Asthma Symptoms and How to Prevent Asthma

Your health is one of the most important things that you should notice in your life. There are various diseases and health issues that might occur to you. One of the most common health issues that you can find these days is asthma. Asthma is basically a condition that makes a person have difficulties in breathing due to several factors. There are several things that can trigger asthma attack. If you want to treat and prevent asthma in more effective way, one of the most important things that you should know is the symptoms of this condition.

Common Symptoms of Asthma

One of the main causes of asthma is the inflammation that occurs on the bronchial tubes. This inflammation will increase the production of sticky secretions that can tighten the airways. Asthma can be recognized from several common symptoms. The common sympt of of asthma are including:

- Coughing, especially in the nighttime.

- Shortness of breath. 

- Wheezing. 

- Pressure, pain, or tightness that occurs on the che

These symptoms are the common symptoms of asthma attack. Some people might not show these symptoms while some others might show other symptoms instead.

Early Signs of Asthma

Asthma basically came in various stages. The early stages of asthma might show different symptoms than the more severe stages. It’s very important for you to identify the early symptoms of this condition so that you can get treatment for asthma faster. The early signs of asthma attack are including:

- Frequent cough, especially during the nighttime. 

- Shortness of breath or easily losing of breath.

- Feeling very weak or tired easily when exercise.

- Coughing and wheezing after exercise.

- Moody, grouchy, easily upset and feeling tired.

- Trouble sleeping.

- Changes or decreases in the functions of lungs.

- Signs of allergies or cold such as runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, and sore throat.

When you find these early symptoms, you should take your asthma medicine before the attack becomes more serious.

Other Symptoms of Asthma

Asthma attack might also show other symptoms as well such as:

- Severe wheezing when you breathe.

- Coughing that never stop.

- Very rapid breathing.

- Pressure or pain on the chest.

- Tightened chest and neck muscles. This condition is known as retractions.

- Difficulty talking.

- Feeling of panic or anxiety.

- Sweaty and pale face.

- Blue fingernails or lips.

These symptoms are considered as more advanced symptoms and might indicate more serious or severe asthma attack.

Unusual Asthma Symptoms

Besides the symptoms that are mentioned above, there are also several other symptoms that are considered as unusual asthma symptoms that can only be found on several cases. These unusual asthma symptoms are including:

- Rapid breathing.
- Singing.
- Fatigue.
- Exercise-induced asthma or the inability to perform exercises properly.
- Nighttime asthma or difficulty sleeping.
- Anxiety.
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Chronic cough.

When you find these symptoms, they might be symptoms of asthma attack and you should contact your doctor immediately.

Preventing Asthma Attack

After you know the symptoms of asthma, other important thing that you should know about this condition is how to prevent asthma attack effectively. Basically, if you want to prevent asthma attack, you need to know the factors that can trigger asthma attack. By knowing the factors that can trigger asthma attack, you will be able to prevent asthma attack in more effective way. The triggers of asthma that you should prevent are including:

1.Dust

Dust is known for its allergy inducing properties. Dust is considered as the cause of havoc for people with asthma. If you want to prevent asthma attack in more effective way, you need to make sure that your house and the rooms in your house are dust-free. Vacuuming the entire house and rooms might be the best solution to create dust-free environment in your home.

2.Flowers

Other common trigger for asthma is pollen from flowers. If you have asthma, you should not grow plant indoors, especially if the plants have flowers. Plants also can become main source of mold as well which is also considered as other trigger of asthma attack.

3.Pets 

Pets are also considered as common trigger for asthma attack. Studies show that direct contact with dogs or cats can be extremely dangerous for people with asthma. Particles of hair, small pieces of fur, saliva, and skin of pets are also considered as trigger for asthma attack as well. Even though the pets are not physically near you, the hair or fur of your pets might be in the environment of your house and might cause risks of asthma attack.

4.Aroma and Smokes in the Kitchen

Kitchen is a place where you can cook your meals. When you cook your foods, your kitchen might be filled with aroma and smokes of your cooking. This condition can be trigger for asthma attack. To prevent this, you need to create good air circulation in your kitchen. Make sure you open kitchen window when you cook to reduce the aroma and smokes. You also can install exhaust fan on your kitchen to provide good air circulation as well.

5.Smoking

Smoking is considered as unhealthy habit that can cause various health issues. Smokes from cigarette contain various gases and chemicals that can be harmful for lungs. Smoking is considered as one of the main triggers for asthma attack. Smoking can increase the risk of asthma attack. If you want to prevent asthma attack, you should stop smoking.

6.Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

Several types of drugs also can cause asthma as well. Anti-inflammatory drugs such as beta blockers and ibuprofen are considered as trigger for asthma attack. If you get these types of drugs from your doctor, you should tell your doctor that you have asthma and ask for other medicines instead.

7. Exercise

Exercise is good for health since exercise can help to build your muscles and burn calories in your body. However, if you have asthma, exercises might become trigger for asthma attack. If you have asthma and you still want to exercise, you should choose the right types of exercise that is designed specifically for your condition.

By knowing the symptoms of asthma, you will be able to get treatment immediately before the symptoms is getting worse. And by knowing how to prevent asthma attack by preventing its triggers, you will be able to minimize the risk of asthma attack in more effective way.

How to Treat Asthma Using Home Remedies

Asthma is considered as one of the most common health issues that are related to respiratory system. Asthma is basically a lung disease where the patients have some difficulties in breathing. Asthma can be triggered by various factors such as allergies, weather condition, air pollution, even to respiratory infection. This condition can be treated by using various treatments as well. The most common treatment for asthma is by consuming medicines or drugs. However, you also can treat asthma using home remedies as well.

Home remedies are the type of remedy that can be found easily on your home. Home remedies also can be found easily in grocery store as well. There are various types of home remedies that you can use to treat asthma. Below are several home remedies that are good for treating asthma.

1.Ginger

Ginger is commonly known as spice that is used for cooking. Besides can be used to improve the taste of your cooking, ginger also can be used to treat asthma as well. In fact, ginger is known as one of the best home remedies for treating asthma. Studies have been found that ginger can help in reducing airway inflammation. Ginger also contains compounds that can enhance the effects of muscle relaxant of certain drugs that are used to treat asthma.

2.Mustard Oil

Besides ginger, other common home remedy that can be used to treat asthma is mustard oil. Using mustard oil for massaging can help in clearing the respiratory passages and also can restore normal breathing. Mustard oil can be found easily on your local grocery store and it’s very affordable.

3.Figs

Figs are other home remedy that you can use to treat asthma. You can buy dried figs that are commonly available on the grocery store. Take three dried figs, wash them, and soak them overnight in a cup of water. In the morning, drink the figs water and consume the soaked figs on empty stomach. Figs contain nutritional properties that can promote respiratory health and ease breathing difficulties. The nutritional properties in figs also can help drain phlegm as well.

4.Garlic

Garlic is other type of spice that is commonly used for your foods. On the other hand, garlic also can be used as home remedy for treating asthma as well. To use garlic as home remedy for asthma, take two or three cloves of garlic and boil them in a quarter cup of milk. After that, leave it to cool and after it reaches room temperature, drink it. This garlic remedy can be used to help clear lung congestion that occurs during the asthma’s early stages.

5.Coffee

Coffee is known as one of the most common drinks that you can find these days. Coffee has a distinctive taste that makes this drink is preferred by many people. On the other hand, the caffeine that is contained in regular coffee, in fact can help in controlling the asthma attack since caffeine can act as bronchodilator. Drink hot coffee can help your body to clear and relax the airways so that you can breathe easier. Usually, when you consume stronger coffee, you might get better result in treating our asthma attack. However, try not to drink too much coffee in a day and limit your coffee intake under three cups a day. for those of you who don’t like coffee, you can use hot black tea instead.

6.Eucalyptus Oil

Other great home remedy that you can use to treat asthma is eucalyptus oil. Eucalyptus oil is good for treating asthma due to its decongestant properties. Several studies show that eucalyptus contains chemical that is known as eucalyptol that can help in breaking up the mucus. To use eucalyptus oil as remedy for asthma, you can drop eucalyptus oil on paper towel. Keep the paper towel by your head while you’re sleeping so that you can breathe the aroma.

7.Honey

Honey is considered as one of the natural cures of asthma that have been used for years. Honey contains ethereal oil and alcohol that can help in reducing the asthma symptoms. Inhaling the aroma of honey can give positives results to some people. You also can add a teaspoon of honey to a glass of hot water and drink the water slowly for three times a day as well. Consuming honey can help remove phlegm. Of you consume honey before go to sleep, you might be able to sleep better as well.

8.Onions

Just like garlic, onions are known as spice that is commonly used for your foods. However, onions also can be used as home remedy to treat asthma as well. Onions contain anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce the airways constriction that occurs during asthma attack. Onions also contain sulfur that can help decrease lungs inflammation as well. To breathe better, you can just simply consume raw onions. If you can’t stand the raw onions’ taste, you can consume cooked onions instead.

9.Lemons

People who have asthma usually also have low level of vitamin C as well. There are various types of food that contains high amount of vitamin C. one of them is lemons. Lemons contain high amount of antioxidant and vitamins, including vitamin C. these vitamins and antioxidants can help in reducing asthma symptoms. You can drink juice of a half of lemon regularly to treat asthma attacks. Besides lemons, strawberries, blueberries, papayas, and oranges are also considered good for minimize asthma symptoms as well due to their high amount of nutrients

10.Carom Seeds

Carom seeds are also known as bishop’s weed. This type of seeds can be used as treatment for mild asthma since it can act as bronchodilator. Carom seeds can dilate the bronchial tubes that are located in your lungs.

Besides the home remedies above, there are several types of food that you can include to your diet so that you can prevent and reduce the asthma symptoms in more effective way. Spices or herbs such as oregano, sage, rosemary, and turmeric can be used in your cooking since they are good for reducing asthma symptoms. You also can eat fresh cold water fish such as mackerel, cod, and salmon and fresh fruits and vegetables that contains high amount of vitamins and nutrients.