Is there a way to get rid of asthma?

Question

Or at least make it so i don't have an asthma attack every time i exercise?

Answer 1

Sure, an asthma attack is scary. But it doesn't mean you have to move to the desert or forever live in fear of your "twitchy" airways. Besides taking your doctor-prescribed medication, there are plenty of ways to avoid or treat asthma attacks. As a first step, it's a good idea to guard against dust mite allergies and hay fever (see pages 181 and 257). Then add the following actions to your anti-asthma repertoire.

Take up yoga. Practicing a simple yoga breathing technique in which you exhale for twice as long as you inhale can protect you from future attacks by building resistance. This technique has been found effective when practiced daily.

When to See the Doctor
Although asthma can usually be kept under control by following a doctor's advice, each year several thousand people in the United States die from asthma attacks.

To manage asthma, you need to control your environment as much as possible and use preventive medications, according to Peter S. Creticos, M.D., medical director of asthma and allergic diseases at the Johns Hopkins Asthma and Allergy Center in Baltimore. In conjunction with this regimen, other tools such as your bronchodilator inhaler (or tablets) are often needed to optimize control or to treat wheezing episodes.

But pay special attention if you find you have to use your bronchodilator much more frequently or if you are having attacks more "easily" than in the past. For instance, if you normally took a couple of puffs of your inhaler in a week but are now taking that much in a day, see your doctor as soon as possible, suggests Dr. Creticos.

Of course, any time that you have more severe difficulty breathing or an asthma attack that you can't control, go to the nearest hospital immediately.




"The improvement in asthma control from this type of breathing is similar to what you would find using a corticosteroid inhaler," says Mary Schatz, M.D., a pathologist at Centennial Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, and a certified yoga instructor.

If you want to try this technique, the steps are "elegantly simple," as explained by Dr. Schatz in her book Back Care Basics: A Doctor's Gentle Yoga Program for Back and Neck Pain Relief.

Close your eyes.
Inhale naturally.
Exhale naturally.
Pause without holding your breath for one or two seconds before your next inhalation. This will allow the exhalation to come to a natural completion.
Don't try to breathe slowly or deeply. But if you feel the need to inhale deeply, do so until you can return to the breathing exercise.

Enjoy Exercise without Asthma Attacks
Just because you have asthma doesn't mean you can't enjoy a regular workout. But you do need to exercise some good judgment.

Swimming is probably the ideal exercise, because the high humidity of pools won't dry out your throat, says California allergist William Ziering, M.D., instructor of health sciences at Fresno State University and a past president for the Section on Allergy of the California Medical Association. Sports that require continuous, vigorous activity in dry air, such as running, are no longer discouraged if, under a doctor's supervision, special precautions are taken. According to Dr. Ziering, these involve using a "rescue inhaler" containing albuterol (prescribed by your doctor) 5 to 15 minutes before starting, taking a 5- to 10-minute warm-up and starting the activity at a slow pace for the first 5 to 15 minutes. Also good are sports that require shorter bursts of exercise, such as baseball, doubles tennis and golf.

If you must exercise in the cold, wear a mask or scarf over your face. And always have a warm-up period: By doing warm-ups, you may avoid asthma symptoms that typically occur during the first 15 minutes of exercise.




Avoid night noshing. Going to sleep on a full stomach might also feed your asthma.

"Asthma can be caused by stomach reflux," explains Peter S. Creticos, M.D., medical director of asthma and allergic diseases at the Johns Hopkins Asthma and Allergy Center in Baltimore. Reflux occurs when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus.

"Stomach contents may leak out and actually regurgitate into your mouth and then drip down into your airways while you're lying down or sleeping," he says. "Besides avoiding snacks, you could also take an antacid before bedtime to cut down on your stomach's acidity." Theophylline medications, which are sometimes prescribed to help control asthma, may actually aggravate your condition by increasing stomach reflux, says Dr. Creticos. If you are taking this medication and are having reflux problems, be sure to check with your doctor, so the dosage level can be adjusted.

Prop up your bed (or yourself). Besides cutting out midnight snacks, other ways to prevent reflux-induced asthma include elevating the head of your bed by placing it on bricks or wood blocks. Or prop yourself up with pillows to prevent acid's moving from your stomach to your esophagus, suggests H. James Wedner, M.D., chief of clinical allergy and immunology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Be sensitive to food sensitivity. Eating or even smelling foods that cause a reaction can trigger an asthma attack. "Some of the most common types of foods that trigger asthma are milk, eggs, nuts and seafood," says allergist John Carlston, M.D., associate professor of medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk.

Go the fish route. Since Eskimos get asthma about as often as they get heatstroke, some theorize that a fish-rich diet may help prevent asthma. Although tests aren't conclusive, Walter Pickett, Ph.D., senior research biochemist/group leader of the Medical Research Division at Lederle Laboratories in Pearl River, New York, says it is conceivable that eating sardines, herring, mackerel and other fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids at least once a week may help lessen asthma's impact.

Beware of Aspirin
If you have asthma and suffer from sinusitis and nasal polyps, you should get your pain relief from acetaminophen, not from aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil).

"Taking aspirin or NSAIDs could make your asthma worse or may even be life-threatening," warns Peter S. Creticos, M.D., medical director of asthma and allergic diseases at the Johns Hopkins Asthma and Allergy Center in Baltimore. Acetaminophen products such as Tylenol, Aspirin-Free Anacin and Panadol are considered safe, he says.

Also, if you have arthritis as well as asthma, Dr. Creticos recommends seeing your doctor before taking any of the usual medications to ease pain and inflammation. Ask the doctor to prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication that will help the symptoms without causing asthma problems.




Multiply your vitamins. Taking a good multivitamin/mineral supplement and eating plenty of fruits and vegetables may also help, since some nutrients have been found to lessen symptoms associated with asthma attacks. Reviewing data from more than 9,000 people, researchers found that those with reduced levels of vitamin C and zinc suffered more from wheezing and other bronchial problems. Good food sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits, broccoli and peppers. Oysters, beef and crab are among the foods highest in zinc.

Get relief from caffeine. Although coffee has been shown to contribute to some health problems, it may be more helpful than harmful for many people with asthma. Caffeine, it turns out, has nearly the same effect as theophylline.

"A couple of cups of strong, regular black coffee will have a beneficial effect on asthma," says allergist Allan Becker, M.D., an associate professor of medicine in the Section of Pediatric Allergy and Clinical Immunology at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg who tested the effects of caffeine on asthma. But don't use caffeine as a substitute for--or in combination with--your medication, he advises, because it is good only for emergency use. "In an emergency, when you don't have your medication around, two cups of strong, regular black coffee (sugar and milk slow absorption) can provide effective temporary relief until your regular medication is available," says Dr. Becker. Relief can also be provided--but the effect will be slower--with two cups of hot cocoa or eight ounces of milk chocolate candy.

Answer 2

Asthma is an allergy and is triggered by something. The best non medication treatment for asthma is learning your triggers and avoiding them. Common triggers are smoke, dust, mold, mildew, plants, dust mites, pets and grass/weeds.

If you can not figure our your triggers, you may need to see an allergist and have allergy screening done. This may point out your triggers.

The National Asthma Prevention Program and the Expert Panel of Diagnosis and Management of Asthma both agree if you have to use a prescription inhaler such as albuterol more then two time per week, your asthma is NOT in control and you will need a prescription controller medication.

Controller medications are steroids (Asthmacort Asthmanex, Flovent, Pulmocort), Leukotriene modifier (Singulair, Aculade, Zyflo) or mast cell stabilizers (Cromolyn sodium, Intal, Tilade).

You may want to talk to your doctor about several strong controller medications and maybe Xolair shots.

If you want a proven, all-natural way to cure your asthma, without having to pay for useless medications with harmful side-effects, then this is the most important page you'll ever read.

Answer 3

Yes and no. I have asthma and I cope with it. I visit an allergist. I can honestly say this is the best money i have ever spent. I get treated specifically for what I'm allergic to. Besides visiting a DR there is thing you can do to make you feel better. Keep your room clean "Mom would like this" You spend at least 7-8 hrs sleeping in this environment. vacuum , keep your sheets clean, buy a hepa filter. These will all help. I did read an article recently that eating an apple or 2 a day will help asthmatics. Theres a chemical that suppresses and helps control the lungs.

Answer 4

Actually, I just read that anise oil before each meal has helped a lot of people to reduce or eliminate their asthma attacks. Wild cherry bark helps to improve lung function as well. You can get the anise oil at any whole foods market or homeopathic store. Some people using the anise oil stated that they haven't had an asthma attack in several years. Anise is used to flavor black licorice, so it's worth a try!

Good luck!

Answer 5

Asthma is an reactive airway disease. You cant get rid of it. See your physician for asthma control medicines that are right for you. If you are already on some than they are not working you should have no problem exercising if you are on the right medication. My son used to have that problem but since he was put on Asthmanex he can exercise all he wants with no problem.

Answer 6

This probably won't help but I'll say this.

I have it. A few years ago I was having a hard time breathing on a near daily basis. The medication did not work. My wife and I went on vacation to Colorado. At about 5000 feet my wheezing stopped. On the way back home we stopped for the night in Topeka, Kansas. By the time we got to the hotel room it was back. Coincidence? You could move but that would be a pretty drastic thing to do.

Answer 7

There is no way to get rid of asthma but there is medcines out there that can help reduce ur attacks.Ask your doctor for some help or look at this site for help below.

Answer 8

There is no cure for Asthma. Once you have it, you have it for life. But they do have drugs to control it. Check with your doctor to see which ones might best for you. By the way, contrary to what some people said on this site, it does NOT get better later on in life. Ever.

Answer 9

A pinch of Sea Salt on the tip of your tongue will help inflammation in the bronchial also, lots of water and vitamin C. If you have a breathing machine run it with just the saline solution and 4 drops of essential oil of peppermint and liquid garlic. Works great! Test for allergies like gluten, wheat, dairy just to find the trigger and build your immune system.

Answer 10

It's the pitts isn't it? do you have a nebulizer with probably sulfate and bromide? do you have an inhaler, do you use it. The best thing I found was the Advair 500/50 inhaler. Go see your doctor if you haven't already. He can give you certain tests and then advise you, take care now.

Answer 11

Have a look at www.ecoquest.com

You may want to get back for more ideas.