of them are:
David Beckham (England)
Footballer Champion of England Premier League Cup, Champions League, Spanish League Champion.
Paul Scholes (England)
England football team, global 1998, 2002, Euro 2000 and 2004.
Dennis Rodman (USA)
basketball player in the NBA.
Jackie Joyner-Kersee (USA)
Runner Athletics.
Six-time gold medalalla Olympic Games.
Tom Dolan (USA)
swimmer.
World Record 400 meters and Olympic gold medalist.
Miguel Indurain (Spain)
Cycling.
Five-time winner of Tour de France, World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist.
Jose Luis Gonzalez (Spain)
Athletics Corridor.
World record of 1500 m indoor.
Kurt Grote (USA)
swimmer.
Olympic gold medalist in 1996
Bruce Davidson (USA)
Horse
Gold and Silver Medalist Olmipico.
Nancy Hogshead (USA)
swimmer.
Three times Olympic gold medalist.
Bill Koch (USA)
cross-country skier
olympic medalist.
Jim (Catfish) Hunter (USA)
baseball player.
Züelle Alex (Switzerland)
Cycling
Winner of Tour of Spain

Folk Remedies for Asthma

2011-09-18T11:22:00.005+08:00

Asthma Remedy # 1: Prepare a tea with three grams of poppy petals in a quart of boiling water and take two tablespoons every hour.

Asthma Remedy # 2: Make vapor leaves sage , chopped and slightly dry .

Asthma Remedy # 3: Apply a poultice of hot mud on his chest for 20 minutes without it cool and rinse with hot water.

Asthma Remedy # 4: Eat 1 / 4 cup of extract of nettle with a tablespoon of olive oil in the morning.

Asthma Remedy # 5: sunbathing where it runs much wind and can make better use of solar beam.

Asthma Remedy # 6: Make massage ointment into the back and chest based on eucalyptus , then you must wrap with little white paper (front and back) sweater for an hour, then get the paper.

Remedy for asthma # 7: Take a couple of cups of strong coffee or cocoa if the person is faced with an impending asthma attack without an inhaler handy.

Remedy for asthma # 8 : Take regular goat's milk.

Remedy for asthma # 9 every night drinking a cup of an infusion of hyssop contains 20 g per liter of water which prevents asthma attacks, or at least mitigate its effects

Remedy for asthma # 10 Eat grilled onions fasting and before bedtime.

Remedy for asthma # 11 Eat a clove of garlic dipped in honey.

Remedy for asthma # 12 Take daily a small glass of carrot juice.

Remedy for asthma # 13 Boil a cup of milk for 5 minutes and add, to bring to the boiling point, 5 celery sticks. Remove from heat, strain and take fasting.

Remedy for asthma # 14 Boil a few leaves of aloe or aloe vera , previously chopped, in a pot with a pint of water. Remove from heat and breathing vapor.

Remedy for asthma # 15 Mix 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 onion juice and honey 1. Then, heat-bath. Take this medicine twice a day.

Remedy for asthma # 16: Feverfew is an herb widely used for centuries for its antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and soothing.

What is exercise-induced asthma?

2011-09-10T10:27:00.001+08:00

Most people diagnosed with asthma will experience asthma symptoms when exercising. In addition, about 11 percent of the U.S. population who are not diagnosed with asthma will experience asthma symptoms, but only during exercise, a condition called exercise-induced asthma . The exercise-induced asthma is different from the typical asthma that is triggered by allergens or irritants, or both. Some people have both types of asthma, while others only experience exercise-induced asthma .
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung disease leads to three airway problems: obstruction, inflammation and hyper-responsiveness. Unfortunately, not yet known underlying cause of asthma.

How does exercise cause asthma symptoms?

When we breathe normally, the air entering the airways is heated and moistened by the nasal passages to prevent injury to the delicate lining of the airways. However, in some people with asthma, the airways may be extremely sensitive to allergens, irritants, infection, weather or exercise, or more of them. When they begin the symptoms of asthma, the muscles of the airways constrict and narrow, the lining of the airways begins to swell, and mucus production may increase. When exercising (especially outside in cold weather), the increase in the amount of air into and out of the mouth can cause the airways to cool and dry, which may irritate and cause the onset of symptoms of asthma . In addition, when breathing through the mouth during exercise, a person can inhale more particles in the air, including pollen, which can trigger asthma.

What are the symptoms of exercise-induced asthma

The exercise-induced asthma is characterized by symptoms of asthma such as coughing, wheezing and tightness in the chest of five to 20 minutes after starting exercise. The exercise-induced asthma can also include symptoms such as unusual fatigue and feeling -of-breath while exercising.
However, exercise should not be avoided because of asthma . In fact, exercise is very beneficial for a person with asthma, improving their airway function by strengthening their breathing muscles. Ask your doctor for more information.

What happens if you start an exercise in crisis?

2011-08-19T10:40:00.000+08:00

Strive to be calm. If you have made the basic rules, the crisis should not be very strong.
Stop exercising.
Allow to breathe. The partners should not be built around the person having the attack
Take bronchodilator medications as soon as possible.
Start wheezing. Pucker your lips as if about to whistle. This type of breathing allows air to escape the lungs and prevents rapid and shallow breathing, and chest "swell."
When the crisis is resolved, try to go back to class to finish if you are very tired, but make the exercise more smoothly.
If the patient does not recover as in the past should take another dose of bronchodilator and consult a doctor or go to a hospital.

Prevention of asthma-triggers

2011-08-15T12:41:00.012+08:00

Each has its own asthma triggers of crisis ... but it is well known that there are certain substances that are responsible for the vast majority of patients ...
In varying degrees of susceptibility every patient can usually recognize which are the substances most frequently involved in crisis ...
In other evidence that can be done to know exactly how that is the most allergenic substance for our patient and thus can avoid them with more emphasis or desensitization therapies make them.

The most common are:

Allergens

Allergens are substances that (just) trigger allergy symptoms, there is a large group of them but the most common to find in our homes are:
• Pollen
• Mold from moisture
• Dust mites
• Animal dander
• Certain foods
It is important to avoid contact with these substances since this measure greatly improves airway function of asthmatics, reducing the number of seizures.

Irritants

The airways of asthmatics have a hyperreactivity to certain substances, this can be explained as if, for example, we put salt on a wound, it would burn and ignite much the same goes for inflamed bronchial tubes (they are too sensitive to we put irritants). These irritants are:
Smoke anything, but mainly because it is the cigarette that is in contact with more people regularly.
Contact with substances that normally would not and especially repetition (as in work) gases, chemicals , powder.
Strong odors such as perfumes, household cleaners, hair sprays, cooking fumes, paints, varnishes.
Particles in the air and coal dust, chalk dust, talcum
Change in weather, such as changes in temperature and humidity, atmospheric pressure changes.
Of these by far the most common irritant is cigarette smoke. Several studies have indicated a higher incidence of asthma in children whose mothers smoke. No one should smoke in the home of an asthmatic.

Infections

Viral infections of the upper airway from a common cold, angina, laryngitis, flu, more committed to paintings as bacterial pneumonia (which is lower airways)

Uncontrolled exercise

Strenuous physical exercise without taking the necessary precautions, or be prepared also cause asthma attacks. Mouth breathing, exercising in cold, dry air, or prolonged aerobic demand such as distance running can trigger asthma attacks.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease.

gastroesophageal reflux disease, this can trigger asthma attacks and is generally a little factor taken into account by ordinary physicians.

Medication

There are certain drugs that are often causes of asthma attacks by different mechanisms, we have the most frequent aspirin, ibuprofen or other anti-inflammatory crises that typically trigger up to 20 percent of patients, nonselective beta blockers (propranolol), angiotensin of angiotensin converting enzyme (enalapril) that makes about 10 percent.

Food

For some people, eating certain foods or eating certain ingredients can trigger asthma symptoms. These factors may be milk, eggs, nuts, wheat, fish and shellfish. If any of these foods cause asthma attacks, the best remedy is to avoid them.

Emotional Anxiety

Emotional factors alone can not cause asthma. However, anxiety and nervous stress can cause fatigue, which in turn can increase asthma symptoms and aggravate an attack.

As with any chronic condition, rest, nutrition and adequate exercise are important for overall wellbeing and can help manage asthma.

Asthma and Pregnancy

2011-08-12T10:23:00.008+08:00

Having asthma does not necessarily mean having a complicated pregnancy. With proper management of asthma and appropriate medical care during pregnancy, most women with asthma can experience healthy pregnancies .
According to a National Asthma Education for the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control Diseases (National Asthma Education Group for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is the acronym CDC), asthma is one of the most common diseases that can complicate a pregnancy. In some cases, the diagnosis of asthma is not made until the woman becomes pregnant. The way in which asthma affects a woman during pregnancy varies, including:

A third of women experience no change in their asthma symptoms.
A third of pregnant women experience more severe symptoms of asthma.
A third of pregnant women experience relief of symptoms of asthma.
The symptoms may become more severe between 29 and 36 weeks of pregnancy.

Treating asthma properly during pregnancy is important . The Uncontrolled asthma can lead to decreased oxygen to the mother, which, in turn, affects the fetus. 's asthma is not under control can lead to any of the following complications :

Possible complications for the mother smokes

Asthma, when not controlled, can put undue stress on the mother as well as the fetus. Lack of oxygen not only deprive the mother but also the fetus. Other complications from uncontrolled asthma for the mother include:

Preeclampsia (also known as toxemia in pregnancy.) - A pregnancy disorder characterized by increased blood pressure, fluid retention and protein in the urine.
Gestational hypertension - high blood pressure during pregnancy.
Hyperemesis gravidarum - a pregnancy disorder characterized by prolonged vomiting, weight loss, and fluid and electrolyte imbalances.
Vaginal bleeding - bleeding through the vagina.
Induced labor or complicated, or both - the beginning of labor to give birth to the fetus or labor that may cause complications for the mother and fetus.

Possible complications for the fetus

The absence of oxygen to the fetus from the mother can lead to many health problems in the fetus, including the following:

Perinatal mortality.
Intrauterine growth retardation - poor fetal growth in the uterus, causing the fetus to be smaller than normal for gestational age.
Premature birth.
Low birth weight.
Neonatal hypoxia - inadequate oxygen to the cells.

Recommended sports for people with asthma

2011-08-10T10:32:00.000+08:00

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, is the acronym AAAAI), the recommended sport for people with asthma is swimming , due to the temperate environment, wet, the greater muscle tone and horizontal position (which may actually loosen mucus from the bottom of the lungs).
Among other sports recommended include the following:

Baseball.
Football.
Golf.
Gimnasia.
Running short distances.
Surf.
Wrestling.

Sports that may aggravate exercise-induced asthma include:

Cross-country skiing.
Basketball.
Long-distance running.
Hockey sobre hielo.

However, with proper management and preparation, most people with asthma can participate in any sport.

History of asthma

2011-07-11T12:47:00.000+08:00

There is evidence of asthma since ancient Egypt, and even before. The Georg Ebers Papyrus, found in Egypt in the 1870's, contains over 700 glyphs prescriptions. As an example we can cite asthma recipe detailing how to heat a mixture of herbs the bricks, then suck the vapors ...
The term comes from the Greek term asthma Aazein:

The word asthma comes from the Greek verb aazein, which means

pant, exhaling with the mouth open, breathing hard. In the Iliad, a Greek epic poem (attributed to Homer), the term "asthma" appeared for the first time as far as literature is concerned.

The "Hippocratic" by Hippocrates, is the oldest text where the word "asthma" but as a medical term. It is not entirely clear whether Hippocrates (460-360 BC) nominates to asthma as a clinical entity or simply as a symptom.

Hippocrates states that the spasms associated with asthma were more likely to occur among the fishermen, tailors and metal workers.

Aretaeus of Cappadocia (100 AD), a former teacher Greek physician, wrote a clinical description of asthma. Galen (130-200 AD), an ancient Greek physician, wrote several mentions of asthma were generally in agreement with the texts of Hippocrates and to some extent with those of Aretaeus of Cappadocia. He describes the obstruction and bronchial asthma as proposed owl treat blood mixed with wine.

Moses Maimonides (1135-1204 AD), the rabbi and philosopher who lived in Andalusia, Morocco and Egypt, was also a physician who practiced medicine in the court of the Sultan Saladin of Egypt. Among the many medical texts, Maimonides wrote the "Treatise of Asthma" for Prince Al-Afdal, (one of his patients). Maimonides showed that the symptoms of his patient often starts as a common cold during the wet months. Finally, the patient was out of breath and coughing until mucus expelled, which improved his condition. He noted that the dry months of Egypt helped asthma sufferers. Maimonides also suggested avoiding strong medication, sleep and excess fluids, moderation in sexual activity, and chicken soup.

Jean Baptiste van Helmont (1579-1644 AD), physician, chemist and physiologist of Belgium, said that asthma originated in the airways to the lungs.
Bernardino Ramazzini (1633-1714 AD), known by some as the father of sports medicine, detects a link between asthma and organic dust. It also recognizes the exercise-induced asthma.
In the early 20's asthma was considered a psychosomatic illness (probably delayed approach any medical breakthrough at the time). During the years 1930 to 1950, asthma is known as one of "the seven holy psychosomatic illnesses."

Asthma is described by psychologists as "wheeze of a child are seen as a suppressed cry for his mother." Psychoanalysts believe that Patients with asthma should be treated for depression. This theory was finally disproved psychiatric and asthma is currently a psychological illness as well as physical. Asthma, inflammatory disease, was not really recognized until the 1960s when anti-inflammatory drugs begin to be used.

Asthma Triggers

2011-07-11T11:05:00.003+08:00

Several factors can trigger asthma symptoms, including:

Allergens
Irritants such as snuff smoke, strong odors
Changes in weather
Viral or sinus infections
Exercises
Reflux disease (stomach acid flows into the esophagus)
Drug
Food
Emotional distress

Each person has their own triggers. If you have asthma, you can minimize your symptoms by avoiding the trigger factors, and working with your doctor to develop an effective plan of treatment and control.

Allergens

Allergic rhinitis or "hay fever" is a risk factor in the development of asthma. The symptoms of allergic rhinitis and asthma may be triggered by allergens , any substances that cause allergies, and can be:

Pollen
Moho
Animal dander
Dust mites in the house
Cockroach
Food

If your asthma is caused by allergens, it is important to avoid contact with them . See your allergist / immunologist for recommendations on control measures that will help you avoid allergens.

Irritants

The inflamed airways of asthmatics are hypersensitive to environmental irritants. Irritants that can trigger and aggravate asthma include:

Air pollutants such as snuff smoke, wood smoke, chemicals in the air and ozone
Occupational exposure to vapors, dust, fumes and gases
Strong odors or sprays such as perfumes, household cleaners, hairspray, cooking fumes (especially from frying), paints and varnishes
Other particles in the air and coal dust, chalk dust or talcum powder
Change in weather, such as changes in temperature and humidity, barometric pressure changes or strong winds

These irritants can aggravate asthma, especially snuff smoke . Several studies have indicated a higher incidence of asthma in children whose mothers smoke. No one should smoke in the home of an asthmatic.

Infections

Viral infections such as colds or viral pneumonia can cause or aggravate asthma, especially in young children. These infections can irritate the respiratory tract (nose, throat, lungs and breasts), and this often causes further irritation to asthma attacks . Furthermore, sinusitis , an inflammation of the hollow cavities around the eyes and behind the nose can cause asthma.

Exercises

Strenuous physical exercise can also cause asthma attacks . Mouth breathing, exercising in cold, dry air, or prolonged strenuous activities such as running middle and long distance, can increase the chance of exercise-induced asthma (EIA). For more information visit the section on asthma and exercise

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition in which stomach acid flows into the esophagus, can affect patients with asthma. Symptoms can be severe or repeated heartburn, belching, night asthma, increased asthma symptoms after meals or exercise, or frequent cough and hoarseness. Treatment for GERD is also often beneficial for symptoms of asthma.

Drug

Some adults with asthma may experience an asthma attack due to certain medications such as aspirin or other nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, and beta-blockers (used to treat heart disease, high blood pressure, migraine and glaucoma). Before taking any prescription medicine, people with asthma should consult a physician.

Food

In some people, eating certain foods or eating certain ingredients can trigger asthma symptoms . These factors may be milk, eggs, nuts, soy, wheat, fish and shellfish. If any of these foods cause asthma attacks, the best remedy is to avoid

Emotional Anxiety

Emotional factors alone can not cause asthma. However, anxiety and nervous stress can cause fatigue, which in turn can increase asthma symptoms and aggravate an attack. As with any chronic condition, rest, nutrition and adequate exercise are important for overall wellbeing and can help manage asthma.

Inhalation devices for asthma

2011-07-07T10:21:00.001+08:00

They use different inhalation devices in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease such as emphysema. Inhalers are effective in delivering medication directly to the lungs, with fewer side effects than oral medications or injections. There are certain types of inhalation devices. The type of inhalation device will vary, depending on your medical history, preference, severity and frequency of symptoms. Inhalers can contain anti-inflammatory medications or bronchodilator medications.
The most common types of inhalation devices include the following:

of controlled dose inhaler

The most common type of inhaler, the metered-dose inhaler, in most cases, uses a chemical propellant (chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs) to remove the drug from the inhaler. There are now some MDIs that use CFCs to propel the medication. They are developing new types of delivery systems.

A metered-dose inhaler is held in front of the mouth or inserted into it as the drug is released in bursts. Consult your doctor for specific instructions on how to properly use a metered-dose inhaler.

Nebulizer

A nebulizer is a type of inhaler that sprays a fine, a liquid mixture of the drug. This is done through a mask, using oxygen or air under pressure, or an ultrasonic machine (often used by people who can not use a metered-dose inhaler, such as infants and young children and people with asthma severe).

The mouth is connected to a machine via plastic tubing to deliver medication to the patient. Consult your doctor for specific instructions on how to properly use a nebulizer.

Polvos the inhaler dry rotary

A dry powder inhaler unpressurised activated inhaler that may be used by children and adults, this type of inhaler does not use chlorofluorocarbon (Also called a CFC) to propel the medication out of the device. Consult your doctor for specific instructions on how to properly use an inhaler or dry powder rotary.
Making-dose inhalers more environmentally friendly:
Although many metered-dose inhalers still use chlorofluorocarbon (English CFC) to propel the medication out of the device, more and more inhalers are being replaced by non-CFC devices. The CFC, although safe for the person who inhaled, damage the ozone layer of the Earth - a layer that protects Earth from harmful sun rays. Other devices that previously used CFC, such as air conditioners and refrigerators, have already changed aa alternatives that do not use chlorofluorocarbons.

Important: It is what you should avoid doing if you suffer from asthma?

2011-07-05T10:36:00.001+08:00

Avoid intense physical activity a day when asthma is not controlled.
Avoid strenuous exercise if you have a respiratory infection (colds, bronchitis, ...).
Never make a strenuous exercise if you notice wheezing or has a bad cough.
For those asthmatics that their doctor has recommended peak flow meter , never exercise if you are in the yellow zone (should be very moderate).
Avoid whenever possible cold and dry environments. If you were to do an exercise in those conditions, wear a mask like surgeons.
Avoid intense exercise or last long, especially until it has reached a good physical condition and not know the personal boundaries of the exercise.
Avoid exercising in polluted environments or smoke .

Children with asthma, what sport should do?

2011-06-18T12:56:00.000+08:00

The truth is that if the exercise is not only necessary for children without respiratory distress, but also it is and more so for children with asthma.
But this is a very vague response in asthmatic children need to plan what exercises can I do, How much exercise is healthy in these cases?, At what time is needed? ... These are questions that every asthmatic, or family asthma has been done at some time during the course of their disease.
The ideal sport for asthmatics ( according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology ), is swimming , due to the humid environment, the superior muscle tone and horizontal position (which may actually loosen mucus from the bottom of the lungs).
On the other hand sports that could be undesirable are:

- Cross-country skiing.
- Basketball.
- Light athletic.
- Hockey.
But almost all well-controlled asthma can do any sport.
There are some recommendations that all athletes with asthma should take into account:
- You may need to be made one or two puffs of the inhaler before and after exercise.
- Avoid exercising in very low temperatures.
- If exercising during cold weather, wear a scarf over your mouth and nose, so that the air breathed in is warm and easier to inhale.
- If you inhale air through your mouth , keep the mouth pursed (lips together forming a small "O"), so that the air is less cold and dry when it enters the airways during exercise.
- Carry an inhaler, if you have an asthma attack
- Avoid exercise when experiencing a viral infection.
1 in 10 sports hese young people suffer asthma, but this should not prevent them from enjoying the sport or even compete at high levels. Exercise is beneficial for people with asthma, provided they take appropriate precautions. Work with your doctor to find out what the best way to control your asthma so you can keep enjoying the sport and the activities you enjoy.

Quick-relief medications for asthma

2011-06-17T10:18:00.000+08:00

Quick-relief medications for asthma and relax the muscles around the airways that tighten during an asthma attack . The sooner a person takes quick-relief medication at the beginning of the symptoms of asthma , the faster you will achieve asthma control again. Although quick-relief medications may relieve symptoms, the relief may only last about four hours.
It is important to note that quick-relief medications for asthma symptoms do not prevent recurrence. Only long-term medications for asthma can help prevent the recurrence of symptoms. Some people with severe or frequent asthma may use both types of medications to control their asthma (as advised by your doctor)

Important:

The control of asthma medication in the long run to keep the inflammation controlled and quick-relief medicine for asthma attacks.

When using more and more quick-relief medications to relieve symptoms of asthma, this can get out of its control and may require an adjustment of medication for asthma control over time. Always consult your doctor.

The quick-relief medications may include:

Short-acting beta2 agonists - the short-acting beta2 agonists are bronchodilator medications to help relax the muscles of the airways and around tight so that the airway can be reopened.
Inhaled anticholinergics - medications that block a chemical called acetylcholine. Acetylcholine can stimulate muscle contraction, increase secretions from the lungs and mouth, and slow the heartbeat, resulting in an asthma attack.

Examples of drugs for asthma quick-relief

CATEGORIES	EXAMPLES OF GENERIC MEDICATION
Short-acting beta2 agonists.	Albuterol, bitolterol, pirbuterol, terbutalina
Inhaled anticholinergic	Ipratropium bromide

Your doctor may also prescribe a short course of oral corticosteroids (in tablet or liquid form) during periods of exacerbation of their asthma. Oral corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory drugs that can prevent inflammation of the airways and reduce mucus in the lungs. Oral corticosteroids do not give immediate relief, but is often used in conjunction with inhaled quick-relief medicines to provide better control of asthma.

Important:

Medications for asthma control in the short term and quick relief can affect people differently. Your doctor will prescribe the drug for adequate control of asthma based on their individual needs.

General rules for asthma exercise

2011-06-16T10:38:00.001+08:00

Or take medications as directed by your doctor before physical activity (in the locker room before moving).
Prolonged warm up gradually.
Try the exercise is done at intervals.
No maximum exercise intensity.
If possible, sports are more beneficial in warm and humid.
Where possible try to breathe through the nose
Bring the fast-acting medication broncolidatadora the usual sports bag
Not to commit indiscretions when alone or at risk. Especially when performing a risk sports such as mountaineering, climbing, cycling, rafting ...

Asthma and Work

2011-06-05T10:45:00.005+08:00

Approximately 15 percent of adults with asthma experience occupational asthma. The occupational asthma is a type of asthma caused by exposure to inhaled irritants in the workplace. Occupational asthma is often a reversible condition, which means the symptoms may disappear when avoiding the irritants that caused the asthma. However, permanent damage can occur if the person experiences prolonged exposure. Examples of irritants in the workplace include:

Dust
Gases
Humos
Vapors

What are the symptoms of occupational asthma?

Occupational asthma often begins with a cough or other symptoms of asthma such as wheezing and chest tightness, which may occur during exposure to the irritant at work. Sometimes, occupational asthma symptoms do not appear until several hours after exposure, even when at home after work . At the onset of the disease, symptoms may subside during weekends and holidays. However, during the later stages of occupational asthma, asthma symptoms may begin occurring during exposure to other common asthma triggers such as smoke, dust and temperature changes.

What substances cause occupational asthma?

Although every day develop new substances that can cause occupational asthma , some irritants in the workplace air (according to the American Lung Association, include:

Irritating

Examples

Type of occupations / environments at risk

Chemical dusts and vapors

Isocyanates, trimellitic acid, acid phallic

Manufacturers of foam mattresses and upholstery, insulation, packaging materials, plasticizers, polyurethane paint

Animal substances

Polvos of bacteria, dander, hair, dust mites, polvos protein, small insects

Farms, animal trainers, kennel workers, jockeys, veterinarians,

Organic dusts

Cereals, coffee, flour, grains, tea

Millers, bakers and other food processors

Cotton, flax and hemp dust

Dusts from cotton and textile industry

Workers in cotton and textile industry workers

Metals

Chromium, nickel sulfate, platinum, soldering fumes

Manufacturers of metals and refineries

Drug Control in the long term

2011-05-17T10:12:00.000+08:00

Medications to control long-term asthma medications include inhaled anti-inflammatory drugs (drugs that reduce or prevent inflammation of the airways), and long-acting bronchodilators (drugs that open the airways by relaxing the muscles around the airway and respiratory tighten during asthma).
The goal of long-term medication is to reduce and prevent inflammation of the airways that can trigger asthma attacks. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the acronym is NHLBI ), the drugs long-term control may be recommended for people who:

Experience asthma symptoms three or more times a week.
Experience asthma symptoms at night three or more times per month.

When people first start the medication long-term control, it may take a few weeks for the medication to take effect. It is important that the medication long-term control is taken every day, even if the person feels good to continue to control asthma at an optimal level.

Medications to control long-term asthma may include:

Inhaled corticosteroids - anti-inflammatory medication that prevents swelling of the airways when exposed to asthma triggers . Steroids, which also reduce mucus in the lungs, are sometimes used to prevent and control asthma as mild, moderate and severe.
Cromolyn and nedocromil - nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are often used to treat children with mild asthma . (Cromolyn and nedocromil can not stop symptoms during an asthma attack. They are only used to prevent these from occurring.)
Long-acting beta2 agonists - mainly used to control moderate to severe asthma and prevent nighttime symptoms, these bronchodilator medications relax the muscles around the tightened airways so that they are reopened. These drugs do not reduce inflammation, so they are often prescribed along with anti-inflammatory drugs, such as an inhaled steroid.
Sustained-release theophylline tablets or sustained-release beta2-agonists - bronchodilators used to prevent nighttime symptoms. Theophylline needs to build up in the bloodstream over time to be effective in the treatment of asthma.
Leukotriene Modifiers - These drugs block the action of chemicals called leukotrienes, which are white blood cells and may cause inflammation and narrowing of the airways. Leukotriene modifiers can not stop symptoms during an asthma attack. Only used to prevent from occurring . Leukotriene modifiers seem to be more effective in people with aspirin-sensitive asthma (a type of asthma triggered by an allergic reaction to aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug).

Examples of medicines to control asthma long-term

CATEGORY	EXAMPLES OF GENERIC MEDICATION
Inhaled corticosteroids	Beclomethasone, budesonide, flunisolide, fluticasone, triamcinolone.
Inhaled cromolyn and nedocromil	Sodium cromoglycate, nedocromil sodium.
Leukotriene modifiers (tablets).	Zafirlukast, zileuton.
Beta2 agonists for prolonged action	Salmeterol (inhaled), albuterol (tablets).
Theophylline (fluid pills).	Teofilina.

Associated diseases of asthma

2011-05-11T11:55:00.001+08:00

Inflammation of the bronchial mucosa : In recent years it has been shown that treatment of inflammation is the most important part of asthma treatment. So far, put too much emphasis on bronchodilation, but if there is inflammation, the effects of bronchodilators are ephemeral. There are several medications that have anti-inflammatory effect in bronchial mucosa, but the most powerful and effective are corticosteroids (cortisone) inhaled. Inhaled corticosteroid doses used are very low and produce a topical effect without the side effects of oral administration, intravenous or intramuscular injection. Inhaled corticosteroids have become the most important drug in the treatment of asthma. They begin to be prescribed in patients with persistent asthma, ie those in which symptoms occur several days a week, and in those in which symptoms occur at night. For those symptoms occur sporadically, for example one or two times every 15 days, it is necessary to start with steroids and bronchodilators may be sufficient.
Bronchospasm : Inhaled corticosteroids do not act immediately, even when they effect after a few days of treatment, bronchospasm forwards. But for the immediate treatment of it is used bronchodilators are usually given by inhalation. There are two basic types according to the duration of action: long-acting bronchodilators are taken morning and evening every day, whether or not the symptoms, while short acting are usually reserved to take in case of need (shortness of breath, coughing, etc). The ultimate goal is that patients resort to short-acting bronchodilators on rare occasions. Otherwise, it is necessary to promote anti-inflammatory treatment. Obviously, patients with severe asthma, despite maximum anti-inflammatory treatment, often require bronchodilators.
Allergy : In patients who demonstrated an allergic component, treatment with antihistamines may be beneficial. On the other hand, with certain allergies are effective immunological treatments (vaccines) that can significantly help in controlling asthma. However, as effective in treating allergies is to avoid or minimize exposure to allergens. For example, in the case of allergy to dust mites, hygienic measures are simple house can significantly reduce their presence.

Associated diseases and general measures
Gastroesophageal reflux and chronic sinusitis can aggravate or cause asthma, so it is important to rule in cases of asthma do not respond to usual treatment.
Obviously, people with asthma should completely abstain from smoking because snuff smoke is an irritant that causes inflammation of the bronchi. Occupational exposures that cause asthma (flour, wood, etc..) Should be avoided if possible by proper air ventilation and use of protective masks. In severe cases it is necessary to change jobs.

Prevent asthma problems

2011-05-07T11:25:00.000+08:00

Relaxed atmosphere for the asthmatic patient , trying not to show the anguish that provokes crisis in the family.

Keep well hydrated by asthmatic mucus secretions to be fluid and easier to pass.

If the asthma is a very emotional person, you should try to change the way you handle problems or joys, which can trigger an attack.

Breathing through the nose and not your mouth especially when you exercise, and drying the back of his throat and cooled can trigger asthma. Hence, swimming is great exercise, because the mouth is closed longer and wetter. Similarly, any exercise is good that requires less physical effort such as baseball, tennis, golf.

Include foods such as fatty fish, fruits and vegetables (especially those high in antioxidant vitamin C) in the diet.

Avoid vegetable oils like sunflower, which are rich in fatty acids and reducing or eliminating meat and animal fat, except fish.

Kick the habit of smoking , and snuff the smoke can be an irritant that causes asthma by paralyzing the tiny hairlike cilia membranes of the respiratory mucosa. If the asthmatic smoker living with a Person who can not quit, he should be asked to smoke outside.

Do not have pets dogs, cats, parrots, etc.. Recommended only fish.

Beware of weather changes , it can be a trigger of asthma.

Remove dust mites and can cause asthma attacks. The following is recommended for elimnarlos or keep them at a minimum:

Mattress cover with airtight, dustproof.
Wash sheets weekly Callientes water
Do not put rugs
Use washable curtains
Avoid items that trap dust
When cleaning dusty areas should wear a mask.

Do not eat ice cream or drink extremely cold , and cold can cause bronchospasm.

Avoid exposure to chemicals such as polyurethane and urethane used in the plastics industry, to clean dry chemical resins and paint industry.

Using inhalers. If you find that the spray comes out of his mouth, is misusing the device. Nor is it right to introduce the device in the mouth and make a couple of quick sprays should be The way is to keep the inhaler utiizada two or three centimeters from the mouth open, take a deep breath and a half seconds later activate the inhaler. Continue to breathe and then hold your breath between three to five seconds.

It is necessary to go to a doctor when you notice that your asthma is increasing in frequency and is beginning to take more medication than normal.

Drugs to prevent or treat exercise-induced asthma

2011-05-01T10:43:00.000+08:00

There are three types of medications to prevent or treat the symptoms of exercise-induced asthma. Your doctor can help determine the best treatment for you according to your asthma condition and type of activity or exercise you do.
The first drug is short acting beta2 agonist , also called bronchodilators . This drug can prevent symptoms and should be taken between 10 and 15 minutes before exercise . This drug prevents symptoms for up to 4 hours and can also be used to treat and reverse the symptoms of exercise-induced asthma.
The second drug is a long-acting bronchodilator . Currently available only one type of this drug, salmeterol . It is necessary to take between 30 and 60 minutes before physical activity and only once every 12 hours . Salmeterol can prevent asthma symptoms for about 10 or 12 hours. This medicine should only be used to prevent symptoms and to alleviate never happen because once does not provide any quick relief .
The third type of drug is cromolyn sodium or nedocromil . You should also take a 15 or 20 minutes before exercise . There is evidence that taking these drugs prevents the slow response of exercise-induced asthma that some people have. Furthermore, these drugs should only be used as a preventive measure because they do not relieve symptoms once they start. Some people use one of these drugs in combination with a short-term bronchodilator.

Treatment for Asthma

2011-04-17T10:06:00.003+08:00

The two types of drugs used to treat asthma include medication long-term control and quick-relief medicines in the short term . Although the goal of both drugs is to treat the symptoms of asthma, are used for different purposes.
The medicines long-term control is usually taken every day to control asthma symptoms and prevent asthma attacks from occurring.
The quick-relief medication is primarily taken to relieve the sudden onset of symptoms of asthma (such as during an asthma attack), and in cases in which asthma symptoms only occur occasionally.
The type of medication prescribed by your doctor to treat your asthma symptoms depends on the type and severity of their asthma, and their individual medical needs.

Use a peak flow meter

2011-04-11T11:03:00.001+08:00

The peak flow meter is a device with which by a blow, measure the peak flow value. This value allows us to easily measure the severity of asthma .
The peak flow is the amount of air can be expelled, a forced, lungs, in the first part of expiration. Normal values vary with age and height. In asthmatics these values tend to be diminished, and much more during a crisis, being lower the more intense the crisis of bronchospasm .
It is important to know for each person what is your personal best peak flow . This is the value to be taken into account, since the figures are normal tables orientadoras.Es only the best value obtained by measuring 3 times per day, with the person without a crisis, for 15 days. When using bronchodilators, the measurement must be made before and 20 'after ingestion.

The peak flow measurement is useful to know:

At what point may be useful to give a medicine or stop
Whether to modify or not treated (lets us know the degree of bronchial obstruction in that person throughout the day and week)
Identify the triggers that cause or increase bronchospasm (contact with an animal, dust, strong smells, emotions, etc ...)

In moderate to severe asthma over 5 years old, you should keep a record of a Peak Flow Meter

Che Guevara and asthma

2011-04-10T12:35:00.000+08:00

The story goes that one of the meetings of Che Guevara's army and the troops of Batista, who had a military force far superior to the "commander", the latter fled climbing the steep slopes of a mountain to get cover. At the time Che was in one of the worst bouts of asthma
suffered by him so far, so much so that one partner had to carry him on their shoulders to avoid being captured. After a chase time of Batista's army began a strong attack with mortars and machine guns.
At that time the Che Guevara forgetting his shortness of breath and discomfort began to run ahead even beating their peers and the top and finding a safe place .
A reason for this Che Guevara used to joke ... "There is no best treatment for an asthma attack the fire of the enemy ..."
based on this anecdote we can ask ...
What is asthma?
How much affects the psychological factor asthma attacks?
Can we act on this factor for asthma?
Luckily today we have a very effective means to treat asthma and prevent attacks, but there are simple factors that together can change the course of asthma.

Other data about asthma

2011-04-10T11:57:00.000+08:00

This disease is a public health problem that affects 10 percent of children and youth, and 5 percent of the adult population in industrialized countries. In Spain two million people have asthma, and in the world exceeds 150 million. On the death rate from this disease in our country die from this cause 2 x 100,000 h / a, and the world are produced 100,000 deaths per year. The deaths are caused by acute attacks can not be controlled, although there are other factors that prevent addressing the deadly crisis.
A multicenter study sponsored by the Spanish Society of Respiratory Pathologies (Separ) has shown a relationship between dying or suffering a near-fatal asthma crisis and alexithymia, a psychological disorder that affects 10 percent of the healthy population and prevents perceive and express emotions well and physical sensations. The work found that asthmatics with alexithymia, about 38 percent of patients taking part in the research, more often suffer near-fatal crisis, as they are not correctly perceive the symptoms of asthma are not able to act accordingly.
"The alexithymia could also be one of the causes of poor adherence to therapy than among patients with asthma, "said Vincent Square, Service of Pneumology, Hospital San Pablo, Barcelona. Asthma is the most common cause of emergency visits in childhood and the fifth leading cause of consultation in primary care. About 60 percent of emergencies treated in pulmonology services exacerbations of asthma are caused, most often, for lack of compliance with prescribed treatment.
This confirms that the disease is not well controlled, since more than half of diagnosed asthmatics, despite being on treatment, you need to use rescue medication to relieve your symptoms flare. Failure to comply could be solved with drugs more comfortable, better communication between doctor and patient and patient education. "They should inform the patient about everything related to their illness and train it to the correct use of medication, creating an active and continuous between the physician, the patient and their environment.
Thus, through acceptance and understanding of the disease the patient is co-responsible for their treatment, and no need to lie to the doctor or feel guilty for not following the treatment, "says Santiago Nevot, Chief of Pediatrics at Manresa General Hospital . So far it has been shown that compliance is better with oral drugs inhaled, and increases if it is a single daily dose.

How can occupational asthma be prevented?

2011-04-10T10:47:00.000+08:00

Avoidance of triggers is the best prevention against asthma .
If you have symptoms of occupational asthma, you may need to change jobs to avoid exposure. However, certain steps taken in the workplace can help reduce the risk of occupational asthma:

Change the work process to better handle irritant exposure.
Use industrial hygiene techniques that are appropriate for the type of irritant you are exposed and that will keep exposure levels to a minimum.
Get regular medical checkups to identify possible damage that may occur in the lungs or other medical conditions specifically related to exposure to the irritant.
Be aware of any personal or family history of asthma which may put you at greater risk for occupational asthma in certain industries.

How is occupational asthma diagnosed?

The diagnosis of occupational asthma usually includes a detailed medical history and physical examination to establish the relationship between symptoms and exposure in the workplace. Other diagnostic procedures may include pulmonary function tests before and after work to detect narrowing of the airways, laboratory tests of blood and sputum, and chest X-rays to rule out other lung diseases.

Treatment of Occupational Asthma

Treatment for occupational asthma usually includes avoiding the substance that triggers the attack or asthma symptoms. People with occupational asthma should avoid inhaling gases such as chlorine, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide, as these substances may aggravate asthma symptoms. Other treatment may include medications to control asthma. If occupational asthma is advanced, treatment may also include:

Medicines.
Physical therapy.
Devices for assisting the respiratory apparatus

MONTELUKAST: New perspective for the treatment of asthma?

2011-03-17T12:15:00.000+08:00

Introduction : Asthma remains one of the problems of global public health, epidemiological data as its prevalence has increased in recent decades, affecting nearly one hundred million people around the world. For this reason the interest in this disease is increasing.

Has recently been recognized to inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness as the primary pathophysiologic mechanisms. The cells involved are presumably mast cells, eosinophils, macrophages, neutrophils and lymphocytes. Mediators released, histamine, bradykinin, leukotrienes C, D and E, platelet activating factor and prostaglandin E ₂ , F _{2 a} and D ₂ , induce immediate and intense inflammatory reaction consisting of bronchospasm, vascular congestion and edema. Apart from causing a permanent contraction of smooth muscle and mucosal edema in the airway, leukotrienes could justify other pathophysiological manifestations of asthma such as increased production of mucus and impaired mucociliary transport. ¹ In this sense, the combined use corticosteroids and B ₂ agonists in the traditional treatment of this disease has proven effective. However, the long-term use of steroids causes local adverse effects such as cough, dysphonia, oropharyngeal candidiasis, and systemic, adrenal suppression, osteoporosis, thinning skin, easy bruising, and cataracts that can limit their use. ²

The recent development of antagonists of leukotriene receptor as a complementary drug to conventional therapy, especially the last to appear, Montelukast, offers a potential benefit for the treatment of asthma, mainly due to the low incidence of adverse effects.

The aim of this literature review is to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of Montelukast in the treatment of asthma.

Materials and methods: For the preparation of this review classical literature has been used in clinical medicine and randomized controlled trials, double-blind multicenter studies, these were extracted from search engines (PubMed and Google) using key words and asthma Montelukast . The search was restricted to articles published in 1999-2002.

Development: The cysteinyl leukotrienes are released by mast cells in the airway, a product of arachidonic acid metabolism, and increased eosinophil migration, mucus production, edema of the airway wall, bronchoconstriction and decreased ciliary motility. Leukotriene modifiers are the newest medications for controlling asthma in the long term. Zileuton, first to appear, is an inhibitor of 5 - lipoxygenase which reduces leukotriene production but may cause reversible elevations of aminotransferases; zafirlukast and montelukast are antagonists of cysteinyl leukotriene receptors, but a small number of patients treated with the first, has been diagnosed with Churg-Strauss syndrome. ²

Montelukast (Singulair) blocks selectively the binding of LT E4 (the cysteinyl leukotriene predominant in the air) to its receptor provide significant protection against bronchoconstriction and other changes induced by AMP in patients with asthma, including eosinophilic inflammation ( % reduction in sputum eosinophils from 24.6 to 15.1% and decreased to 314.1 eosinophilia + / - 237.6 ml). ^3.4

Montelukast is administered orally at a dose of one tablet of 10 mg. a day. It is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, reaching peak plasma concentrations within 3 to 4 hours. post ingestion. Its half-life is 2 to 5 hours, metabolised in the liver and excreted mainly at the bile.

Several clinical trials comparing the efficacy of montelukast (M) vs. corticosteroids (GCC) have been published. One of them (n = 395), prospective, multicenter, utilizing patients with persistent asthma refractory to treatment with B ₂ agonists of short duration. The GCC used was fluticasone propionate, which was more effective as maintenance therapy in first line. Significantly improved lung function, the percentage of days free of symptoms, nighttime awakenings and the use of albuterol as compared with M rescuer, plus a greater number of patients were satisfied with therapy (85% vs with GCC. 56% M) and the quality of life improved substantially compared to GCC M (p £ 0.01). The incidence of exacerbations was similar with both treatments. ⁵

In another study (n = 533) dose decreased the need for rescue albuterol, asthma symptoms, nighttime awakenings and the percentage of symptom-free days in a more pronounced with the GCC with M; exacerbations were similar in the number of episodes, as well as adverse effects. ⁶

Malmstrom et al., In a clinical trial, double-blind, placebo over a period of 12 weeks (n = 895), which compared M 10 mg once a day with beclomethasone 200ug twice daily and placebo , found an average increase in FEV ₁ with beclomethasone 13.1%, with M of 7.4% and 0.7% with placebo. Both M Beclomethasone as PEF improved quality of life and increasing the number of days with asthma control and the consequent reduction of exacerbations. They also found that although the average Beclomethasone has greater clinical benefits, the M has a faster onset and higher initial effects. ⁷

With regard to treatment of acute asthma, a study in an emergency department (n = 20) included patients who seemed to need systemic GCC for their crisis, were randomized to receive M or placebo. As a result, those who received M had a shorter stay in the service (M = 2.5 hours, placebo = 2.9 hours) and better development of the PEF (55% average increase from baseline vs. 44% placebo) no significant difference. However, supplementary administration of GCC or aminophylline was significantly less necessary with M (p = 0.03). These data and the safety profile of M indicate that there may be a useful additional therapy should be considered in emergency rooms as an alternative in the management of acute asthma. ⁸

As for exercise-induced asthma in one study (n = 10) compared with salmeterol demonstrated to be equally effective considering the immediate onset of action (within the first hour) and the maintenance of the same (12 hours), with an increase in FEV ₁ by 9 ± 4%. ⁹

Conclusion: As the disease asthma, not controlled, diminishes the quality of life for those who suffer and who has been increasing its prevalence (about 100 million people), the wider knowledge of this proposal that increases drug effects of conventional drugs will be beneficial. Based on these findings it has been concluded that montelukast has a complementary action to the classic treatment by reducing the need for medications used to present and promote their actions, thus maintaining control of the disease, highlighting which itself does not replace the 1st line therapy (corticosteroids and B ₂ agonists).

Benefits of using Montelukast associated to conventional therapy:

Controlled clinical trials suggest that this new drug can improve lung function and reduce the requirement for inhaled or oral corticosteroids and B ₂ agonists.
It has proved effective as maintenance therapy in patients with asthma by decreasing the adverse effects compared with long-term therapy with corticosteroids (GCC).
Comfortable and easy administration (single daily oral dose).
Useful in exercise-induced asthma.
Faster onset and higher initial effects.

Disadvantages:

It is noticeably more expensive than conventional treatments.
Have less clinical experience compared with traditional alternatives.

What parents should do and avoid if you have an asthmatic child

2011-03-17T10:03:00.002+08:00

Allow your child to participate as much as possible in the regular school work, sports and other leisure activities, and encourage them to explore new areas of interest.
Report to your child about your condition, how to control with medications and what factors may trigger a crisis.
Allow your child to have more responsibility in their daily activities to grow, including the treatment of asthma.
Do not treat differently because they have asthma.
Do not consent to unacceptable behaviors.
Do not worry if you have breathing problems while your child's asthma / to be controlled, he / she knows what to do.
Important:
Do not panic!
- Do not be panic if your child has a crisis. Your reaction may put even more nervous and worsen the crisis.
- Do not hesitate to contact your doctor in case of emergency

Recognition and avoidance of asthma triggers

2011-03-17T10:00:00.006+08:00

The good news is you can do many things to minimize the effects of asthma. Here are instructions for initiating an action plan for asthma.
You can help protect your child from identifying and avoiding asthma symptoms, or controlling, the things that trigger an asthma attack.
Ask your doctor to help you identify the factors triggers in your child and recommend measures to help reduce the symptoms of your child's asthma. Their efforts should focus on eliminating the sources and circumstances of the triggers in your child and / or own triggers

Indicative list to avoid or reduce exposure to common triggers:

Caspian animal

Do not have pets at home.
If you must have a pet, do not let the bedroom ever.
Bathe your pet weekly.
Avoid visiting homes with pets or carry your reliever medication when visiting homes with pets.
Avoid products containing feathers, such as pillows and cushions.
Cover mattresses, cushions and pillows in airtight plastic bags.
Wash all bedding and blankets once a week in hot water (> 55 ° C).
Remove all rugs, if possible

Environmental pollens and molds

Keep windows closed at stations with high pollen counts.
Avoid sources of molds, such as wet leaves and debris from the garden.
Avoid going outside at noon and afternoon when pollen and mold is higher.

Snuff Smoke

If you have asthma, do not smoke
Do not allow smoking in your home.
Encourage family members to leave the snuff or avoid smoking around you or your child.

Asthma Symptoms

2011-03-10T11:46:00.002+08:00

During asthma attacks the bronchial mucosa lining the airways swells and produces thick mucus that clogs the ducts of the airways. As a result, the muscles around these tubes tighten and constrict reducing its diameter, prevent the passage of air and complicate breathing. The basic features of the disease are: Inflammation: Increased sensitivity and bronchial obstruction. Sometimes your home is allergic. Produces an increase in secretions and bronchial muscle contraction.
Increased bronchial responsiveness : After exposure to various stimuli (fumes, gases, odors, cold air or exercise), the bronchi of asthmatics are contracted to produce the narrowing of the airway.
Bronchial obstruction : It is variable and reversible spontaneously or with treatment. During the crisis the air circulates with difficulty producing beeps and feeling of fatigue or breathlessness. At the time when the crisis is resolved normally air can move through the bronchial tubes and symptoms disappear.

Information for parents of asthmatic children

2011-02-17T09:57:00.000+08:00

Studies have shown that 50-80% of children with asthma experience symptoms before age five.
The childhood asthma often goes undiagnosed.
In children under five years, the most common cause of asthma symptoms is viral respiratory infection.
Factors associated with childhood asthma are allergy, family history of allergy / asthma and exposure to smoke and inhaled allergens.

Several studies have shown specifically that the risk of asthma increased in children with one or both parents smoke.
The exposure of children to snuff smoke increases respiratory symptoms such as cough, sputum or phlegm production and wheezing, and carries the risk of developing asthma and suffer asthma attacks.
The children of two to four years living with a smoker have a 280% more likely to suffer wheezing than children in households without smokers.
In addition, smoke snuff is also been associated with increased number and severity of respiratory disorders, including allergic rhinitis, bronchitis, pneumonia and ear infections, upper respiratory tract and nose.
As children are very susceptible to respiratory infections, exposure passive smoke snuff is made even more worrying.

Causes of Asthma

2011-02-12T11:43:00.001+08:00

Pollens: Although pollination occurs during the spring, variations according to different climates and types of plants. Symptoms are usually detected at concentrations above 50 grains of pollen per cubic meter of air. The small size favors pollen remaining airborne for long periods and walk long distances to penetrate the breathing passages.
Prevails in Spain grass pollen, olive trees in the south and Parietaria in the Mediterranean area. Dust mites: These microscopic parasites that live in house dust and feed on skin flakes and other debris. They need to develop precise conditions: temperature 25 ° C and 85 percent humidity.
In Spain the most important are Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae.

Food : Asthma episodes related to food are common during childhood and are accompanied by other symptoms such as hives and vomiting, so they tend to be confused with food poisoning. Products that cause major reactions are milk, eggs and fish. In adulthood, this type of asthma is less common.
Fungi : Certain fungi produce allergens that settle on their spores and the release of these depends on the humidity, temperature and the presence of organic matter in their environment, such as garbage or shower curtains. Times more favorable for its development are spring and fall, the most common and highlight the alternaria, the Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus and mucor.

Learn what is asthma and asthma prevention

2011-02-10T12:39:00.003+08:00

The first thing a patient with asthma should achieve after discovering that asthma is, is the subject of preventing asthma ... for that we have some curious data that can open the view on this important issue is the prevention of asthma.
Before 1950, there were few reasons for children to play indoors. Normal behavior includes two to four hours per day of outdoor play. From mid-1950, increased television programs aimed at children, so that in a period of 15 years became normal for children at home watching a screen for the same period of time . That this change has had negative consequences for the health of children is not in doubt. The most obvious (or parallel shift) has been the rise in obesity, reflecting both reduced physical activity and dietary changes, but the weight and height are much easier to measure the activity or diet. Therefore, many studies only include reliable data on weight and height. The decrease in physical activity and increased time spent sitting are closely linked with the respective consequences for lung physiology, and asthma is no exception to this fact. A simple question arises from all this: is it harmful or sitting outside activity is protective?
The proof that sitting for long periods of time is harmful has come from different types of studies: First, epidemiological studies have shown that children who spend more hours watching television are at higher risk for obesity and asthma , which would be contrary to policies for the prevention of asthma. Two hours per day at the age of three years doubled the risk of asthma at age 11. Second, there is a long series of experiments showing that the full expansion of the lungs may decrease pulmonary resistance. The normal pattern of breathing includes intermittent deep breaths or sighs, and there is good evidence that sighs rates decrease significantly during periods that the children are sitting watching a screen. Further research is needed to determine whether prolonged periods of sitting with low rates of sighs allow the lungs to enter bronchospasm.
Evaluate the relevance of physical activity is complex. Two to four hours per day playing outside is not the same as high-demand activity two or three times a week. The latter type of activity is associated with an increased incidence of newly diagnosed asthma. It is also well established that exercise can induce acute bronchospasm in patients with asthma. Worse, there are children whose normal lives as undemanding activities include any exercise causes shortness of breath or "whoop." In general, we would argue that prolonged exercise is beneficial, although the data are confusing, because many children are not well conditioned and develop dyspnea during vigorous exercise.
The secondary consequences of sedentary entertainment are also complex. More time at home could increase exposure to indoor allergens, 18 to 23 hours in the interior is sufficient to explain the increased prevalence of asthma. Being in the interior has reduced exposure to sunlight with a consequent decrease in the production of vitamin D. However, the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and allergic disease requires further investigation.
Exposure to farm animals early in life is negatively associated with the development of allergic disease. The move away from an agrarian society began at the time of the industrial revolution and was approximately 90 percent total for 1940. There were only small additional reductions in the number of families directly associated with agriculture between 1960 and 2000. This change in lifestyle gradually decreased the number of children exposed to farm animals. Currently, less than one percent of children have contact with farm animals during childhood.
In rural areas of Africa and Papua New Guinea, where people hardly know it's asthma, where asthma rates are low, children are barefoot and are exposed to helminths and ectoparasites. In addition, water quality remains poor in these regions and is often contaminated. Children in these villages are physically active, low body fat, and generally do not spend much time indoors. These children tend to have high levels of total serum IgE, consistent with the high rate of parasitic infections. But were these alterations responsible?, Could help create plans to prevent asthma?, Could help us understand that it is final and specifically asthma?.

What is Bronchoconstriction?

2011-02-07T10:59:00.006+08:00

Bronchoconstriction is another term that is familiar to people with asthma. Part of what happens during an asthma attack . The part "bronco" the word refers to the bronchial tubes that branch from the trachea to the lungs. "Constriction" refers to the contraction of the muscles that surround the airways.
When a person with asthma is exposed to certain triggers , the muscles around the airways can contract, thus narrowing the internal air duct and is difficult much air flow inlet and outlet of the lungs. The airway may also become inflamed and clogged with even more mucus. This causes symptoms like wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and difficulty breathing

a disease called asthma

2011-01-17T11:28:00.002+08:00

Asthma is an increasingly common disease among children and youth. Is estimated to have 10 percent of children in industrialized countries, and in many cases the disease occurs in response to certain stimuli such as pollen, dust mites or certain skin particles dog and cat.
This disease is the response to certain stimuli that produce allergies: pollen, dust mites, skin particles of cat and dog, smoke, cold air, certain foods or food additives. It is characterized by the occurrence of episodes of respiratory distress (crisis or attack), usually associated with other symptoms such as coughing, wheezing when breathing and shortness of breath. Symptoms vary according to age.
In this way, especially prevalent in children cough, especially at night, while in adults the three main symptoms are chest tightness, wheezing and fatigue at night. In recent years there has been an increased prevalence and a progressive increase of cases in children and adolescents, which highlights the need for preventive measures. The cure of asthma can only be achieved in some cases of allergic asthma or related to the workplace of the patient, whenever possible to avoid the causative agent.

Correct use of aerosols in the treatment of asthma

2011-01-17T09:55:00.001+08:00

Remove the lid upside down and shake vigorously

Slowly expel as much air as possible from your lungs

With head bent slightly backward before the nozzle mouth. Hold the spray between the index finger and thumb, as shown in the figure, push the index to produce the shot while the mouth breathe deeply and steadily, trying to take as much air into the lungs

Hold the air in the lungs for as long as possible. Breathe out slowly. If you have to do more than one shot at a time, wait a minute or two between them

Asthma Diagnostics

2011-01-12T11:53:00.002+08:00

First you have to make a clinical diagnosis based on clinical history which show the symptoms described above. We also have to inquire into the nature of the crisis, presentation, interval between crises, desencadentes, seasonal period, disease progression and a general pediatric anamnesis in order to be able to make a differential diagnosis of other respiratory diseases that may present with the same symptoms as asthma. In order to objectify the airflow obstruction, the diagnosis is functional, which is a respiratory function test (spirometry). It has the disadvantage that it requires the cooperation of the child and therefore performed in children over 6 years.
In every child in suspected bronchial asthma must perform baseline spirometry and bronchodilator (give the child to inhale a drug) to demonstrate that the airway obstruction is reversible (characteristic of asthma). Finally, an etiologic diagnosis, led to seek the cause that triggers the symptoms, to identify the cause is the most important step to control the disease.

What makes asthma symptoms to flare up?

2011-01-10T10:58:00.001+08:00

Your asthma can flare up for several reasons.

Allergies can make your asthma symptoms worse. Viral infections (such as cold), snuff, contaminants (such as wood smoke), cold air, exercise, fumes from chemicals or perfume, sinus infections and heartburn can cause a flare-up.

In some people, strong emotions or stress can trigger an asthma attack. Pay attention to how these things affect your asthma. If you and your doctor figure out which things affect your asthma, you can begin to address them.

What are the symptoms of asthma flare-up?

Common symptoms are coughing, feeling breathless, a feeling of chest tightness and wheezing (breathing that makes a hoarse, squeaky, musical or whistling). Look every day if you have these symptoms.

As this is the flare-up?

If you feel you are having a flare-up, use a quick-relief medication or a fast-acting inhaler once. Make sure you and your doctor talk beforehand about how much medicine to take during an attack.
To determine how severe the symptoms are rapid onset asthma use their peak flow meter after using the quick-relief medicine. If the value of your peak flow is less than 50% of personal best, the attack is severe.
Ask your doctor for written directions about treating asthma flare-ups. If you have symptoms of a severe asthma attack or if the best value of your peak flow is less than 50% of personal best, call your doctor right away or go directly to the nearest emergency room by ambulance, if is necessary.

What to do if an asthma attack

2010-12-17T09:53:00.004+08:00

One of the main reasons why we should know more about asthma is to help us make good decisions during an asthma attack. If you feel short of breath or wheezing with breathing, the worst thing you can do is panic. The panic over difficult to breathe and take appropriate decisions. It is best to act calmly to restore normal breathing.
The first step to relieve an asthma attack is to use your fast-acting bronchodilator (eg albuterol). The usual dose is two slow deep breaths. In a sudden and severe crisis of breath, can use up to four aspirations than once without any problems.
Under normal conditions, we recommend that you not use your quick-relief bronchodilator more than 4 times a day. To treat an asthma attack, however, use the bronchodilator, safely, every 20 minutes during a period of two hours, if necessary. If you have a compressor nebulizer at your fingertips, you can use the same way, every 20 minutes for several doses. The main side effects you can expect are tremor and palpitation. The best way to handle an asthma attack depends in part on how severe the attack. Sometimes you can recognize an acute attack by their symptoms. You may have a severe attack if short of breath even when walking slowly on level ground, if you have to interrupt your conversation for air, or if you are sweating and can not lie because he feels breathlessness. At other times your airways may be very narrow but it is difficult to determine based on symptoms - or may not want to recognize the severity of the situation. The use of a experómetro is useful is right now. You can tell how severe is your asthma attack and measure whether the treatment is improving. If a peak is less than your best value, is having a severe attack. In most people, a smaller maximum volume of 200 liters per minute indicates a severe attack. The bronchodilators for quick relief only treat one part of an attack asthma, the constriction of the muscles surrounding the bronchi. The other part, the inflammation of the lining of the bronchi and mucus overproduction, requires a treatment of anti-inflammatory corticosteroids. If you have a relatively mild attack that is responding to quick-relief bronchodilators, inhaled corticosteroids can take. Some examples (brand names) are Aerobid ®, Azmacort ®, Beclovent ®, Flovent ®, Pulmicort ®, and Vanceril ®. If you use any of these medicines daily as preventive medicine, double up (take double the regular aspirations) during the attack. If you have a severe attack , you should take prescription steroid tablets such as prednisone or Medrol ®. The typical starting dose is 30-60 mg. Steroid tablets regularly take 6 or more hours to take effect. Meanwhile, should continue to use quick-relief bronchodilator up to every hour, if necessary. severe asthma attacks can be dangerous. If you are not improving despite following your plan of action, seek help immediately.

Symptoms of Asthma

2010-12-13T10:52:00.000+08:00

Asthma symptoms vary in individuals, and are mild in some and severe in others. Even within the same family, two people with asthma may experience different symptoms or suffer a symptom more often than another.

Asthma severity can vary from one person to another. A crisis may begin abruptly, with numerous severe symptoms that occur at a time, or learn more slowly, with a gradual increase in respiratory distress. Typical symptoms of an asthma attack are progressively worsening shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing and chest tightness, or a combination of these symptoms. Some people may also wake up at night with these symptoms
The most common symptoms in asthma are:

Wheezing . It is the most characteristic symptom, although in the first years of life some other diseases may wheeze.
People call it many names: whistling, hissing, jija, fatigue ... These terms people use to say what happens to their children easily corroborate the examination (auscultation) by the doctor with a stethoscope (stethoscope), although often wheezing is audible without needing any device.
Cough . A persistent cough during the night and cough that occurs during or after the exercise, sport or effort are clear examples of asthmatic cough. But because the cough is a common symptom in childhood, for colds, etc, is exceptional use of cough in the absence of wheezing, as the sole criterion for diagnosis of asthma. When a child coughs it is easier to think you have a cold to asthma.

Important:

In a short and relatively severe crisis, the strong and dry cough sounds. Acute attacks may be accompanied by an acceleration of the heartbeat (tachycardia) and frequency of abnormally rapid breathing (tachypnea) that is becoming more labored, sweating and causing much anxiety and distress. The patient may have wheezing, noisy, and sometimes is unable to speak more than a few words without stopping to catch his breath.

of cytokines and leukotrienes (oral agents), to "inhibit" or delete the action of leukotrienes.

Classification of asthma severity in terms

2010-11-19T10:51:00.000+08:00

Asthma can be classified into mild, moderate and severe , depending on certain parameters such as frequency and intensity of asthma attacks that occur, the symptoms that occur between crisis and crisis response to different drugs, of exercise tolerance or pulmonary function
The following table presents a classification guide to the severity of asthma, hosted by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute :

	Symptoms	Symptoms Night	Pulmonary Function
STEP 1 Intermittent	Less than once a week. Asymptomatic between attacks.	Twice a month or less.	FEM and / or FEV1> 80% predicted. Variability <20%.
STEP 2 Mild persistent	More than once a week but not daily	More than twice a month but not every week.	FEM and / or FEV1> 80% predicted. Variability 20-30%.
STEP 3 Moderate persistent	Every day. The symptoms affect normal daily activity.	Every week at least one night.	FEM and / or FEV1 60-80% predicted. Variability> 30%.
STEP 4 Severe persistent	Continued symptoms.	Daily	FEM and / or FEV1 <60% predicted. Variability> 30%.

Classification of Asthma in terms of age

Asthma in infants . The vast majority are of viral origin, by the same viruses that cause bronchiolitis. In this type of asthma can not be demonstrated eosinophilic infiltration of the mucosa, so that if asthma is not by definition.
Asma school age . It mainly affects boys (2:1 to 4:1, depending on age groups), and is associated with allergy to pneumoallergens in most cases.
Asthma in adolescence . It is characterized by the denial of symptoms and treatment regimens, and is the age range with higher mortality.
Adult asthma .

Send your child a smoke-free message

2010-11-17T09:51:00.000+08:00

No parent wants their child to start smoking, but is particularly important to discourage this behavior in children with asthma. If your child has asthma, the fact that smoking may nullify the effect of any drug "control" you are taking. It is also possible that your child needs the drug most frequently used "rescue", seek medical emergency care and consultation of the doctor more often and miss more classes because of asthma attacks.

Asthma

2010-10-17T11:15:00.001+08:00

Asthma is a Greek word meaning "panting or shortness of breath."

It is a chronic respiratory disease caracterizadapor difficulty breathing due to narrowing of the bronchi and bronchioles is commonly seen in people with allergies.

Flare-ups often occur in spring and fall or adverse weather conditions and when there are only a few storms and cold air can cause this evil.

It is sometimes caused also by hyperventilation, certain drugs or chemicals, strenuous exercise, hypoglycemia, respiratory infections (bronchitis) , intense and emotional emotions (panic or anxiety , worries and anxieties), the fur of animals (cats , dogs, rabbits, etc..) snuff smoke, dust in the house or commercial food additives ( metabisulfite, monosodium glutamate, sodium caseinate and calcium).

The most common symptoms of asthma are:

Rapid pulse, more than 90 beats per minute.
Cough and expectoration.
Difficulty breathing.
Wheezing when exhaling the air and when inhaled.
Disnea o Fatiga

Clearly, asthma should be subject to medical monitoring. However, there are some natural remedies for asthma, used in antiquity, and can be used in a complementary way if the doctor deems appropriate.

Children with asthma who live with smokers

2010-10-17T09:48:00.003+08:00

have asthma attacks more often
are more likely to need to go to a medical emergency department following a flare- grave
more missing school because of asthma
has to take medication to treat asthma more
your asthma is more difficult to control, even with medication.

Even children without asthma have more risk of health problems if their parents smoke. These children are more likely to get infections of the upper respiratory tract and developing lung disorders, including asthma. The mere fact that a child is exposed daily to smoke 10 cigarettes increases your risk of developing asthma, even though previously've never had respiratory problems.
And here's the best reason of all for you to quit smoking: the children of parents Smokers are much more likely to smoke when they grow up.
do not have to try to quit on your own. Ask your doctor to indicate possible strategies, from support groups to medication. If you continue to smoke, never do in your home or car.
If your child has asthma, explain to your friends, family and caring for him to snuff the smoke can trigger an asthma attack . Other ways to keep your child breathe in the smoke of other people who smoke snuff include:

Do not allow guests to smoke in your home or car.
Avoid restaurants and parties where people smoke. Choose non-smoking area is not enough to protect your child.
Ask friends and family not to smoke around your child.
Choose not to smoke or babysitters, if they smoke, ask them not to smoke with your child.
Encourage other family members to stop the snuff.

Classification of Asthma

2010-10-11T10:49:00.001+08:00

There are different guidelines for classifying asthma . In this section we classify asthma into the most universal classifications

The extrinsic allergic asthma

There is talk of extrinsic asthma or allergic when symptoms appear as a result of contact between the organism and environmental elements, such as pollen, mites, fungi, etc.., through inhalation, ingestion or skin contact.
In these cases , is the person's immune system which reacts in an exaggerated, as if it were dangerous, to what actually constitutes no real threat. This overreaction causes the production of a large number of antibodies, immune system cells that try to eliminate the foreign substance molecules. These antibodies cause the chain activation of other cells in this system and the release of mediators of inflamción, such as histamine, in what is called "inflammatory cascade". These processes are responsible for the mucus in the bronchi are inflamed and smooth muscle to contract, thus hindering the passage of air.
Often asthma is also accompanied by allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis , which would be the consequence of similar processes previous action of substances such as histamine into the nasal mucosa and conjunctiva.

Intrinsic Asthma

His name is because you can not associate the symptoms with the presence of any external element, or more exactly, immune sensitization to any specific substance.
At times, it has been suggested that this type of asthma appropriate, Actually, those cases where you can not identify the item before which the body reacts .
It is postulated that the origin of this type of asthma is the presence of high or hyper "sensitivity" of the bronchi , so that react a number of different nonspecific stimuli such as strong odors, cold, dry air, excessive moisture, physical exercise, strong emotions, and so on. This excessive bronchial hyperreactivity would result in an excess of sensitivity of nerve receptors in the bronchial mucosa that result from the contraction or spasm of smooth muscle fairly easily.
Through skin reactivity tests (observing the reaction of the skin against contact with a number potential allergens) and bronchial provocation tests (measuring the extent to which declines in lung function after inhaling a bronchoconstrictor substance) can know the type of asthma that presents a person (allergic or intrinsic), and the degree of bronchial hyperreactivity.

Frequently, both types of asthma occur together . Thus, although initially a person can manifest asthma only in the presence of pollen, for example, progressively and as a result of repeated inflammation of the bronchial mucosa, can produce a sensitization of the bronchi to other nonspecific stimuli such as above (cold, dry air, exercise, strong odors, etc.)..