Asthma

What Is Asthma?
Asthma is an acute reversible narrowing of the air passages in the lung due to

• inflammation
• airway muscle spasm
• excessive mucus production.

How do people develop asthma?
Often a person is exposed to substances that sensitize the airways (dust, molds, chemicals) over many years. Sometimes a bad infection (e.g. Influenza, mycoplasma) can damage the delicate lining of the airways and exposes the deep tissues to all sorts of irritants. Eventually the airways are so irritated and twitchy that just about any irritant triggers a response in the airways. Asthma attacks can be triggered by:

• Allergies, such as cats, house dust mites, pollen
• Air pollution, ozone
• Smoke, dust, fumes
• Cold Air
• Infections
• Changes in temperature and humidity
• Exercise

What are the symptoms of Asthma?

• Difficulty breathing - unable to take in enough air or exhale fully
• Wheezing
• Cough and Sputum (mucus)
• Chest tightness
• Gasping or choking during sleep

Principles of Asthma therapy:
Asthma is a chronic condition that requires ongoing monitoring and regular use of medication to prevent acute attacks. At present there is no ONE best medicine to deal with asthma. Therefore asthma therapy requires the use of multiple medications to be effective.

What medicines I should be using?
There are generally two main categories of medication:

• Direct bronchodilators
  
  • Albuterol - Proventil, Ventolin
  • Salmeterol - Serevent
  • Metaproteronol - Alupent
  • Terbutaline
  • Adrenaline
  • Theophylline
  • Ipratropium - Atrovent
• Anti-inflammatory
  
  • Steroids - Prednisone, Deltasone, Solumedrol
  • Inhaled steroids - Vanceril, Flovent, Aerobid, Azmacort
  • Antihistamines - Claritin, Hismanal, Allegra, Cromolyn
  • Antleukotrienes - Accolate, Zyflo, Singulair

What can I do to prevent acute attacks of wheezing and shortness of breath?

• Avoid situations that induce asthma attacks.
• Treat upper respiratory infections aggressively and early.
• Premedicate yourself before exercise to keep the airways open.
• Use a peak flow monitor to assess your airways and guide your therapy.

Are there any special vitamins or diets to treat asthma?
Absolutely NOT. Though there are many "physicians" touting the effects and virtues of their special diets and their special combinations of vitamins, it is pure quackery. The only dietary modifications that need to be made are to avoid

• Sulfites, the preservatives in some wines and salad bars;
• Any particular foods that seem to bring about symptoms.

Is smoking harmful?
It certainly does not make much sense to inhale high concentrations of hot roofing tar and bus exhaust. It will burn already inflamed and eroded airways!

What if I don't inhale?
Not inhaling may have helped some politicians, but it is generally not going to be of any help to your lungs, and many dangerous substances still make their way down to the airways.

Will I get emphysema or lung cancer or need oxygen?
Asthma does not necessarily lead to emphysema or destruction of lung tissue. Asthma does not cause lung cancer. Most asthmatics do not deteriorate to the point of requiring chronic oxygen therapy.

How to use a metered dose inhaler?
Using a spacer device, such as an Aerochamber or Inspirease, insures that the medication will get deep into the lungs to produce good dilation of the airways.

• Aerochamber
  • Remove the caps from the inhaler and mouthpiece of Aerochamber.
  • Insert the mouthpiece of the inhaler into the wide rubber sealed end of the Aerochamber.
  • Shake vigorously 3 or 4 times.
  • Place the mouthpiece of the Aerochamber into your mouth and close the lips.
  • Press the canister to fill the Aerochamber.
  • Inhale slowly and deeply.
  • Hold your breath for 5 seconds.
  • Repeat the procedure as many times as the doctor instructs you.
  • Always remember to rinse your mouth after using the inhalers.
• Inspirease
  • Remove the canister from the plastic container of the inhaler.
  • Insert the canister into the plastic mouthpiece of the Inspirease.
  • Attach the bag and expand it.
  • Shake vigorously 3 or 4 times.
  • Place the mouthpiece of the Inspirease into your mouth and close the lips.
  • Press the canister to fill the bag.
  • Inhale slowly and deeply.
  • Hold your breath for 5 seconds.
  • Repeat the procedure as many times as the doctor instructs you.
  • Always remember to rinse your mouth after using the inhalers.

© 2010 Tricia Lukowski