Asthma Tips

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Asthma.

Doc says:
Unless you happen to be love struck, that sudden bout of breathlessness, is most likely to be caused by asthma.

A snort of dust or smoke or a whiff of the wrong flower, pet dander or perfume can instantaneously start you – along with one in ten other Americans. – wheezing, coughing and grasping for air.

Other common asthma triggers include exercise, pollution or smog. A drastic change in weather or cold or another infection in the airways.
Sure an Asthma attack is scary. But lets not think of moving to the desert just yet. No need to live in fear of your twitchy airways. Besides taking your doc’s prescribed medication, there are plenty of ways to avoid or treat asthma attacks.

First step is to guard against dust mites allergies, and hay fever.

Then add these actions to your repertoire:

Avoid Night Nosing.
Going to bed on a full stomach might feed your Asthma. Asthma can be caused by a stomach reflex. Reflex occurs when stomach acid builds up into the esophagus. Sometimes contents may leak out and actually regurgitate, into your mouth and then drip down into the airways, while you’re lying down or sleeping.
Besides avoiding snacks, you could also take an antacid before bedtime, to cut down on your stomach’s acidity.

Theophylline medications which are sometimes prescribed to help control asthma, may actually aggravate your condition, by increasing stomach reflux. If you are taking this medication and are having reflux problems, be sure to check with your doctor, so the dosage level can be adjusted.

Prop Up Your Bed Or Yourself.
Here are some other ways which will help to prevent reflux induced Asthma. Elevate the head of your bed. Get it up on bricks or wood blocks.
Or prop yourself up with pillows to prevent, acid’s moving from your stomach to your esophagus.

Be Sensitive To Food Sensitivity.
Eating or even smelling food that cause a reaction, can trigger an Asthma attack.
Some of the most common foods that trigger are milk, eggs, nuts, and seafood.

Go Fish.

Since Eskimos get Asthma about as often as they get a heatstroke, some theorize that a fish – rich diet may help prevent Asthma. It is conceivable that eating sardines, herring, mackerel, and other fish rich in Omega # fatty acids at least once a week, may lessen Asthma impacts.

Multiply Your Vitamins.
Take a good multivitamin / mineral supplement. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables , these can also help. Since some nutrients have been found to lessen symptoms associated with Asthma attacks. Reviewing data from more than 9,000 people, researchers found that those who reduced levels of Vit C and zinc suffered more from wheezing and other bronchial problems.
Good food sources for Vit C include citrus fruits, broccoli and peppers. Oysters, beef and crab are among the foods high in zinc.

Get Some Caffeine Relief.
Although coffee has been shown to contribute to some health problems, it may be more helpful than harmful for many people with Asthma.
Coffee it turns out , has nearly the same effect as Theophylline. Drink two cups of strong regular black coffee . It will have a beneficial effect on Asthma.

RELIEF CAN ALSO BE PROVIDED – BUT THE EFFECT WILL BE SLOWER, WITH TWO CUPS OF HOT COCOA OR EIGHT OUNCES OF MILK CHOCOLATE CANDY. BUT DO NOT USE CAFFEINE AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR YOUR MEDICATION.

Take Up Yoga.
Practicing simple yoga breathing technique in which you exhale for twice as long as you inhale can protect you from future attacks, by building resistance. This is very effective, when practiced daily.
Asthma.

[Trillian]

thanks for the info.

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Pollen

Giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida) is a notorious sneeze-causing weed and should be avoided by gardeners who suffer from allergies. --image courtesy of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.


Gardening presents significant challenges to those who suffer from allergies and hay fever. But that's all they are--challenges--not insurmountable obstacles.

Pollen and mold are formidable enemies. Nearly invisible, these ubiquitous air pollutants nonetheless account for most hay fever misery: itchy eyes, runny nose, plugged ears, and scratchy, irritated throat. Doctors estimate that 50 million American express hay fever symptoms, nearly a third of whom suffer from the most extreme form of hay fever--asthma.

On a checklist of hobbies not to pursue if you suffer from hay fever, gardening would probably make the top 10. But if plants are your passion, it's worth trying to reconcile the two. Combined with medically based allergy treatments, such as medication and shots, allergy-free gardening techniques can enable those with moderate hay fever symptoms to enjoy their favorite pastime. Or enjoy it more.

Until recently, I was skeptical that gardeners could have any significant impact on exposure to allergens simply by growing special plants. Pollen and mold are everywhere.
Since it was impossible--I assumed--to keep pollen from blowing in, just stepping into the backyard would cause sneezing.

That's not necessarily so, reports Thomas Ogren. The closer a victim is to the source of the pollen, the greater chance he has of suffering from overexposure.

Studies show that 99 percent of birch pollen--among the worst for allergy sufferers--falls within 20 feet of that birch tree. Keep birch trees out of your yard, and allergic symptoms can be reduced.

Ogren cites additional studies that suggest that exposure to pollen from plants in your own yard is 10 times greater than from pollen that blows in from the neighbors.

That established, he contends that people who suffer from moderate hay fever should, indeed, be able to continue gardening outdoors--he cautions against bringing cut flowers indoors: why risk it?--if they choose the right kinds of plants.

Ogren is a California gardener. Many of the species he recommends are tender here in Zone 5-6 gardens. Nonetheless, the plant list is fairly comprehensive, and studying it carefully, an allergy victim in Southwestern Pennsylvania (USDA Zone 5b) could find enough desirable material to build respectable allergy-free flowerbeds.

All plants on Ogren's list receive an allergy potential rating, from one to 10. One is the best score; those plants produce little or no pollen or mold. Ten is the worst--allergy sufferers should avoid tens, such as ragweed, at all cost. Birch trees rate a "7" on Ogren's list.

I set out with the book to determine what an allergy-free Pennsylvania garden might look like. Worst-case scenario, I allowed only plants with ratings of one, two and three through the garden gate, assuming anyone with mild hay fever symptoms could manage just by taking an allergy pill prior to heading out to the garden.

For shade, one could choose either an "October Glory" (rating: 1) or "Red Sunset" (rating: 1) red maple (Acer rubrum). With gorgeous fall color and no pollen in the spring, these red maple varieties are first-rate shade trees for any garden.

Beneath the high shade of the red maple, or alongside a patio or path, one could plant a sourwood tree (Oxydendrum arboreum) or Japanese Stewartia (S.pseudocamellia). With ratings of 2 and 3, respectively, an allergy victim could enjoy four seasons of exceptional beauty and interest from either of these small ornamental trees without repercussion.

Some of our most spectacular flowering trees, including crabapple and hawthorn, rate fairly low, at 4. Heavy pollen that lands close to the tree might enable a gardener to use them, if they were carefully sited away from the house.

An allergy-free shrub border could include excellent specimens such as big-leaf hydrangea (3), red chokeberry (2), Carolina allspice (3) and azaleas (3). A gardener could even plant roses. Roses rate just a 3 on Ogren's allergy continuum, due to heavy pollen that doesn't take flight.

In their flower beds, allergy sufferers have a host of plants to choose from, for Ogren cites enough annuals and perennials with ratings of three or below to build a lovely and colorful border: columbine (1), rockcress (1), and Johnny-jump-up (1) for early spring bloom; followed by dianthus (3), penstemon (2), hollyhocks (3), daylilies (3), lobelia (1) and balloon flower (2).

For shade, choose hostas (1) and variegated-leaved ajugas (1), sprinkling in annual impatiens (1) or tuberous begonias (3) for pizzazz. Annuals for sunny beds include petunia (2), periwinkle (1), Zinnia (3) and snapdragon (1). Use black-eyed susan vine (3) or passion vine (3) to climb a trellis or fence.

[Scamper]

Allergies.

Susceptibility to allergies is inherited, allergists say. The first step is to reduce exposure to certain allergens. In other words, if pollen counts are high, stay indoors.
"
Try to avoid pollens in May, June and July," said Dr. Julie Gustafson, an allergy specialist at Cascade Ear, Nose and Throat clinic in Puyallup. "These months are the big grass pollen months because temperatures are warmer."

Many people also are allergic to tree pollen. Common tree allergies in the South Sound include oak, cottonwood, willow and alder.

Over-the-counter allergy medications work for mild allergies but can cause drowsiness.

Nonsedating medications such as doctor-prescribed Allegra, Claritin and Zyrtec may help reduce symptoms without making you sleepy.

Decongestant medications should be avoided; they make allergies worse instead of better, Gustafson said. She said rinsing your nose with salt water can help reduce irritation.
It is also helpful to use topical sprays two weeks prior to allergy season.

The most prevalent symptom of summer allergies is hay fever, which is the result of the body's attempt to wash pollens out. Histamine is produced in the nasal passages, the lining of the eye sockets and throat. Because the body is trying to fight the allergen, excessive amounts of histamine are produced, causing inflammation and reddening of mucus membranes, which cause runny nose and itchy, watery eyes.

Allergists recommend against planting wind-pollinated plants in your yard. Because they rely on spreading pollen through the air, they are more allergenic than insect-pollinated plants. Insect-pollinated plants produce pollen that is carried by bugs rather than air currents, and thus produce far fewer airborne particles.
Wind-pollinated plants include grasses, such as rye and orchard.

Doctors say allergy symptoms are often mistaken for a cold or flu, so it is best to consult your physician before making assumptions about which medications to take.

[Scamper]

Allergies Part 2

Allergies An the Misery they cause
Doc Says:

Treat Your Symptoms.
Avoid what is bothering you. Allergy shots from your doc would help – make the outside a little more pleasant for you.
But over the counter antihistamines, available at the drug store, will work to for the drippy noses and red itchy eyes. For the most part, they do a good job.
But if you have an allergy that does persist for more than five to seven days, then see your doc.

Air Condition Your House.

This is the most important thing you can do to alleviate pollen problems.
It will also help with mold and dust mites. Air conditioners keep the humidity low.
This discourages mites and molds. They also filter the air in the course of cooling it.

If you have the windows open, then hey it’s the same environment as outside. A house full of pollen.

Install an Air Cleaner.
When experts say install an air cleaner.– They aren’t talking one of these $ 20.00 specials at the local hardware. They mean one of the industrial quality models that, bolts into the air intake or outlet ,of your central heating and unit. Cleaners will remove pollens in the air.

Air condition your car.
If walking outside makes you cough and sneeze, that imagine what all that tearing through, all those pollen clouds are going to do at 55 miles an hour. Be sensible air – condition you auto to. If the expense bothers you, then do it for your health.

Buy A Dehumidifier.
If you keep the air clean in your home, then it will bring relief from pets, pollens, molds, and dust mites. They do really well with humidities below 45 %. Generally the drier, the better. If this causes a problem for a small child or someone sensitive to dry air, then put a small room humidifier close to his bed.

Buy synthetic pillows you can wash them. Use hot water. Down and foam, you can’t wash. Dust mites like all.

Wash your mattress pads once a week., in hot water. Mites like these to.

Isolate Your Pets.
Yes this means all whiskers are off limits in the bedroom. One walk a week through the bedroom , is all it take to keep a dander allergy going. Many people are allergic to pet dander. Several end up giving the pets away.

Hire Someone To clean.
People with allergies, can have a very bad reaction. So a hired hand is a small price to pay. Then you can escape all problems.

Buy throw Rugs.
They can be washed in a machine and hot water. Carpeting can’t.