What is Asthma? What Causes Asthma? What are its Symptoms and its Treatment?

If you are new to the world of asthma sufferers or have a family member who has recently been diagnosed as suffering from asthma, it is very important that you understand just what this condition is. To live with asthma we need to know how it differs from other respiratory maladies.

As most information about the condition states, we don’t cure asthma. We can deal with it and control it, but it is virtually impossible to treat it until it is “cured.” Asthma is a chronic disease, meaning that it must be controlled over a long period of time, as opposed to acute illnesses that can be treated and eliminated with medicines and other self-help methods.

One of the first things an individual can do to control their asthma is to “follow” it every day. A simple device created for this purpose is the peak-flow meter. This device measures how air exits the lungs, giving you an indication of how “strong” your breathing is. Doctors and others with experience controlling asthma can help you understand just what the measurements mean. If your breathing declines compared to your best measurements you have some indication that other treatments might be necessary.

Most of the guidelines provided by the medical community emphasize that asthma is being controlled properly if: you don’t have consistent coughing or shortness of breath (perhaps a couple of times each week); you don’t have to resort to a quick fix medication more than twice a week; you are able to go through your normal routine each day without major difficulty; you sleep well, with the exception of a night or two each month; you don’t suffer a disturbing asthma “attack” more than once or twice each year.

There are few steps to take to prevent serious asthma troubles. These include staying indoors if the outdoor air contains high levels of pollens or pollution that might trigger an episode. If you can keep a written record of problems, treatments and so on this will help your doctor work out a great program for you when you visit. Doctors will usually prescribe some medications or inhalers for quick improvement as well as other medicine designed to work long term. This treatment might include an item called a nebulizer.

In addition to these medical treatments and doctor-assisted programs, individuals suffering from asthma have used “alternative” methods such as ionizers and acupuncture. These plans should probably be used in conjunction with the advice of a medical professional but that is, of course, an individual decision.

It is also important to take steps to prevent attacks by improving living conditions. Controlling dust mites may be one of the most important things an asthma sufferer can do. If you seem to have problems after exercise or work you should discuss exercise-induced asthma with your doctor. It may be necessary to make some lifestyle changes to control this type of episode. If you seem to have difficulty at night, learn more about the dust mites and other items in clothing and bedding that might trigger asthma. Don’t discount the contribution that some foods might make to allergies. This may be a part of your overall asthma-control program.