Bellevue Health Clinic

Archive for the ‘Asthma’ Category

People who can always breathe easily never really understand asthma. Unless and until you have experienced that slow tightening of the chest, the reality of the fear and distress it causes never strikes home. At least, that should be fear and distress in the beginning. People who have it should learn to live with it. Millions grew up before the inhalers and modern drugs came on to the market. Not for them the freedom to squirt relieving chemicals into their lungs. They either learned how to control the problem naturally or ended up in hospital, hooked up to an oxygen bottle. Today, we see children and their parents living in the shadow of asthma as if it’s some kind of death sentence. Yesterday, we had athletes and sporting heroes as our role models – people who had conquered asthma and reached the highest levels of performance. Now children are not allowed to leave home without their inhalers plus back-up. And schools have been trained to deal with asthma attacks. The world is walking around expecting the worst.

This shift in culture has been engineered by the pharmaceutical industry. It has convinced everyone that the sufferers can only survive by using these magic products. This is not completely dishonest. There are times when the attack is severe and the drugs relieve what could have become a serious threat to health. But that does not justify using these drugs routinely.

That said, since no one now learns relaxation techniques to control breathing, the young are dependent on drugs to do it for them. For the more serious cases, it’s become customary to rely on steroids as an anti-inflammatory. Because inflammation of the airways and lungs is not limited to asthma, these drugs are actually used for almost all diseases of the lungs. Indeed, the practice is to pump large amounts of steroids into you through an intravenous line if you present at an emergency room. The most common of the oral drugs is Prednisone. Because of the risk of side effects, this is not used unless the asthma is serious or has been difficult to control over a long period of time. This can avoid the need to go to hospital. There are two approaches. One is a so-called steroid burst where you take a high dose for a short period of time. The other is a very low dose taken for a relatively long period of time.

Prednisone is safe and effective so long as it’s used properly. If you find the asthma continues in seriousness or recurs, this may suggest a different problem. Prednisone will almost always reduce inflammation and ease breathing, if not on the first use, then definitely on the second. If the asthma continues or recurs it suggests a continuous source of infection which should be identified, or that you have an allergy. If you do opt for the long-term, low-dose strategy, monitor your body carefully. If you find you are putting on weight or weight is being redistributed, or that there are swelling around the joints suggesting fluid retention, this is the time to slowly stop taking the drugs. No matter how bad the asthma, the side effects of steroids are worse. So, as with everything connected with drugs, you balance costs against benefits.

Asthma is a disease that is caused by an inflammation of the airways and effects tens of millions of Americans every year. Asthma is marked by symptoms such as tightness of chest, wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and mucous production. Every case of asthma is different, and some people suffer from it more than others. Because asthma effects the airways, an attack can be life threatening, and immediate treatment will be required. If you are someone that struggles with asthma at the chronic level, you know the wide range of symptoms you struggle with, and when it comes to breathing, you want relief fast. While there is no known cure for asthma, you don’t have to suffer. Here are some homeopathic remedies and other treatments that you may want to consider using to target your primary symptoms. One of the most common symptoms of asthma is a pressure type of pain in or around the chest and this causes wheezing and a difficulty in breathing. This can be incredibly painful and troubling to the asthma sufferer, and the stress alone can make this symptom worse. For centuries, ipecac has been found to be a very effective homeopathic remedy to assist in chest pain and pressure. If you are one of those that experiences forehead pain that moves side to side, or back pain during an asthma attack, you will be able to appreciate the relief that ipecac will bring from these symptoms. Also, if your asthma produces a lot of phlegm or mucous, ipecac will loosen that up somewhat for you and bring you relief. Blatta orientalis is another homeopathic remedy that works specifically with the coughing associated with asthma. Blatta orientalis can be purchased from a homeopathy or health store, and can be taken in capsule or liquid form. To ease coughing and wheezing, taking blatta orientalis in liquid form is recommended. In some cases of asthma, an asthma attack can be incredibly stressful, and a panic attack will begin as well. If you suffer from the type of attacks that need immediate assistance to alleviate stress, the herb known as aconitum napellus may help you. This herb can be taken for attacks that come out of the blue, and is frequently helpful if you have had an attack start by being suddenly exposed to cold air. The symptom of restlessness is one that many asthma sufferers can relate to. If this is you, you may want to try the homeopathic treatment known as arsenicum album. Again this is another treatment for those that experience symptoms after cold air exposure, and will provide a calming sensation and immediate relief from symptoms. This is a very effective treatment for either acute or chronic asthma. Homeopathic remedies are wonderful ways to overcome asthma symptoms, but they should be used in conjunction with doctor’s advice and treatment such as prednisone or bronchodilators. Homeopathic treatments can be purchased through a naturopath or health food store, and should always be taken with your doctor’s advice and knowledge. These are very effective treatments for the primary symptoms of asthma and can provide immediate relief, but additional treatments such as broncho dilators and prednisone therapy must be also used in order to maintain long term health if you have asthma.