Asthma and Cities: Which Cities are the Best?

Many people may know the worst cities for asthma. However, not many who know which cities are the best place for people with asthma. There are many surveys of cities which are not good to be lived because it is not good for asthma sufferers. Then, beside those cities, other cities are fairly good for people with asthma. It may be difficult to judge a city which is the best place to live for people with asthma. However, there are some factors which can make a city fairly good or bad for people with asthma. The factors start from the geography until the climate. Here what you should know about cities which is better for people with asthma.

'Best' Cities for Asthma?

The researchers rank the best cities based on asthma prevalence, pollen counts and pollution levels. The top 10 cities which is the best cities for people with asthma are Cape Coral, Seattle, Minneapolis, Colorado Springs, Portland, Palm Bay, Daytona Beach, San Francisco, Portland and Boise City. Are these cities the best for asthma? The answer is no. Many people with asthma are questioning whether they should move or not. There is no exact answer for this. There are many factors and all of them are based on your symptoms. It may be different from each asthmatic. A city is good for one asthmatic but it is not always good for other asthmatic. However, there are specific factors in the cities which can affect people with asthma some better some worse.

Geography.

Geography has big influence in a person’s asthma symptoms. Many asthma experts agree with that. The survey is based on the water. For example, the three of the best cities for asthma are near the coast. Living near the water provides strong wind which can blow away irritants and allergens. In water areas, pollen counts are also lower. In contrast, cities which don’t get good air circulation usually are located in valley. These places are dangerous for people with asthma. Places in valleys sometimes attract pollutants. The air flow can’t move freely. The breezes from lakes and oceans can be good but near water can’t guarantee that you will get air quality.

Weather Conditions.

People with asthma should live in the cities which have relatively mild climates. Extreme temperature can be a general asthma trigger which is non allergic. When the air gets cold, it can shock the lungs. Then it can cause bronchospasm which block the airways. The pressure can be another common trigger for asthma. The possible benefit for people with asthma is in a mild climate. Once more, it is also based on your asthma triggers. Some people can live in cold winter but other also can live in hot climate as well. Although some cities in the coast are on the list of the best cities for people with asthma, the humidity on those places can be a problem too. The humidity can trigger asthma symptoms because it is also an irritant. The humid environments also invite allergens such as dust mites and mold. Cape Coral is the best cities in coastal area for people with asthma but if mold is your trigger then you can’t live there.

Pollen Count.

The most general allergic trigger for asthma is pollens. There are different types of pollen and the season also differs from one region to other region. When it is spring, the toughest cities are the one with tree pollen. The pollen comes from oak, elm and maple. They are the worst. When it comes to fall, the pollen from ragweed becomes trouble. Actually, it is depended on the pollen type. It is okay of you live in area with high pollen count as long as you are not allergic to the pollen. Some people only are allergic to specific pollen.

Pollution.

Pollution for sure can be found mostly in the cities. There are many cars on the street, many businesses, and many factories which can cause pollutants in the air. The pollutants are one of the irritants as well. They can affect the symptoms to a person’s asthma. You may not realize that the level of pollution is related to the increasing of pollen level indirectly. The carbon dioxide is produced by ignition and it is a waste. Moreover, it is a gas which is needed by plants to grow. There are studies which shows that in urban areas with high pollution, the higher level of carbon dioxide also improve the plant growth. Moreover, it improves the pollen levels as well.

Other Allergens.

You should think about other allergens you can find in the cities as well for example, pests such as mice, cockroaches and rats. Those pests can trigger asthma attacks. Mostly, they are the problem in poorer urban environment.

Smoking Legistation.

Talking about evaluation of city which can affect asthma, actually it is not always about weather and pollen counts. The real impact for asthma symptoms can be because of smoking. The law about smoking should be strict. Smoking should be banned in public places such as restaurants and workplaces. Some researches show that the cities which have strict smoking legislation decrease the patient with asthma in ER.

Should I Move?

Many people who live in the cities and have asthma usually want to get out desperately. They want to live in a place in which they can resolve their asthma symptoms. However, that doesn’t solve the problem. The reason is that it often doesn’t work well. Asthma is a complicated disease. It is triggered by many factors and they are different from each person. That’s why it is difficult to predict that you will be better in new place. You should keep in mind that people who are allergies to something; they will be easily to develop new allergies. So instead of moving, you can just change your old ragweed tree into oak tree. You should be cautious when you want to move because of your asthma. In fact, there is no best city for people with asthma. It is recommended if you try to live in new location for few days or months before moving permanently.

Tips for Healthy Home Design Asthma Sufferers

The fresh air makes us want to go outside, be active and walk around to see the nature. Being indoor and outdoor air can affect your life’s quality. Moreover, it can affect more if you are an asthma or allergy sufferer. If you can’t do anything about outdoor activities, you can do some things to decrease the discomforts you get in your house. You can carefully plan and select your home design. Whether you will remodel, update or have a new home, you can follow these tips in planning healthy home design. The tips are focused in minimizing the exposure to irritants and get your life quality better in your home. You can select the right coating, construction and products for interior decoration.

1. VOC’s in Everything

VOC stands for volatile organic compounds. If you work on indoor air quality, you must be familiar with VOC. You can find VOC in all things start from paints, cleaning agents, plywood and even floor finishes in the home. Actually, the level of VOC can reach 10 times higher in the home comparing with outside. Based on the Green Parent list, VOC is one of the biggest causes of asthma for children. Fortunately, nowadays, many companies are trying to minimize VOC in their products. That’s why you should more focus on the products which have zero VOC for your home.

2. Heating, Cooling & Central Air

Here are some steps you should consider in designing your heating, cooling and central air system. These steps are really helpful if you or your family member have asthma. You can decrease allergens at very least. 

HEAT 

For allergy and asthma sufferers, it is better to have in-floor radiant heat. It can lessen significantly the spread of common allergens at home. It is not the same like forced hot air system. It doesn’t push the circulation around the house. 

COOLING 

To reduce allergens, you should install cooling system and central air conditioning systems. Using the right filters such as electronic air filter will be great. The allergens will be removed completely from the home. It can decrease molds, pollens and minimize the respiratory problems especially asthma. It is recommended if you install the cooling system for the whole house not only room by room. The quality of indoor air will be improved drastically. You can later observe and evaluate on which system you will think the best for you. 

CENTRAL AIR 

Having the right ventilation and proper air flow in the home is very crucial in reducing allergens. You can design the ventilation systems; have ceiling fans and place windows and door. Although this may invite irritants from outside the house but it will bring fresh air. Moreover, for a while, indoor pollutant will move outside as well. What you can do is to change the filters regularly. This is the basic thing to make sure that only healthy air will come in. The quality of the air whether from inside or outside the house is really matter.

3. Construction Materials

Talking about construction materials, you can select plywood which is free from formaldehyde and VOC. PureBond plywood is one of the products which are recommended by the Green Parent List. It has no VOC at all and can be accessed easily in home store. You can use this plywood for flooring, wall and ceiling panels. Adhesives can be applied for constructing the home as well and make sure to get the low or zero VOC products. For interior walls, people like using plaster, drywall or sheetrock. There are plaster products which are natural earth based. They are not only zero VOC but they also can help in controlling the temperature, humidity and moisture. Most importantly, they are resistant to mold. The components are healthy and keep allergen away from the house. Choosing the wrong drywall and sheetrock can be worsening because most of them contained chemical and they attract mold. However, you can ask for drywall and sheetrock which are resistant to water, mold, fire and fungus. Moreover, there are no organic solvents, toxic, oils and other dangerous components.

4. Interior Decoration

This is such exciting time to choose colors, furniture, fabrics and wood flooring. After looking at nails and plywood for couple of months, this is the time you can make your home comes to life. For many people, it is the fun time. However, still you should maintain your commitment to only use environmental friendly, zero VOC and healthy indoor setting for asthma and allergy sufferers. 

Flooring Choice 

Choosing the flooring means you choose the backdrop of your decorations. Moreover, it is not like couch or curtain which can be replaced as you pleased. So you have to think about the flooring carefully. There are many researches which suggest the use of hard surface for flooring such as hardwood. It is good for homes in which there are asthma or allergy sufferers. This flooring is attractive and most importantly it is resistant to any mold, dust mites and other allergens. Different with rugs and carpets, wood floors has the benefit of not attracting microorganism, allergens or harmful pesticides from outside. Moreover, the home with wood floors can minimize the contamination of mold, dust and animal dander so the air quality is improving. Other options for hard surface flooring are stone, tile or slate. Hardwood floors are the best for family room and kitchen in which you need to be more comfortable. Try to avoid using laminate, bamboo and other floors which are produced in massive number. They usually contain VOC and formaldehyde. 

Bath & Kitchen Design 

It is better to always minimize the allergen to come in to your house and try to improve the indoor air quality as much as possible. The small things you can do in the kitchen and bath is to find cabinet which is zero VOC plywood. Install ventilations above the stove and ceilings. The healthy air will flow better. You can ask an architect to do this. 

Paint and Finishing 

There are many types of finish, varnish and stain for your home interior and exterior. Choose the one which has zero VOC. Many companies offer solutions about it. There are some products which can absorb the odor and VOC to get better air quality.

How to Survive an Asthma Attack without an Inhaler

People who have asthma know exactly how scary it must be when they have asthma attack. The breathing trouble can happen everywhere starting from just a few minutes until a few days. The asthma attack depends on the severity. This is why, if you have asthma, you should bring your inhaler every time. However, what happen if the attack begins and you can’t find your inhaler in your bag or it's empty? How can you reduce the severity of the asthma attack without your inhaler? Here are some interesting advices you may try if asthma attacks and you don’t have the inhaler with you.

DO YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE ER?

Firstly, you should decide whether you're in danger or not. Think about it quickly. You can check on how much air you can push out from your lungs with a peak-flow meter. Mostly, people who have asthma have this device at home. If the result is less than 25% off the usual mark, you can follow the next steps. However, if the number is more than that, you have to go to ER. The number indicates whether the asthma attack is serious or not. If you don’t handle it with more cautious, it can be life-threatening. Other way, when there's no a peak-flow meter, you can think about the symptoms. For instance, if your fingernails or lips turn blue, if you keep coughing, if you feel tightness or soreness on the ribs, if you feel like having panic attack or if you have difficulties in breathing which makes you can’t talk or stand up, then you have to go to ER as soon as possible.

HOW TO BREATHE EASIER

When you don’t think you're in danger, you can try these techniques. Some techniques will help right away in minutes, while others may take some hours to work. However, usually the attack will last for days, so you can try all of them. When the asthma attack happens, the airways are tightened. The muscles on your body are tense and your body creates extra mucus. Moreover, those things are the cause you'll breathe hard. The one who know your body the best is you. So if you have tried all these techniques but the attack is worse, then you should see the doctor. 

Alter your location. 

 Normally, asthma is happened because of an irritant. It can be a toxin or an allergen. The irritant can block the airways. You should move yourself if you think your environment is not good for you. For example, your asthma will come if there are dusts, mold, pets or smoke. You have to leave those places as fast as you can. If not, you can breathe through scarf, sleeve or jacket collar to minimize the exposure.  

Inform someone. 

Telling someone about your anxiety will reduce the possibility of asthma attack happens. It's really helpful because anxiety can worsen your asthma attack. Moreover, you may need a ride to hospital when your asthma is getting worse. That’s why to inform someone about your condition is a good thing. For medication, you should stock your counter with decongestant and expectorant or any drug which consists of those two. These medications can loosen mucus and make your coughs more productive. Then you can clean up your body from phlegm. 

Drink hot coffee or nonherbal tea.

 Drink one or two cups of hot coffee or tea directly. However, in one sitting, don’t drink more than that. Your heart rate will increase and it can happen to all people not only the one who has asthma. Caffeine on coffee has theophylline which is also a medicine to avoid and treat asthma. It can help to relax the airways and decrease the lungs’ reaction to irritants. Not only coffee, you can get caffeine from soda, supplement, energy drink, etc. However, tea and coffee provide other components which are similar to caffeine. Further, hot liquids will loosen mucus. That’s why having caffeine in this form really helpful. 

Do breathing exercises. 

Mostly, people will be panic if they have asthma attack. They begin to breathe quickly which actually only blocks the oxygen to the lungs. You can say that it can worsen the attack. You should breathe in through your nose and count to four and breathe out and count to six. Purse your lips when you exhale. It'll slow the exhalation and open the airways longer. Keep breathing with these techniques as long as you need in relieving the attack. 

Press on some acupressure areas. 

The lung areas of acupressure are on the front parts of inner shoulders. It's only above the armpits. One more area is on the outer edges of your elbows. You can find it when your elbows are bent. Press one area in one time for some minutes. It'll relax the muscles which have tightened up. 

Warm things up. 

Bath yourself with hot water in tub or take a hot shower. Warm and steam moisture is more effective that cold moisture. The warm moisture can loosen the mucus. Actually, when you use cool-air humidifier is helpful but not really effective. 

Take magnesium and vitamin C but ask your doctor first. 

If you're an adult, you should take 500 mg of magnesium and 1,000 mg of vitamin C. Those medications can help you during the asthma attack. For children ages 10 to 17, they should take half of the doses. While children ages 5 to 9 should take one-third of the doses. Vitamin C has a minor antihistamine effect. Magnesium can relax the breathing tubes. 

Take medications. 

For serious problem, you should get prescription on corticosteroid prednisone. It's available in pill. The serious problem can happen during an attack. The medication can decrease inflammation. If your doctor has ever given you, you can use it. You should know that this medication won't work as fast as inhaler. However, it can avoid other problem in case your attack will last long. It's better to call your doctor and let him or her know what medication you took so he or she can control your dose. 

Yoga, A Good Exercise for Asthmatics

Yoga which doesn’t involve vigorous movements is so good to solve asthma. Yoga can help people with asthma (asthmatic) to reduce stress and other excessive emotion that cause asthma. Besides that, yoga can help preventing asthma to not become chronic disease that's so difficult to heal. But, you're better to do yoga therapy with a professional to avoid bad risk.

What are Yoga Movements to Avoid Asthma?

As explained before, yoga movement that doesn’t need high stamina can help you to solve asthma. There are some recommended yoga movements you can follow, such as below:

· Sukashana, it's a simplest pose, but so effective for solving asthma. Sitting cross-legged (like when trying to meditate) with your back straight. Pull belly inwards but don't push yourself. Concentration in breathing while maintaining this pose to enforce the spine and soothe the mind.

· Shoulder lifts, it's a pose to increase flexibility and reduce tension in the neck and head that can lead to asthma attacks. Rotating half of the backbone

is the best way to relax the muscles.

· Lie on your back and bring your knees to one's forehead almost touching. Pull the shin as close as possible and keep the spine as straight as possible. If it's not convenient, switch legs. This pose can calm the mind, digestion and emit gases that accumulate in the stomach.

· Breathe with only one nostril while closing the other nostril with the thumb. Do it 50 times withdrawal and exhalation breaths, then switch to the other nostril. Give pause for 5 minutes before repeating this motion without stopping. Do this whenever and wherever you want.

· Half spinal twist is a good move to strengthen the spine.

However, please seek professional help before doing it. In addition to performing these ways, do some precautions to prevent asthma attacks. Avoid going to places that are too cold or humid; when forced to do so, keep the body warm. Asthma sufferers often experience a relapse in the winter, and many sufferers are also finally experiencing claustrophobia. Recognize the symptoms of asthma before asking for help of professional yoga instructor, and don't be surprised if you feel more refreshed after doing yoga exercises.

Tips for You

Now, you have known about yoga pose or moves you can do for solving asthma. Besides doing yoga exercise, you can also consume various type of foods that are so useful to prevent asthma. Here are some foods you can consume: 

· Apples 

This is one reason for us to eat apples. A study in England found that people who eat apples from two to five weeks, had a lower risk than those who did not. According to the study, the rate of decline is about 32 percent.  

· Cantaloupe 

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and can counteract damage in the lungs. It'll against free radicals in the body. Studies of Japan said that people with high intake of vitamin C, have the possibility to avoid asthma. Although vitamin C can be found in many fruits and vegetables, but they are widely abundant in cantaloupe, grapefruit, kiwi, broccoli, cabbage, and tomatoes. 

· Carrots  

Carrot is famous because it contains beta-carotene, another type of antioxidant. Early studies showed that beta-carotene converted to vitamin A in the body can reduce the risk of asthma. It also plays an important role for maintaining eye health and immune system. 

· Coffee 

 Actually, coffee and caffeine can also be beneficial for people with asthma. Simple caffeinated coffee may increase the respiratory function up to four hours after consumption. However, it won't happen to decaf.  

· Garlic 

Garlic has anti-inflammatory properties. For centuries, folklore believed that garlic can treat a number of diseases. Actually there are many contents of garlic which are so beneficial, such as allicin, a powerful antioxidant. A study in 2009 revealed that allicin produce acids that can destroy free radicals. According to researchers, it's possible to help people with asthma. 

· Avocado 

Avocados also contain important antioxidants called glutathione. Their role in the body is beneficial to protect cells against free radicals which can cause damage. It puts avocado as good food consumed by people with asthma. Avocados are also rich in monounsaturated fat, a type of fat that can help lower cholesterol. 

· Spinach 

Who wouldn't like spinach? This green vegetable is easy to cook and rich in iron. By consuming this vegetable, the risk of asthma will be reduced as research that has been conducted on 68 535 women. Spinach is also rich in vitamin C, betakeroten, and magnesium that are also needed by the body. People with asthma are commonly lack of magnesium, so that consumption of spinach containing magnesium can help prevent asthma. In one study, consuming 400 mg of magnesium per day can reduce the symptoms of asthma. · Bananas 

 Bananas are delicious and can be eaten directly or as a mixture of fruit soup, it's also helpful in preventing asthma. In a study conducted at Imperial College London, found that children who ate one banana a day can reduce the risk of asthma, such as wheezing that is up to 34% 

 · Broccoli 

This green vegetable is also effective in preventing asthma in children. A study done by Dr. Marck Riedl of UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine, United States done by giving compound containing broccoli for 3 days to about 100 children who are toddlers and adults with asthma. From this study, it was found that the levels of enzymes that have antioxidant properties in increased respiratory tract. These antioxidants can protect the respiratory tract from free radicals, air pollution, cigarette smoke, and fumes. 

Well, those are some information for you about yoga that is so useful to solve asthma. Starting from now, you can do some yoga moves to prevent your asthma. You can also consume some food mentioned above to be free of asthma. By doing yoga exercise and consuming right food, you'll be free of asthma. Finally, hopefully the information above will be useful for you.

10 Things You Must Avoid to Prevent Asthma

There are some things which can be the trigger of asthma, and you're better to know about it in order to avoid asthma. Asthma that we have known is a term which comes from Greek and has meaning gasping or shortness of breath. It's a term that refers to chronic disease on the respiratory track that makes the sufferer feel so difficult to breath. Nowadays, there are so many medications and also ways to solve asthma, but the best way to solve asthma is avoiding various things that can be the trigger of asthma. You can also do other things to avoid this disease. Read the information below to know more about it.

Things You Must Avoid to Prevent Asthma

Actually, there are so many things that become the trigger of asthma. You're better to avoid those things to be free of asthma. Here are the common things that become the trigger of asthma, and you have to avoid these things:

1. Dust 

Dust can stimulate allergy, so it can cause asthma. To make you free of asthma, try to keep the cleanness of your room. Make sure every room in your house is free of dust to make you free of asthma.

2. Flower

The pollen of flower is a trigger of asthma, so you're better to avoid it. Avoid planting flowers in indoor because it can be the trigger of asthma. To avoid the pollen of flower, make sure you plant the flower rightly and not over. You can plant it in the shiny place and cut the dead plants periodically.

3. Pet

Some surveys found fact that contact with pet such as dog and cat can be dangerous activity that causes asthma. Some parts of pet such as fur and saliva are the trigger of asthma. Although your pet is not near with you, but its fur can be around you and become the trigger of asthma. So, you're better to avoid pet and don’t let your pet to enter your home.  

4. Smoke and Smell in the Kitchen 

 Smoke and smell in the kitchen can be the trigger of asthma. So, you're better to avoid it. If your kitchen is not completed by blower, you can open the window during cooking. So, you can cook comfortably without worrying about smoke and smell in kitchen.  

5. Cigarette Smoke 

Cigarette contains so much harmful substance that will irritate your lung. So, avoid smoking if you want to be free of asthma. You can also avoid cigarette smoke by avoiding the place where there is people who is smoking in that place.  

6. Paregoric 

Paregoric is also the trigger of asthma. So if you go to doctor to get some medicines, make sure you have told about your asthma to get the best medicine.  

7. Extreme Weather 

Extreme weather can also be a trigger of asthma. Although you can’t control the weather, but make sure you can avoid extreme weather in order to keep your healthy and avoid asthma.

8. Vigorous Exercise 

We have known that people with asthma can’t do vigorous exercise because it can cause asthma. So for you who have asthma, you have to avoid vigorous exercise and try other exercise that is recommended for you, such as yoga.  

9. Emotion 

Some excessive emotion such as anxiety, fear, and anger can become a trigger of asthma. It happens because there is change in heartbeat which causes narrowing airways that lead to asthma.  

10. Food Allergy 

Food allergy is also the trigger of asthma. Some of foods that can cause allergy are egg, nut, fish, shrimp, and more. So, avoid food that will cause allergy to be free of asthma.

Tips for You

After knowing things that should be avoided to prevent asthma, you can start your life by avoiding the things above. Besides avoiding the things mentioned before, you can also do other tips that are so useful for you. Here are some tips you can follow to handle asthma: 

 · Knows The Trigger of Your Asthma 

People with asthma have different condition, and they also have different trigger of their asthma. So, try to know about the trigger of your asthma. By knowing the trigger, you'll be easy to avoid the trigger and free of asthma wherever you are. 

· Reduce Your Stress 

As explained before, stress and other form of excessive emotion can cause asthma. So, try to avoid stress and make sure you always feel relax and calm. You can do some things that are so good to control your emotion, such as meditation, yoga, and more. 

· Find the Right Exercise 

Vigorous exercise can cause asthma. So, try to find right exercise for you. Some recommendations are jogging and walking in the morning, but don’t do that too long because it'll make you feel so tired, remember that tiredness can lead to asthma. You're better to consult with your doctor and ask him to give you recommendation about best exercise for you. 

· Keep Your Home Clean 

 Make sure your environment is so clean to avoid asthma. Make sure your home has good ventilation too, because good ventilation can make your home fresh, and it's good for you who have asthma. 

· Breathing Exercise 

Breathing exercise can also be a good way to prevent asthma. Try to take a deep breath routinely to exercise your breath, and then you can handle your asthma. 

Well, those are some information for you about things should be avoided to prevent asthma and some useful tips you can do for avoiding asthma. You can use the information above to be free of asthma. Remember that asthma is dangerous disease. A little thing like dust can be a trigger. So, try to be careful person that always keep the clean of your environment and avoid every thing that will be the trigger of your asthma. By doing that, you can avoid your asthma and can enjoy your life without worrying about your asthma. Finally, hopefully the information above will be useful for you.