What is an asthma attack?

What is an asthma attack?

The asthma is a chronic disease of the airways in which alternate crisis breathlessness and cough, caused by inflammation of the bronchi, with relatively normal periods. Crises can be mild, moderate or severe, with a variable duration from a few minutes to several days, and may occur at any time.

During an asthma attack, inflammation of the mucous membranes lining the respiratory tract and contraction or spasm of the circular muscles of the bronchi causing a decrease in the size of these pathways, causing shortness of breath and wheezing.

What can make asthma symptoms in children?

The basis for suspecting asthma symptoms are shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing or noisy breathing. However, children may have some peculiarities.
In young children, from 0-3 years, the symptoms may include:
•    Noise (hiss) when breathing air
•    Cough, shortness of breath, wheezing or wheezing with exercise
•    Prolonged coughing, especially at night or worsen at night, not caused by a cold
•    Malaise
•    Colds and repetition that are slow to heal.
In children aged 3-15 years, the symptoms are:

Did you know that ...

•    50% of children who suffer from it are cured with age?
•    is the most common chronic childhood disease?
•    up to 20% of children suffer some respiratory disorder, although not develop asthma?
•    Hissing noise when breathing (expel) the air
•    Prolonged cough, especially at night or early morning
•    Nighttime awakenings with cough
•    Inactivity, lack of desire to participate in games or exercises that require physical exertion.

Allergy and Asthma Control in the Home

Allergy and Asthma Control in the Home

Particles in the Air We Breathe

The air we breathe carries many particles of different types and sizes. Some large particles may settle on the walls and furniture of your home. Other large particles are separated from the air through the nose and mouth when you inhale. The smaller particles are sucked into the depths of the lungs.

Asthma can be triggered by large and small particles. Some particles found in the air originate indoors. Others are carried in the outside air. Foreign particles enter your home through windows, doors and heating systems.

For most people, the particles are in the indoor air will not cause any problems. But people with allergic symptoms, including asthma, may have problems in the same household.

The "Triggers" Asthma and Allergies

If you or someone you know have allergic symptoms or asthma, are sensitive to "triggers", which include the airborne particles. These "triggers" may initiate a reaction in your lungs and other parts of your body. The triggers can be found in the interior or exterior. They can be simple things like:
1.    Cold air
2.    Snuff smoke and wood smoke
3.    Perfume, paint, hair spray, or different strong odors or fumes
4.    Allergens (particles that cause allergies) such as dust mites, pollen, mold, pollutants and animal dander (which is made up of tiny scales or particles that emerge from the hair, feathers or skin) of any animal domestic
5.    Common cold, flu or other respiratory diseases.

Identifying triggers is not always easy. If you know what your triggers, reduce exposure to them can help prevent asthma attacks and allergies.

If you do not know what triggers your asthma and allergy problems, try to limit their exposure to a suspected factor at a time. Look to see if it improves. This may show if that trigger is a problem for you.

Controlling The Triggers

Here are some common triggers and several ways to help control them at home:

Snuff smoke

No smoking should be allowed in the house of someone who has asthma or allergies. Ask family members and friends to smoke outside. Suggest that they stop smoking.

Wood smoke

The wood smoke is a problem for children and adults with asthma and allergies. Avoid stoves and fireplaces.

Pets

Almost all pets or pets can cause allergies, including dogs and especially cats. Small animals such as birds, hamsters and guinea pigs can cause problems, so that all pets should be removed from the home if they trigger asthma and allergy symptoms.

The allergens from pets can stay in the house for months after the pet has been removed, because they persist in house dust. It may take some time to begin to improve allergy and asthma symptoms.

If the pet remains at home, keep it out of the bedroom of anyone with asthma or allergies. The animal weekly baths can help reduce the amount of saliva and pet dander found in the house.

Sometimes we hear that some cats or dogs are "non-allergenic." There is no such thing as a cat or dog "non-allergenic," especially if you leave dander and saliva in the house. Japanese fish and other tropical fish can be good substitutes.

Cockroaches

Even cockroaches can cause problems, so it is important to get rid of cockroaches in your home. The cockroach allergen comes from dead insects and their droppings. It accumulates in house dust and is difficult to remove. Careful cleaning of your home will help.

Indoor Molds

When the humidity is high, mold can be a problem in bathrooms, kitchens and basements. Make sure these areas have good air circulation and are cleaned often. The basement in particular may need a dehumidifier. And remember that water from the dehumidifier must be emptied and the container cleaned often to prevent mold from forming.

When you sweat, mold can form in hulespuma pillows (polyurethane foam). To avoid the formation of molds, place the pillow in a pillow case in which it can not penetrate the air and seal it with tape. Wash your pillow every week, and be sure to change it every year.

Also formed in houseplants molds, so that consideration must frequently. You may need to keep all your plants outside.

Strong odors or fumes

The perfume, air fresheners, cleaning chemicals, paint and talc are examples of triggers that should be avoided or kept at very low concentrations.

Dust Mites

Dust mites are minute spiders, microscopic size, typically found in house dust. In a pinch of dust can be several thousand mites. Mites are one of the main triggers for people with allergies and asthma. Dust mites are the most difficult to remove.
Use a solution to control allergies, a cleaner that can kill the mite allergen. Consult your doctor or pharmacist what cleaner should buy.

Following these rules can also help you get rid of dust mites:

•    Place mattresses in cases in which the air can not penetrate. Place tape throughout the closure.
•    Póngales the covers on pillows that can not penetrate the air. Place tape throughout the closure. Or wash the pillow each week.
•    Wash all bedding weekly in water at a temperature of at least 130 degrees F. Remove the comforter or bedspread at night may be helpful.
•    Do not sleep or lie on upholstered furniture (padded).
•    Remove carpets or rugs from the bedroom.
•    Shake the dust from the surface as often as possible.
•    When cleaning, use a damp mop or damp cloth.
•    Do not use aerosols or spray cleaners in the chamber.
•    And do not clean or vacuum the room when this someone with asthma or allergies.
•    Curtains and window blinds attract dust. Use blinds or curtains made of plastic or other washable for easy cleaning.
•    Remove upholstered furniture and stuffed animals (unless it can be washed), and anything that is under the bed.
•    The closets need extra care. Only must contain the necessary clothing. A procedure that can be useful is close plastic bags with clothespins. (Do not use plastic bags to cover dry cleaning clothes).
•    A dust mites like moisture. Reduce humidity in your home can decrease the number of mites. A dehumidifier can be helpful.
•    Air filters may be of limited utility to keep your home cleaner and more comfortable. Consult your doctor for advice about air filters.
•    Cover air inlets of the chamber with several layers of cheesecloth to reduce the number of large size allergenic particles entering the chamber.

General Rules to Help Manage Your Home Environment

The control of the domestic environment is an important part of care of patients with asthma and allergies. Some general rules for home control to be followed by all members of the family are:
1.    Reduce or eliminate your home many triggers of asthma and allergies as possible.
2.    If possible, use filters and air conditioners for your home cleaner and more comfortable.
3.    Pay attention to the problem of dust mites. Strive to control this problem in the bedroom.
4.    Agitated vacuums dust and allergens found in the air. A vacuum cleaner with an air filter or a central vacuum with a bag collector outside the house may be of limited utility. Anyone with asthma or allergies should avoid vacuuming. If necessary use, can be useful dust mask.

Inhaled Medications for Asthma

Inhaled Medications for Asthma

The best way to administer medicines to treat asthma is inhaled. They have introduced many different devices in recent decades to allow asthmatics of all ages to use inhaled medications to help control your breathing problem.

The main advantages of inhaled medications are: (1) direct administration to the point causing the problem (the bronchi and bronchioles that lead to the lungs) and (2) the lack of side effects related to drugs given systemically (usually orally).

Inhaled Medication Types

They are available in inhaled four types of asthma medications:

1.    Beta2 agonist bronchodilators, which are most commonly used. These include albuterol, bitolterol, pirbutero, and terbutaline, which are used as medicines "rescue" to relieve asthma attacks. These inhalants can be utilized in excess, the use of more than one bottle per month is cause for concern. Salmeterol is a bronchodilator new long-acting beta2 agonist that is used to maintain control as asthma.
2.    The Ipratropium is an anticholinergic bronchodilator.
3.    Inhaled corticosteroids are potent anti-inflammatory drugs. Examples include beclomethasone, budesonide (expected to be approved soon for use in the U.S.), flunisolide, fluticasone and triamcinolone.
4.    Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as cromolyn and nedocromil.

Types of Devices for Inhalation

There are three basic types of devices used to administer inhaled drugs. The most common of these is the metered dose inhaler (MDI). All medications listed are available with IDM.
Nebulizers are often used for infants and young children with asthma and in patients with acute disease of all ages. These devices administer medication droplets using oxygen or air under pressure. Currently available in the U.S. for nebulization albuterol, ipratropium, cromoglycate, budesonide.
Inhalers are used to administer cromolyn rotation, and are currently used for inhaled albuterol. A similar device has been tested in the U.S. for inhalation of budesonide and will be available soon. Most inhaled medications for asthma are obtained in this way as the government is concerned about the environmental effects of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) used as agents in most MDIs.

Spacers and Cameras

Many young children and some adults have trouble coordinating inhalation with the firing of a metered dose inhaler (MDI). These patients may prefer to use a spacer. Studies show that a higher percentage of the drug is deposited in the lower respiratory tract, instead of the throat after the use of an MDI with a large volume spacer. Those chambers and support one-way valves to prevent the escape of medicament have the advantage of allowing the asthmatic breathing pace closer while inhaling is effective doses of medicine. At least one version of a large volume spacer chamber and a valve is available with a mask that comes in three sizes for infants, children and adults.

Proper Training Needed

All metered-dose inhaler (MDI) have instructions. It is very important to follow these instructions carefully. Individuals with asthma and / or their caretakers should ask the physician to prescribe them to give them a demonstration of specific WDR is used. This must be done again at the pharmacy if necessary. It shall review the technical monitoring visits. IDM types used to administer albuterol, beclomethasone, cromolyn, fluticasone, ipratropium, nedocromil, salmeterol and terbutaline are all very similar. The following instructions apply to all these inhalers:

(1) Shake the inhaler well immediately before each use.
(2) Remove the mouthpiece cover. If no cap, check the nozzle opening it to see if there is any foreign objects before each use.
(3) Make sure the pot is not empty remembering how many puffs have been administered. A manufacturer includes a "sprays Checker" on patient indications. There is also market a device that the patient can insert into your inhaler to record the number of puffs applied. For maintenance medications taken daily, you can divide the number of inhalations per boat (written on the boat and / or patient information that comes with the medicine) by the number of daily sprays to calculate how many days it will last and when to change your IDM. The immersion method widely used is probably very little accurate to trust him.
(4) Check the spray the inhaler before using for the first time or have not been used in more than four weeks. (No need to do it after every time I go to use).
(5) Exhale through your mouth to empty the lungs.
(6) Place the mouthpiece in your mouth, leaving the tongue below. Alternatively, the inhaler can be placed at 1 or 2 inches away from the open mouth.
(7) While breathing in deeply and slowly through your mouth, press down firmly and fully on top of the metal canister with your index finger.
(8) Continue to inhale all you can and try to hold your breath for 5-10 seconds. Before breathing out, remove the inhaler from your mouth and remove your finger from the bottle.
(9) Wait 30-60 seconds and shake the inhaler again. Repeat these steps for each inhalation prescribed by your doctor.
(10) Place the cover instead of the nozzle after each use.
(11) Clean the inhaler thoroughly and frequently. Remove the metal canister and cleanse the plastic case and cover with hot tap water rinsing at least once a day. Do not soak metal cans containing cromolyn and nedocromil. After thoroughly drying the plastic case and cap, put in place the pot gently by rotating and replace the cap.
(12) Discard the canister after you have used the labeled number of inhalations. No one can be sure of the correct amount of medication after this point.
Note: MDI used for administering bitolterol, pilbuterol, and triamcinolone are somewhat different from the other. It is very important to follow the specific instructions including these inhalers. The spacers and tubes that are in commerce also come with instructions that modify in any way the instructions mentioned. To "rest assured" get specific training for each prescribed inhalers.

Using Nebulizers

Many nebulizers on the market. The most expensive are laptops with features like lightweight size, battery packs and adapters for use in automobiles. But even less expensive nebulizers administered in an effective drugs for asthma in fine droplets through masks of different sizes for infants to adults, through T-tubes or nozzle adapters. Nebulized medications for asthma are especially useful in infants, young children and some elderly patients who can not use an MDI, even with an air mask. It is also often useful in older children and adults to help reverse acute asthma attack.

Again, proper training is necessary. This can be provided by clinic staff or the doctor who prescribed nebulized therapy. This training is often provided by medical supply companies that equip nebulizers. Your staff will go to the patient's home to deliver the nebulizer and train.