Asthma Treatment -- How To Help Someone Having An Attack

Our existence depends on breath -- and an acute asthma attack can make it almost impossible to breathe. No wonder these attacks are so scary for both the affected person and for onlookers. Knowing the basics of asthma treatment is essential when trying to help someone experiencing an attack. Maybe you are having dinner with a friend and all of a sudden, she looks panic stricken and gasps for breath. Or perhaps your children’s friends have come over to your house and your daughter screams that her best friend can’t breathe. Do you know how to deal with these situations? If you are able to provide the right asthma treatment, it might possibly save someone’s life. Here are key facts you should know. * During a bout of asthma, patients find it easier to breathe while sitting up than lying down. So help them get into a comfortable sitting position. * Most asthma patients know what they need to do to deal with an attack. So it is best to ask them. Ask if they have an inhaler and where it is. If they don’t have one, ask them if you should call for help. Many asthma patients carry not only an inhaler, but a written instruction card as well. An asthma attack can temporarily rob the patient of his ability to speak. In such situations, an instruction card explaining what needs to be done can be invaluable. If there is such a card, just do as it says. * Help them use the inhaler. An inhaler is designed to deliver a specific dose of asthma medication. The medication relaxes the patient’s airways and helps restore normal breathing. Medication is so important that in case the patient doesn’t have his or her inhaler available, most doctors say that it is ok to use someone else’s. Nothing else you can do has nearly the same effect as taking the right medication. In general, you should give two to four puffs of the inhaler and then wait for about five minutes for the next dose. Position the mouthpiece of the inhaler between the patient’s lips. Let him know when you are about to give a puff so that he can breathe in at the same time. Wait for several seconds before you deliver another puff. Or until he lets you know he is ready for the next one. You can use a spacer to help the person inhale the medicine over the course of several breaths, instead of one breath. This device sits between the inhaler and the person’s mouth and can hold the medicine in place between breaths. If a spacer is not available, you can make one by rolling up some paper to create a tube. * Once you’ve given medication, observe the patient for several minutes. Is it getting easier for him to breathe? * If it appears that they are not responding to the medication within ten minutes, call an ambulance. And continue to deliver about four puffs of medication every five minutes while waiting for the ambulance. The medication will help prevent the asthma attack from getting worse even if it doesn’t seem to provide immediate relief. * Stay calm throughout the episode. This will help the patient remain calm as well. If he panics, it will worsen the asthma attack and make it far more difficult for him to breathe. So talk to him calmly, to reinforce the feeling that everything is under control. This is vitally important. Being aware of these asthma treatment basics will help you deal effectively with many emergency situations.

Are Your Asthma And Allergies Caused By A Low Immune System?

Many people who suffer from asthma and allergies don't realize it, but a low immune system is very likely at the root of their problems. Medical experts agree that a lowered or improperly functioning immune system can and does result in several diseases such as asthma, allergies, arthritis, psoriasis, lupus, chronic fatigue syndrome and cancer to name just a few. The body's immune systems first line of defense against disease are barriers that prevent antigens, which are large protein molecules of bacteria, viruses, chemicals and other substances that appear harmful from entering your body. The barriers include your skin, mucus, cough reflex, stomach acid and even enzymes in your tears, which destroy toxins. If the antigen or toxin manages to get past these barriers, then the immune system launches a second line of defense, found in your blood. They are white blood cells, which perform a protective function by seeking out and destroying foreign protein antigens. If you suffer from a low immune system it is important to avoid things that suppress or act to destroy it, such as a high cholesterol diet, heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium), fat, alcohol, fried foods, food additives, obesity, industrial pollutants, pesticides, herbicides, stress, prescription drugs, too much sunlight, tobacco, and radiation. Unfortunately, there is no "magic bullet" that you can take to quickly repair your immune system, but there are several ways to help build and support it by providing your body with proper nutrition, regular exercise, adequate rest, relaxation and maintaining a positive mental attitude. Taking the following dietary steps will help protect and build your immune system: 1. Limit saturated and trans fats, food additives and alcohol 2. Take a good quality multi-vitamin/mineral supplement daily 3. Ensure your diet includes adequate protein 4. Take 1000 mg of Vitamin C daily. 5. Eat 3 to 4 servings of vegetables daily. 6. Eat 3 to 4 servings of legumes weekly. 7. Eat 3 to 4 servings of omega-3 fatty acid-rich foods weekly The length of time required to re-build a low immune system of course will vary depending on your individual situation and environmental exposure to immune system suppressants. This is not an overnight process, for some people it can take three months to two years. Obviously, the higher your exposure has been to immuno-suppressants, the longer it will take to build your immune system. Children tend to heal much more quickly than adults or the elderly. People with allergies and asthma will find that their asthma and allergy symptoms become less frequent and less severe when their immune systems are strong. It's important to avoid using allergy and asthma drugs, which have toxic side effects and act to lower the immune system. There are natural supplements that safely and effectively eliminate allergy and asthma symptoms.