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Asthma
Oxygen is essential for our living. We get this oxygen from the air we breath. We cannot live longer than a few minutes without it.
The air we breathe enters the lungs after travelling through the windpipe (Trachea). The oxygen in the lungs purifies the impure blood from the heart. The purified blood then goes back to the heart, to be pumped by it, for circulation into the body.
The impurities from the blood absorbed by the air in the lungs are extracted out in the form of carbon dioxide.
Even if we breathe air through the mouth, the same process is repeated, but the lungs get more oxygen through the mouth. That is the reason why Asthma patients inhale through mouth in order to get more oxygen.
A survey shows that, one in every twenty is suffering from Asthma in England. In our country the figure ranges from two to five in every hundred.
Doctors call this disease by the name episodic disease, because it appears and disappears. Reasons
The air vessels of the lungs reach a stage of contraction and loose their elasticity. The reasons for this appears to be:
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When the lungs are infected, the air vessels in them develop inflammation. |
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The wall muscles of these air vessels loose their softness. |
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Air vessels becoming blocked by glue like substance. | |
Under the above three conditions, the air cannot circulate freely in the lungs. This results in Asthma. Anyone or all the three of the above troubles may be present in the Asthma patient.
Asthma is a problem of the body only. It is not an emotional one. But emotional stress, anxiety, despair may make it severe.
When attacked by a spasm, the patient finds it very difficult to breath. Cough, heavy sonorous breathing, congestion of the chest and gasping for breath, all may occur at the same time. These symptoms may show up occasionally, or may be prevalent for a long time, but they trouble the patient mainly during the night or early in the morning.
Allergy is another important reason for asthma. Allergy makes the air vessels to respond unnaturally which results in a sudden crumpling. Reasons behind Allergy
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Due to dust, pollen of flowers, strong odours, cotton ligaments, smoke, fermenting acids, sea breeze or paper dust present in the air we breath. |
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From the cool drinks, ice creams we take. |
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Due to cold breeze. |
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Due to mental stress and anxiety. |
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Vigorous exercising. |
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Some type of infections. |
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Some type of foods like eggs, milk, plantains etc. |
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Exhaust smoke emitted by the vehicles. |
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Due to some varieties of fungus. |
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Some medicines, specially the ones used in controlling the BP. |
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From household pets. |
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Allergy may be caused by anything depending on the nature of the body. | | Symptoms of Asthma
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Cough |
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Exhaustion |
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Breathlessness |
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Congestion of chest |
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Sound of mewing while breathing |
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Gasping for breath |
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Incessant breath |
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In children - continuous cough during night may be the only indication |
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Fast pulse (90 and above per minute) |
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Flanks of the belly going in during inhalation (mainly in children) etc. | | Do's and dont’s for Asthma Patients
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Exercising to strengthen lung muscles. Swimming, playing of instruments like flutes, which are blown by mouth etc., are some of the good exercises. |
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Taking light & easily digestible foods like vegetables, fruits and fibrous food and be free from constipation. |
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Taking sufficient water to dilute the phlegm and helping in easy spitting. This helps further in easy breathing. |
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Eat sweet pumpkin, carrot, leafy vegetables & cabbage |
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Blow air into an air pillow, daily for about 10 minutes. Practice pranayamam (breathing exercise). |
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Though alcohol is not prohibited, it is better to stay away from it, as its consumption weakens the lungs. |
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Never bathe in cold water even in summer. |
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Avoid dust accumulation in the house |
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Keep the carpets & beds free from dust. Do not allow cobwebs to set. |
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Keep away from the smoke of cigarettes, incense sticks, hot oil and the mosquito coils etc. Stay away from all pungent smells. |
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Avoid very cold and very sour items ex: Ice cream, cool drinks and the curds/ yogurt, butter milk from the refrigerator. |
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Do not use sleeping pills and cough syrup. Never touch aspirin. |
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Maintain distance from domestic pets. |
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Do not keep the fan in high position to avoid rising of dust in the air. See that the dust is not thrown into air while using a vacuum cleaner. Always use it in the sucking position. |
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Avoid going near the patients who are suffering from ‘common cold’. |
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Use foam beds and pillows instead of cotton ones. |
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Avoid cold breeze by covering the body with sweater and muffler. Do not exercise in cold weather. |
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Avoid mental stress and anxiety. |
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Avoid AC rooms and AC cinema houses. |
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Find out the medicines to which you are allergic and keep away from them. Always. |
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Never use medicines on your own. Take doctor’s advice. | | For relief during Asthma attack
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Loosen the dress and relax on the bed. |
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Lie down with pillows raised under the head, to help the lungs get more oxygen. |
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Sit erect in front of an open window or balcony to get fresh air. |
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Take hot liquids like coffee, milk or hot water. |
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Use brancho dilater medicines as directed by the doctor. |
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Keeping clove or tulasi leaves inside the cheek oozes some essence which eases the suffocation while breathing. |
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Under a covered sheet, inhale the vapours of turmeric and amrutanjan in hot water, through the nostrils to clear the nose for easy breathing. Also these vapours dilute the phlegm making it easier to spit out. |
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Rub amrutanjan on the throat, chest and on the ribs and press with cloth soaked in hot water. Also gargle hot water with some salt in it. | | Precautions during travel
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Avoid travel in rain, during winter and nights. |
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In case of an attack while travelling, get down at the nearest station and take rest in a hotel room. Travel can be resumed on the advise of the doctor. |
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Keep amrutanjan or vicks ointment, peppermints like strepsils or vicks inhaler or cloves handy to get immediate relief. |
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When the weather is cold, use sweater, muffler or shawl to protect yourself from the cold breeze. Cover the throat with a muffler and the nose with a cloth to prevent dust. | | When to go to the Doctor
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When the breathing is difficult and is accompanied with mewing sounds, cough, gasping breath or panting. |
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When you had to be awake through out the night because of heavy cough and trouble breathing. |
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Unable to walk even short distances, gasping for air. | | Doctor’s advice
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He advises medicines for the above symptoms |
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If the lungs are found to be infected by bacterial infection they are treated with antibiotics |
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If the asthma attack is found to be due to allergy, the doctor investigates the cause for the allergy and suggests avoidance. In some unavoidable cases, sensitivity due to that allergy can be reduced by a course of injections | |
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