Archive for the ‘Asthma’ category

Seeking Asthma Relief – The Role Of Antibiotics In Causing Asthma And Allergies

April 25th, 2012

For the past forty years baby boomers and their children were given antibiotics on a regular basis to treat infections. This overuse has resulted in very dangerous resistance to superbugs that we’ve all read about in the news. You probably are aware now that infectious microorganisms and fungi that were once treatable have become much stronger and even deadly because they have mutated into hardy or resistant strains due to the use of antibiotics. However, what many people and even your own doctor may not be aware of is that antibiotic use also results in an overgrowth of yeast and fungus in the intestinal tract.

Eventually if this is not treated properly it can become systemic, meaning that it invades all systems of the body. This yeast or fungus overgrowth contributes to a lowering of the immune system where cancers and other pathogen overgrowths can develop. Patients looking for asthma relief would benefit by knowing that diseases like asthma and allergies are a result of yeast and fungus overgrowth or candida in the intestinal tract caused by frequent antibiotic use.

1. The symptoms of a yeast overgrowth problem can include:
2. Fatigue and foggy thinking.
3. Cravings for sugar or bread or any foods that contain yeast
4. Bloated abdomen, gas or abdominal pain.
5. Unable to lose weight
6. Vaginal, genital infection or itchy rashes.
7. A white coating on the tongue.
8. Sinus infections.
9. Loss of energy.

Other diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome and Chrohn’s disease have been shown to be caused by frequent antibiotics use. In addition, studies have shown that antibiotics have also been linked to the development of allergies, hayfever and asthma in children. Medical associations in North America, the United Kingdom, and Australia are aware of this but surprisingly many people and their doctors do not seem to be educated in this regard. Despite the superbug problem, antibiotics still seem to be asked for by patients and prescribed too often by their doctors. Boosting the immune system by eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise and adequate rest is often all that is needed to fight or prevent infections. If antibiotics are necessary, many patients are not made aware of the risks and more importantly what to do about them.

When you take antibiotics, one of the side effects is that they kill the good bacteria or lactobacillus living in your intestinal tract. When this happens the candida yeast or fungus is allowed to grow unchecked and causes an imbalance. The result of this imbalance can be allergy and asthma symptoms and other diseases. To their credit some doctors advise their patients to take yogurt and lactobacillus supplements immediately after a course of antibiotics to re-implant the bacteria and prevent yeast and fungus from taking over. If this is not done each time antibiotics are prescribed, then an overgrowth will result.

Antibiotics such as penicillin are also known to have severe side-effects like anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction resulting in an asthma attack and eventually heart failure and death. Medical reports show that other antibiotics such as amoxycillin, ampicillin, cephalosporins, erythromycin tetracycline and spiramycin are known to cause asthma. Avoiding antibiotics whenever possible is important and but if you do have to take them be sure to take a good quality lactobacillus supplement and yogurt to restore your body’s balance of good bacteria.

Susan Millar is a former asthma and allergy sufferer. She is a researcher and the author of The Dramatic Asthma Relief Report, based on extensive research from internationally respected medical publications about genuinely effective drug-free asthma relief. Please visit her website for more information.

Asthma Attacks During Exercise And How It Can Be Quickly Treated

April 25th, 2012

Exercising is one of the most enjoyable activities for many individuals throughout the world. However, this activity can be quite excruciating and dangerous if you are suffering from asthma. Asthma is a respiratory condition which actually inhibits the body from getting enough oxygen and as a result can cause may other health issues that are directly caused from not getting enough oxygen. What happens quite frequently is that the individual with asthma would start to exercise and at anytime without notice they begin to experience an asthma attack and almost feel as if they can not breathe.

Currently there is no cure for asthma and the only alternative is to seek treatment. Physicians typically recommend the use of effective medication such as Albuterol with the use of a nebulizer. A nebulizer is a health device that is used to transform the Albuterol prescription into mist form whereby it can then be easily breathed in through the lungs. The benefit of it being in mist form is that it can be easily absorbed by the body and as such begin to work far more quickly at reducing the symptoms of this respiratory condition.

As such, if you are exercising and then begin to feel that you are not getting enough oxygen to the point that you feel an attack coming you can stop and reach for your nebulizer device. Once you place your medicine in the device within minutes you will be ready to breathe in the medicine and seek relief. The most positive aspect of the device is the fact that it is completely portable and can be taken anywhere that the person desires to go. It is built to not only be small and portable but also sturdy whereby it can withstand the elements and drops that may occur when exercising.

Years ago the device was not portable at all and the only place that you could actually find it was in either in the hospital or physician’s offices. However, due to technological advancements it is now made completely portable and has been such a great help to those with asthma who desire to exercise and keep in shape. The future of the product actually lies in its ability to work with different types of medicine. Also, it will continue to get smaller and smaller and more power efficient. Although there is no cure there does exist treatment for this very common respiratory condition that affects millions of individuals across the U.S.

Vicks Humidifiers Can Help Asthma

April 19th, 2012

Vicks Humidifiers аrе becoming more popular аs а way tо treat asthma. During cold months manу people suffer from asthma due to an increased dryness thаt invades thе house through doors аnd windows. Air Humidifiers, thаt аrе kерt correctly, make ѕure that the air thаt уou breath iѕ optimally clean. Asthma patients arе effected bу irritants ѕuch as pets, dry air, mold, chemicals, smoke, cleaning agents, foods, аnd much more.

Common treatments fоr asthma include drugs аnd medicine. However, by avoiding mаnу оf the main irritants ѕuch cold air, an asthma patient can improve drastically.

The firѕt step to tаke if уou thіnk thаt dryness mаy be а саuѕe of asthma or allergy symptoms iѕ to invest in a hygrometer to test уоur humidity levels wіthіn thе house. Ideally, thе humidity levels shоuld bе bеtweеn 30 and 50 percent. Too much humidity cаn аlѕо produce unwanted effects due to the increased growth of mold.

The seсond step would be tо research а humidifier thаt can reduce germs and allergens. These are usuаllу warm mist or steam humidifiers. Vicks Humidifiers are preferred fоr asthma аnd allergies due tо thеіr UV germ killing light аnd thеіr tray which allowѕ menthol tо be poured in. Thus, relaxing the nasal passage аnd widening the throat.

Once уou hаvе уour humidifier, it іѕ advisable tо use bottled оr filtered water instead of tap water. Tap water can оftеn spray white dust іnto the environment, whereas clean bottled water wіll be beneficial to asthma patients.

Lastly, cleaning thе device іs extremely important fоr maintaining the healthy environment needed tо prevent allergens аnd relieve asthma symptoms. The company should provide a cleaning manual wіth thе humidifier. However, if thеrе іѕ nо manual іt іѕ important to note that cleaning a warm mist humidifier iѕ different from cleaning a cool mist humidifier.

A warm mist humidifier will neеd to hаvе the mineral build up removed from time tо time. The easiest wаy to dо thіs iѕ by uѕіng vinegar, which cаn bе poured іntо the device and gently swirled arоund аnd left fоr at leаst fifteen minutes. After that, it iѕ advisable tо softly scrub the inside оf the Vicks humidifier and once іt has dried disinfect іt wіth chlorine bleach. Once agаіn іt is better tо leave the bleach to soak in for аt lеаst fifteen minutes. If you dо nоt hаve bleach, hydrogen peroxide is known to work well аs well.