| 20 million people in the United Stated have asthma, a | | | | the disease than those without the hereditary link. |
| chronic respiratory disease that makes it impossible | | | | There isn't anything that can be done to remove the |
| for them to take breathing for granted. | | | | heredity factor for asthma, but the disease is highly |
| Our lungs are filled with hollow tube like passages | | | | treatable. |
| that resemble the branches on a tree. These | | | | When it comes to asthma, the best first line |
| passages gradually become smaller and smaller ending | | | | treatment is always lifestyle and environmental |
| in tiny pockets where oxygen and carbon dioxide are | | | | changes. Removing the influences that can trigger |
| exchanged. For those with asthma, swelling in the | | | | asthma related symptoms is the best first course of |
| hollow tubes that fill the lungs makes breathing | | | | action. Keeping the environment clean and dust free |
| difficult and uncomfortable. This inflammation causes | | | | to avoid exposure to mold, mildew and dust mites, |
| an increased sensitivity to allergens and a host of | | | | avoiding pets and smoke, staying inside on windy |
| other asthma triggers like exercise, medications, | | | | days, always riding in the car with the windows up, |
| stress, pollution, humidity and even laughter. | | | | avoiding exposure to household chemicals and |
| There is no cure for asthma, but medication, and | | | | perfumed body products, and running a dehumidifier |
| environmental and lifestyle changes can help to | | | | on humid days can all help with specific environmental |
| alleviate the symptoms and keep asthma from | | | | allergen triggers. |
| limiting the lives of those afflicted. | | | | Prescription medications, or combinations of |
| The symptoms of asthma vary from person to | | | | medications, are valuable tools in treating the |
| person; early morning or late night coughing, | | | | symptoms of asthma. Bronchodilators are short |
| wheezing, chest tightness, fatigue, anxiety and | | | | acting medicines that help to open the breathing |
| shortness of breath are all common. Allergen induced | | | | passageways of the lungs by relaxing them, while |
| asthma usually becomes apparent before the age of | | | | steroids are longer acting and help to decrease the |
| 35. Non allergic asthma usually has its onset in middle | | | | swelling in the tissues lining the lungs. These |
| age and can be triggered or worsened by reflux | | | | medications come in the form of pills and inhalers and |
| disease, exercise, weather changes and illness. | | | | can be used with other medications to develop the |
| So who gets asthma? It is generally believed that | | | | right regimen for each individual patient. |
| exposure to allergens early in life can trigger asthma, | | | | Asthma is a common chronic respiratory disease with |
| and the rapid rise in the disease among children is | | | | symptoms that can range from mild to serious, and |
| cause for concern, but heredity plays a role too and | | | | can even become life threatening during a severe |
| can predispose certain populations to this chronic | | | | asthma attack, but asthma is also highly treatable. |
| condition. According to the American Academy of | | | | With the right combination of lifestyle, environmental |
| Allergy, Asthma and Immunology children with a | | | | and medical treatment, asthmatics can live healthy |
| genetic predisposition are 40% more likely to develop | | | | and active lives. |