1. Essential Facts To Know About Asthma
Asthma is a common respiratory problem worldwide. There are millions of people who suffer from
asthma, but they live with it because they know how to control it and how to stop asthma attacks. The
following article features a few basic facts that all asthma sufferers must know in order to alleviate
any problems associated with asthma and live a healthy life.
For a person with asthma who already has enough trouble breathing as it is, smoking is an unwise
decision, as smoking is a major irritant to the respiratory system. Smoke produced by tobacco
products is composed of harmful gases and particles. When a smoker inhales these gases and
particles, the lungs produce more mucus than normal, causing the smoker to have an asthma attack.
In addition, smoking is damaging to cilia. Cilia are small, hair like organelles found in the lining of the
trachea. Cilia normally get rid of dirt and mucus, but if they are damaged by smoking, then mucus and
dirt will accumulate and the frequency and severity of asthma attacks will increase.
Generally there are two types of medications used for asthma: short and long term. The most
common medication of the short term medications is salbutamol, which is a short acting beta2-
adrenoceptor agonist. Salbutamol stops bronchospams created during asthma attacks by relaxing the
muscles of the bronchioles, making it easier to breathe. Salbutamol is administered through an
inhaler that mixes the medication with air. Inhalers are used for long term medications as well, such
as the common corticosteroid Fluticasone propionate.
Inhalers are useful tools for delivering asthma medication, but only when they are used correctly. If an
inhaler is used improperly, then the body won't receive the medication necessary to soothe asthma
attacks, leaving the asthma sufferer in danger. Inhaler users should have their inhaler technique
checked by a doctor frequently to ensure that they are getting the most out of their inhaler.
A peak flow meter is a small device that is used by doctors to measure a person's top expiration
speed. This measurement is used to determine how well a person can expel air. A user will blow into
the device, which will cause the meter to move to a certain position, depending on the strength of the
blow. Healthy users will produce high results, while those with constricted airways will produce low
results, signaling to a doctor that treatment is needed.
2. One of the keys to preventing asthma attacks is to know what causes the attacks. If an asthma
sufferer knows that triggers their asthma, they can take active steps to avoid these triggers and
eliminate anything that may trigger an attack in their homes. The best way to determine triggers is to
seek the help of a doctor, as they will know better than anyone what items contain particles that act
as triggers.
Knowing the facts about asthma is the key to dealing with it and the problems associated with it.
While keeping the facts from this article in mind, anyone can live with asthma.
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