Asthma Causes and Triggers

• Asthma is caused by a weakened or compromised immune system. People with asthma are typically more prone to infections and take longer to fight off illnesses. This is mainly because their symptoms can often be more severe than those of most people. Asthma suffers often produce more mucous in their lungs when they get sick and it takes them longer to get well.
  
  The key to understanding asthma is knowing the difference between causes and symptoms. The causes or triggers of asthma are the conditions or extraneous variables that bring on the symptoms. There are number of triggers that can bring on asthma symptoms, including allergens like pollen, mold, pets, smoke, pollution, smog, household cleaners, soaps, laundry detergent, carpet cleaner, nail polish and nail polish remover, food allergies, exercise, weather conditions and colds and the flu. Recognizing what triggers an asthma episode or attack can help sufferers assuage or even rid themselves of their symptoms completely.
  
  Many people with ragweed allergies also have asthma problems in late July and August because ragweed is rampant during that time. Precautions need to be taken during this time, such as limiting outdoor exposure. Some people only have asthma when they get the flu. The flu is an upper respiratory illness which causes a lot of mucous production in the lungs. Mucous is a defense mechanism in the body. But it can easily get out of hand during an illness. People prone to asthma may have very severe episodes or even attacks when they get the flu.
  
  A growing problem among asthma sufferers, and even more so among children, are household chemicals. Any number of household products can be an asthma sufferer's worst nightmare. Ammonia cleaners are extremely pungent and can easily trigger shortness of breath for someone with asthma. Carpet cleaners are also major culprits as are perfume-laden laundry detergents and soaps, nail polish, nail polish removers, scented oils and candles, makeup and even scented deodorants. Fortunately, an adult may be able to recognize these triggers and avoid them. Children will not be as savvy and can suffer for years without the parent knowing the main culprit.
  
  Asthma can be brought on by food allergies. Some common food allergens include milk, wheat, yeast, and soy. The body will rebel against the offending food and protect itself by producing more mucous. This can cause shortness of breath and other asthma symptoms. Children often suffer from food allergies. Their asthma can often be directly related to the item in which they are allergic.
  
  Some people get bouts of asthma when the weather changes, particularly when they step out into the frigid outdoors during the winter months. And still others have asthmatic complications when they exercise.
  
  

Key Symptoms Of Asthma

• Asthma suffering can vary from mild to more extreme cases. Some people have symptoms for a day or two then do not experience them for months. Others have a more chronic condition where they suffer most of the time. Some people even have severe attacks and require emergency services. Just as the severity of the illness can vary so can its symptoms. Some of the more common symptoms include shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, a cold tightness in the chest, and pressure or pain in the chest. These symptoms stem either from airway constriction or excessive mucous in the lungs.
  
  An asthma sufferer can start getting short of breath if they spend too much time around smoke. The body's defense mechanism kicks in and immediately the airways to the lungs constrict. The same can be said for any number of offending substances or triggers. Ammonia can cause an asthmatic to have shortness of breath as can nail polish remover or even the family cat.
  
  Kids can start wheezing from playing outside all day in the summer. The wheezing may be caused by an overexposure to pollen. If precautionary measures are not taken, full-blown asthma symptoms can come on.
  
  Many asthmatics suffer from coughs or bronchospasms which can be spurred by allergens or household chemicals. Bronchospasms are very severe coughs that can transpire every minute and last for days. Unless someone is coming down with a bad cold, the severe coughing is being caused by something. Bronchospasms, if left untreated, can sometimes cause the asthma sufferer to rupture veins in the lungs.
  
  

Treatments for Asthma

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  Treatments for asthma can vary depending on what triggers an attack. Some asthma can be cured just by removing an offensive substance, like laundry detergent. People with seasonal allergies may take antihistamines to treat their symptoms during peak seasons. These antihistamines alone may help mitigate or rid a person of asthma symptoms. Additionally, desensitization is often recommended by allergists to combat allergy and asthma symptoms. These are usually administered by injection in the grove of the arm. Both parents and adults must ask their physician if an allergy specialist would be a recommended course of action.
  
  Despite allergy injections, people may still have asthma problems. That is why allergists often prescribe inhalers and corticosteroids to deal with severe bouts of asthma. Inhalers such as Proventil and ProAir are used when asthma episodes transpire. These drugs help with the constriction of the airways. They should only be used when needed. Other medications, like Flovent and Advair, are more preventative drugs. They are usually prescribed twice per day for long-term use to help prevent occurrences of asthma. Some oral steroids may even be used short-term to rid the lungs of inflammation and mucous after a bad infection. And nebulizers may be prescribed if asthma patients spend too much time at the emergency room.
  
  Asthma brought on by food allergies is easily remedied through testing. Once the food allergen is identified it is simply removed from the diet. Comparably, people who have asthma due to environmental issues may just need to quit using the offensive substance; or ask family members to substitute certain cleaners with milder ones. Seventh Generation or other green products are becoming much more abundant due to the growing problem of chemical sensitivity.
  
  Some people with asthma have more difficult decisions to make. They may have a job which requires them to work in an office where harmful chemicals are used. Compromising with coworkers or supervisors is not always easy. But, ultimately, a person's health is more important.
  
  

Living And Coping With Chronic Asthma

• Modern medicine has enabled most asthma patients to live a quality life. People who use Advair have seen vast improvements with their sometimes debilitating condition. This preventative medicine treats both airway constriction and thick mucous buildup in the lungs. Some natural doctors have prescribed products with combinations of certain herbs, like dong quai root and gardenia fruit, to treat asthma. Vaporizers can also be used to alleviate symptoms.
  
  There are a lot of triggers and symptoms of asthma. People need to find the underlying cause and treat their symptoms accordingly.
  
  

Future Treatments For Asthma

• Chronic asthma can often cause scar tissue in the lungs. There are a number of products that are being tested today to treat scarred lung tissue. Scar tissue, if left untreated, can lead to more serious conditions such as cystic fibrosis and interstitial lung disease. These drugs are currently being tested in rats at such places as The University Of Wisconsin to determine their effects. Expect to see some of these new asthma medicines on the market in the next couple of years.