Alternative treatment for asthma

Alternative treatment for asthma

Some people with asthma need more than just the regular care, medical circuit. An alternative treatment can help.

If you choose an alternative treatment, it is good to take some things into account. Alternative care, also known as complementary therapies, is not based on scientific research. There are no hard evidence for a good treatment outcome. Talk with your doctor always if you eg herbal or homeopathic medicines use. Stop in any case not just with your medication. An alternative treatment is helping, but it is never a substitute for the regular treatment. Ask your health care provider after the situation regarding fees.
 
Breath Therapy

There are different types of respiratory therapy where you can choose from. The most famous case of asthma is Buteyko, a breathing therapy that teaches you a very quiet breathing.
 
Homeopathy

A known alternative treatment is homeopathy. Some homeopathic remedies activates the body's immune system. The medications are available in the form of drops, troches and liniments. You can buy them yourself at the drugstore, or be dictated by a homeopath. Please note that they do not always go well with your own medicines. Therefore talk equally with the GP or specialist.
 
Acupuncture

In acupuncture the therapist places needles in your body, in places where energy flows. In this way, the acupuncturist seeks to disturbed energy flow to and from your organs back into balance.
 
Anthroposophy

An alternative treatment by a anthroposophist is very broad. You can exercise therapy, but also dietary prescriptions, medicines or massages and artistic therapies. A anthroposophist focuses on balancing of body, soul and spirit.
 
Natural Remedies

In naturopathy is getting rid of toxins in the body center. The use of herbs, massage and appropriate diet in this alternative treatment usual. By trying to detoxify the naturopath your complaints.
 
Yoga

Yoga is an alternative treatment that is aimed at energy flows in the body into balance by performing certain movements. When yoga is proper breathing and balance between body and mind. Yoga is to follow in many gyms, at community centers and alternative treatment.

Inhalation and inhalation Techniques

Who used drugs for asthma, who must inhale well with the aid of an inhaler. There are different types of inhalers and inhalation techniques.

Only if you inhale properly, there will be enough of the drug from the inhaler into your lungs. It is therefore important that you learn to inhale. The doctor, pulmonologist and / or pulmonary nurse will instruct and to practice. The pharmacist can help. Per inhaler is another inhalation technique required.

Powder inhalers

A powder inhaler is a device from which you inhale powder. The amount of medicine that you eat depends on how well you inhale. Talk to your family doctor or specialist if you feel that there is too little powder into your lungs.
 
injectors

Injectors are also called sprays or aerosols. To inhale the medicine you need on top of the injector pressures and even breathe. This is not easy for everyone, because the timing of these two operations is very narrow. In many cases, a spacer to help inhale the spray easier. Children often use a spacer, but also in adults is recommended.

Breathe driven inhaler

The breath actuated inhaler is an atomizer that the medication exactly at the right moment release: namely at the beginning of a breath. With this inhaler spacer is not needed.

Nebulizer

A nebulizer is a device comprising a liquid asthma medicine into a mist, which you can then inhale. These sprays are often only needed if you have severe asthma or in any other way you inhale.

Medications for Asthma

Medications for asthma - Most people with asthma get medication prescribed by the doctor or pulmonologist. These medications for asthma are usually taken by mouth inhaled (breathed in) with a puffer, so they directly into the lungs. In some cases, selected drugs in tablet form.

You have probably seen someone with a puffer. A puffer is officially called an inhaler and is filled with a particular drug. It lies on the type and severity asthma which drug in the puffer is. There are several types of medications in asthma.

Bronchodilators

If you're scared or have an asthma attack, you can use a puffer with bronchodilator use. These medications for asthma ensure that the muscles around your airways relax, so the airways quickly widen. Bronchodilators are therefore a temporary solution to complaints, they do nothing to the inflammation in your lungs. Short-acting bronchodilators work within five minutes and have up to six hours effect. You can short-acting inhaler therefore take preventative, if you expect that you will get complaints. Long-acting bronchodilators have an average of twelve hours effect. Never use bronchodilators more often than prescribed by your doctor.
 
Antiinflammatory

Many people with asthma get a puffer with anti-inflammatories prescribed. In some cases one gets inflammatory drugs in tablet form. As the name suggests, they fight the inflammation in the lungs. This react less violently to stimuli and lungs have less trouble with your asthma. It takes several weeks before inflammatories do their work. It is important to use this medication for asthma as the doctor prescribes. Anti-inflammatory medications are maintenance and should therefore for a long time and according to the daily use. This is called adherence. This therapy is very important for proper operation of the funds.

Combination Medications

Anti-inflammatories and bronchodilators are sometimes combined in a puffer. This combination drugs provide protection and expansion of the lungs.
 
Other drugs

If the diagnosis of asthma is made, you can get a call for the annual flu shot. Additionally, you can get medication for various allergies, such as dust mites, hay fever or pets. Sometimes asthma to antibiotic treatment may be required.
 
Adverse

Medications for asthma hardly any side effects. This is partly due to inhaling with a puffer. Due to inhale from the inhaler, the medication directly into the lungs, the only place where they are needed. Should you experience side effects, talk with your doctor. Also if you notice little effect of the medication you should contact the doctor or your pulmonologist. It may be that other medications or other puffer better for you. A tip: rinse after using an anti-inflammatory Always wash your mouth and throat or eat something. This prevents throat complaints.

Asthma treatment

Asthma treatment

If the diagnosis is made, you will be confronted with different health professionals who treat your asthma. They ensure that you can live as well as possible with your asthma. But they also have expectations of you.

The care that is important to you, is not necessarily for another necessary. Good care is hard to describe. Yet there are characteristics of good care: caregivers as the GP, practice nurse, nurse specialist pulmonologist and adhere to certain guidelines. Thus, it is intended that they, together with a treatment or care plan, defining the diagnosis, appointments, medication and treatment goals are. You can always see the treatment or even take home. Besides the preparation of this plan, the care you give clear information, as far as possible tailored to your personal situation. It is important that you are attending (family) doctor and nurse specialist gets the feeling that they listen to you.
 

Asthma treatment

In turn, expect something from you all care as a patient. Asthma treatment system only with good cooperation between you and the caregivers. So try to be as open as possible about things like your lifestyle (smoking, diet, exercise habits) and take your medication. Give it as certain agreements from the treatment plan for you are not practicable, through whatever circumstances. The treatment must of course be possible. Also make sure that you always have a phone number you can call if you have questions about your asthma or treatment.
 

Lung Care Meter

Curious about the experiences of other asthmatics with their pulmonologist, or pulmonary nurse practitioner? These can be found on Longzorgmeter.nl. You can also have your own care and treatment appreciate, perhaps another patient or caregiver do something about. The caregiver can use your mind to his care. The characteristics of good pulmonary care are also described on Longzorgmeter.nl: feel free to read them through.

Diagnosed asthma

Most people with asthma often with cough and tightness in the GP. This can make the diagnosis and, if necessary, refer to the pulmonologist.

The doctor examines how your breath goes, by listening to the lungs with a stethoscope. He will also ask about allergy symptoms, your lifestyle, overall health or respiratory problems are present in the family. Does the doctor that you have asthma, he may refer you to a lung function test. On the basis of various investigations, eventually the GP (and sometimes the pulmonologist) diagnosis.

Lung Function Test

A lung function test can assist in diagnosing asthma. The pulmonary function test is a kind of bladder test, which is called in jargon spirometry. With this test, the doctor can get a good picture of the health of your lungs and how well they function. The examination is painless, but can be strenuous. The pulmonary function test is carried out in general practice, in a special laboratory or hospital. The doctor or hospital will tell you how you can prepare for the examination.

Provocation Test

In a challenge test examines the lung assistant how sensitive your lungs react to a particular substance. Usually that histamine. Histamine is released into the body when you come into contact with stimuli which you can not take it. In asthma, the lungs also hypersensitive to histamine itself. The histamine provocation test can therefore help in diagnosing asthma. In this study still inhale small amounts of histamine, until your lungs react to this. You can during this research are so stuffy. The trouble is quick to fight with a bronchodilator drug. Today the challenge is also performed with the substance methacholine, which has the same effect as histamine.

NO measurement

In some cases you may be referred to the hospital for NO measurement. This study is an experiment, to find out whether it helps to establish or exclude the diagnosis of asthma. The NO measurement is a kind of exhalation test, the doctor measures how much nitrogen in your breathing is. It may distract the physician or inflammation in your lungs and you therefore have asthma. Also, with this test to estimate how severe the asthma is and how much medication you may need. A NO measurement is just like the other tests completely painless.


Asthma pocket

Especially for people who have just been diagnosed with asthma, the Asthma pocket developed a handy booklet with information, tips and fun facts about asthma.

The Diagnosis of Asthma

The diagnosis of asthma

Because there are so many different stimuli and because the treatment depends on the incentives for which a patient is sensitive, the doctor together with you to look into the complaints. The doctor will first ask some questions, then do a physical examination, and finally a reversibility test with you.

If the doctor can find no obvious cause, he may refer you to a pulmonologist. ask

The doctor will ask you questions regarding

-    Your smoking behavior
-    The smoking behavior of your environment
-    In children the smoking behavior of the mother during pregnancy
-    The type of complaints

-    Other allergic symptoms such as hay fever or eczema
-    Conditions and incentives which can be stuffy

-    The course and severity of symptoms

-    The prevalence of asthma and allergy in the family
-    Dealing with pets
-    Sport
-    Work or school as a result of the complaints

Physical examination
On physical examination, the doctor will mainly look at the nose, mouth and throat, the abdomen, the skin and the chest. The movements of respiration will be investigated by listening (with a stethoscope) to the heart and lungs. Height, weight and general condition will be reviewed by the physician, especially this is important in children.
reversibility

To investigate whether the narrowing of the airways with medications is to lift the physician performs the reversibility of (= reversible reversible).

The patient should exhale as forcefully as possible by a peak flow meter. The more air that is exhaled at the same time, the higher the maximum value of the peak current. Then the patient should inhale drugs that widen the airways (the narrowing reduce or even eliminate). Subsequently, the patient again as powerful as possible by the peak flow exhalation.

If the value of the second time is significantly higher, then it means that this narrowing of the airways and demonstrated by the drugs were broadened. The drugs work so.reference pulmonologist

If the treatment does not work or if the GP further investigation is necessary, he will refer you to a pulmonologist. This then makes further research.

Several studies are possible:
 

• Measuring or lungs good or bad works, this is called the breathalyzer called.
• Hypersensitivity to stimuli examined by the incentives to call and see how the patient respond.
• Measuring the effect of exercise on breathing and airway, the lung is hereby before, during and after exercise measured.
• Making radiographs to lungs, heart and chest cavity to view.

Asthma Diagnosis

Lung function and allergy tests 

Foto: medicalsin.com

When a patient suffers from asthma symptoms, should - depending on the age of the person concerned - the first house or pediatrician should be consulted. This comes after the suspect and pulling for special examinations add the pulmonologist and allergist. Because in order to make the diagnosis safely, various studies are combined. 

At the initial examination, the doctor will first ask questions about the history of the disease. He wants to know possible risk factors, such as asthma cases in the family, the patents allergic diseases and infections of the respiratory tract. In addition, he is interested in precipitating factors, such as contact with animals, exercise or peculiarities of the profession. Add to that the physical examination. The interception of the airways, the doctor can find some noises when breathing. Also evidence of sequel of late, inadequately treated asthma, for example, damage to the heart or other organs, can be found already in the physical examination. 

Lung function tests confirm the diagnosis

Another important contribution is made by lung function tests. They confirm the diagnosis, reveal causative factors, determine the severity of asthma and provide an indication of the potential success of a drug therapy. The simplest method is the spirometry. Here, the patient breathes via a tube system in a measuring device that determines the amount of one or the exhaled air. When breathing, the patient follows specific instructions from the doctor, because depending on the type of breathing detect different metrics. The most important are the vital capacity and the seconds. The vital capacity (VC) is the volume that can be exhaled after a maximum of maximal inspiration. By contrast, the second describes the volume capacity, which will launch the patient after a maximal inspiration in forciertem exhalation (as fast and as much as possible) within the first second. The latter is also called the forced expiratory volume (FEV1). Is the exhalation as disabled because of narrowed airways in asthma, the FEV1 values ​​are lowered. In this case, the doctor will give brochienerweiterndes drug and repeat the test (Broncholysetest). Increase in FEV1 values ​​then, the patient has probably asthma.

With normal lung function: provocation test

If the lung function test normal, check the doctor nor whether the bronchial hypersensitivity to stimuli (challenge). For this, the patient must breathe special agent acting constricting effect on the bronchi. In an asthmatic lung with hypersensitive this narrowing occurs very quickly. In healthy individuals, however, much higher concentrations of the drug are needed.
 

Allergy tests can be avoided by allergens

Is there any evidence that it is the asthma is an allergic reaction, in the review of pulmonary function may also be a specific challenge with a suspicious substance be useful - for example, with animal hair or certain types of flour. When cold or exercise-induced asthma is the provocation by inhalation of cold fog or running on a treadmill or the load on the bicycle ergo meter. Knows the patents allergens or trigger factors, they may try to avoid this and to reduce the risk of asthma attacks. But the test is not without risk and should only be done by a specialist. Apart from the challenge test to the physician to search for allergens are also skin tests or blood tests are available. When skin test substances are placed on or under the skin and recorded the reactions of the skin. If it is positive, but this is only an indication that the allergen is involved in the pathogenesis of asthma - a proof is not. When the blood tests, the doctor determined, however, the amounts of certain substances in the body defense (immunoglobulins). This can be inferred indirectly on the readiness for overreacting.
 

Peak flow-metry for the home

As an asthmatic lung function regularly his responsibility to check for the measurement at home smaller devices have been developed (peak flow meter). To determine the peak expiratory flow (peak flow), ie the largest flow rate in liters per minute forced exhales while the patient. With the peak flow meter measures the person several times a day his lung function and those listed in a special diary. Based on the notes, the physician can identify temporal fluctuations in the narrowing of the airways, and optimize the therapy. In addition to the patents test results to his, when his health deteriorated and he needs to see the doctor immediately.

Additional studies

complement the diagnosis

In addition to the aforementioned studies may in some cases be more useful to extend the verification of lung function or the search for allergens. Finally, other methods may be necessary, such as a chest X-ray to rule out other lung diseases safely or to recognize complications of asthma.