Asthma is a condition whereby an inflammatory reaction occurs when the airways and the bronchial walls in particular are stimulated by foreign bodies. This causes the release of Histamines which results in bronchoconstriction.

Occurring mostly in children these days, this respiratory disease can be both chronic and life threatening with symptoms including; bronchospasm, cough, shortness of breath and wheezing sounds when breathing. Although, a permanent cure for asthma is yet to be discovered, there are a number of ways to prevent the symptoms of Asthma exacerbations.

One of which is getting vaccination yearly to prevent seasonal flu. The influenza virus is one of the triggers of asthma attacks so getting the flu vaccine helps in prevention of asthmatic symptoms. Also, you can avoid getting close to people who already have the flu, be sure to wash your hands regularly and apply hand sanitizer, as this steps will reduce your chances of getting the flu. Click here to know “How to avoid flu this year!”

Common Causes of Asthma

Asthmatic attacks can be triggered when patients are exposed to allergens. However, there are some non-allergic factors can also cause asthma exacerbations.

Allergic Asthma

This type of asthma attack can be triggered when asthmatic patients come in contact with external allergen. Allergens cause the immune system to release IgE or immunoglobulin E resulting in inflammation of the lungs and then what is commonly referred to as an Asthma attack. Some of these allergens includes; dust particles, pollen grains from plant life, some household pets, certain foods, mold, some insects like bees and even some medications.

Non-allergic Asthma

This type of asthma attacks have nothing to do with allergies as they are related to internal factors of the body. Although, the symptoms of non-allergic and allergic asthma are the same, this form of asthma is triggered by factors such as, viral infections like sinusitis and flu, cold, anxiety, hyperventilation, some forms of exercise, dry air, smoke, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and other internal sources of irritation.

Care, Control and Prevention of Asthma Attacks

Prevention is key when it comes to asthma attacks. So therefore the first step in the management of asthma is taking into cognizance the allergic and non-allergic triggers and try to prevent contact with them as much as possible.

However, there are treatment options that help in the management of asthmatic attacks in children as well as adults some of these treatments includes: Bronchodilators, Corticosteroids (inhaled, oral and intravenous), long and short-acting beta agonist and allergy medications and injections.

Eight Natural Remedies and Steps To Take During An Emergency Asthma Attack

There are various steps that can be taken at home to help asthma patients get quick, temporary relief in the event of an emergency asthma attack. These steps with some natural remedies are detailed below:

Sitting in an upright position helps in opening up the airways to allow for better and increased airflow.

Do not panic! During an asthma attack it is advisable to remain calm.This applies to both the person(s) having an asthmatic attack and the person or people helping them out. Agitation and anxiety will only worsen the symptoms.

Use Eucalyptus oil. Breathing in the vapor of hot water after adding a few drops of Eucalyptus oil helps to open the airways and offer relief from an asthma attack.

Applying Mustard seed oil on the chest region can also help in reducing the symptoms during an Asthma attack.

Drink warm caffeinated tea or coffee. This aids in improved function of the lungs and give quick relief for a few hours.

Use an inhaler by slowly and deeply inhaling. Ideally four puffs per minute with a maximum of 10 puffs while breathing slowly should be suffice.

It is important to seek immediate medical help during an asthma attack . So make sure to dial your hospital emergency line.

Keep taking puffs with the inhaler until the symptoms go away or until medical intervention arrives.

In Conclusion

Even with the availability of natural home remedies for asthma, you should always seek medical assistance and speak to your doctor concerning previous and recent symptoms observed. You can also connect with your doctor when you log on to our sehat cloud a cloud based EMR. Register now and receive recent and up-to-date information on asthma, how to prevent asthmatic symptoms as well as the latest treatment options available. There are also asthma specialists that you can meet if you are still unsure of the medical options available to you.

In addition to this, parents who have children that suffer from asthma should always observe and stick to their treatment regimens, be sure to get your child vaccinated regularly against influenza, as the flu vaccine helps to reduce asthma symptoms and try to keep them away from the allergens that can trigger their asthmatic attack. Even though studies have shown that children do not outgrow asthma as they grow older, people who suffer asthma can go on to enjoy a normal healthy life.