Asthma: Symptoms, Remedies, and Prevention

From coughs to sleep disturbances. Cases due to drought are on the rise. How to avoid them.

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asthma remedies
Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways, usually concentrated in the bronchial area.

ASTHMA 

How asthma works is as follows: the bronchi, due to inflammation, contract and fill with mucus. Asthma is characterized by wheezing and sometimes labored breathing. Bronchial asthma is a very common disease and in Italy it affects 9 percent of children.

CAUSES

The causes ofasthma They can be different. And they are mainly attributable to:
  • Allergic sensitivity to pollen, grasses, olive trees
  • Allergic sensitivity to dust, mold, and animal dander, such as dogs, cats, and horses.
  • Mites and other insects
  • Viral infections
  • Environmental factors, linked to thepollution and to smoke
  • Excessive physical exertion (in this case we speak of exercise-induced asthma)

ASTHMA AND DROUGHT

The climate crisis is increasing asthma cases, which now exceed 350 million worldwide. An Italian study, in collaboration with the CNR institutes and the universities of Ancona, Ferrara, Palermo, Pavia, Sassari, Turin, and Verona, has established the relationship between the increase in drought and the spread of asthmaIn short: prolonged dry weather leads to an increase in suspended particulate matter and worsens air quality. Further confirmation that the factor that most contributes to asthma is not genetic predisposition, but pollution.

SYMPTOMS

The most obvious symptoms of asthma are:
  • Tosse irritable and dry
  • Shortness or difficulty breathing
  • Feeling of oppression in the chest
  • Wheezing or wheezing
  • Disorders of the sonno
  • Difficulty carrying out some daily activities, such as walk up the stairs

DIAGNOSIS 

Diagnosing asthma is not complicated, and it is done through some tests.
  • Spirometry to measure the amount of air you take into your lungs
  • Pulmonary function tests to understand how well your lungs work lungs
  • Skin allergy tests, which are used to understand the possible allergies
  • Rast Test for IgE immunoglobulins which are the basis of the allergic reaction

REMEDIES

Avoid the smoke, active and passive. But also aspirin which can cause very negative effects. Unfortunately, asthma sufferers have some additional complications in their daily lives, also due to their great sensitivity topollution, to fire, to some foods. Nothing serious. It's just a matter of using common sense and some natural remedy which we indicate here with the help of some experts we consulted.

ALSO READ: Asthma in children: natural remedies and useful tips for treating the disease

  • Neither smoke nor fire

Those who suffer from asthma should absolutely not smoke, but they should also stay away from rooms and environments with smoke. Even placing another log in the fireplace or stove can fuel asthma, as well as the fire. Stoves and fireplaces They can be a big problem for asthma sufferers: however, make sure that the room is well ventilated and that the draft is good.

  • Never go to bed with a full stomach

Going to bed on a full stomach can affect asthma. Asthma can be caused by reflux of stomach This is what happens when stomach acid flows back up into the esophagus. Stomach contents can overflow and leak into your airways while you're lying down. Elevate the head of your bed and sleep on a high pillow to prevent leakage, and take an antacid before bed to reduce stomach acid.

  • Avoid intense cold

You open the door, step outside, and a blast of cold air hits you. What to do? Simple: if you suffer from asthma, stay home. Or go out, but make sure your mouth and nose are well covered. Cold air can trigger asthma, but when you wear a scarf or mask covering your mouth and nose, you end up breathing in warm, humid air.

  • Heat doesn't necessarily work

Un climate Warm, dry weather helps, but finding the perfect climate isn't as easy as it once was. The environment has changed, with urbanization and pollution. There are things in the air now that weren't there years ago, and asthma sufferers often feel just as bad as they do back home, or even worse. If the idea of ​​migration still appeals to you, seek out a warm, dry climate in a non-industrialized country. Then try vacationing there for a couple of weeks to see if your asthma, and you, are comfortable there.

  • Use air conditioning in your car with caution.

Air conditioning may be good for asthmatics, but not if it brings in outside air. Outside air brings in the pollen, and cold, pollen-rich air is bad for asthma.

  • Be careful what you eat

The wrong food can trigger an asthma attack. The most common triggers are milk, eggs, nuts, and fish. If you suffer from asthma, find out which foods trigger an attack and learn to avoid them. Even smelling foods you're sensitive to can trigger an attack.

  • Watch out for salt

Table salt can pose serious risks to your asthma. A strong correlation has been found between salt consumption and asthma mortality, in both men and children.

  • Beware of food additives

Food additives can trigger asthma. Metabisulfite is easily found in beer, wine, shrimp, and nuts.

  • Don't take aspirin

For some asthmatics, taking aspirin can have fatal consequences. If you have sinusitis, nasal polyps, and asthma, don't take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen, or similar medications, as they could worsen your asthma and even kill you. Aspirin sensitivity can develop suddenly, so it's best to stay away from aspirin-based products. This isn't a problem if you use acetaminophen.

  • Use inhalers correctly

An inhaled product can provide quick relief to an asthma attack, provided it's used correctly. Your inhaler isn't designed to freshen breath. Don't spray it into your throat, because that's not how it reaches your lungs. If you see the mist coming out of your mouth, you're using it incorrectly. Putting the inhaler in your mouth and giving a couple of quick puffs isn't the right thing to do either. Hold the spray three centimeters from your mouth, wide open, take a slow, deep breath, and immediately after the start of your breath (about half a second), press the button. Continue inhaling after the spray and hold your breath for three to five seconds. The first spray opens the airways, but if you give two quick sprays one after the other, the second doesn't do much more. If you wait a few minutes (two to five), however, the second spray improves the situation.

WHAT TO EAT FOR ASTHMA

Some foods are natural anti-asthmatics. Starting with apples and broccoli: they contain quercetin, which helps the respiratory tract function. If you have asthma problems, also eat plenty of bananas (they have the vitamin B6), ginger e spinachAs a prevention, the following remain unbeatable: oranges, lemons and tangerines.

WHAT NOT TO EAT WITH ASTHMA

There are very specific products that asthmatics should avoid. For example: snack, carbonated and sugary drinks e high-calorie foodsIn general, asthmatics should avoid becoming overweight, a condition that risks worsening their breathing. Another thing to avoid—and here, just read the product labels—are sulfites, which can cause bronchospasm attacks. You can find traces of them on LabelsSulphites are used for wine, dried fruit, pickles and for frozen fish.

PREVENTION

Prevention against asthma, a disease that is difficult to cure definitively and which we must learn to live with, is entirely based on precautions to take to avoid contact with allergensWhich must be identified through diagnosis. Therefore:
  • Frequent cleaning of home and work environments
  • Avoid climates that are too dry or too humid
  • Pay close attention to the passive smoking and avoid it
  • Reduce sources of household dust, such as curtains and carpets, to a minimum
  • Stay away from animals you are allergic to
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