| Asthma is a common respiratory disease that affects | | | | Emergency help may be needed during severe |
| a person's airways. Around 7 percent of the US | | | | asthma attacks, so those who have asthma or have |
| population has asthma, ranging from mild to chronic | | | | a family member with the condition should remember |
| types. During an asthma attack, the bronchi constricts, | | | | to keep emergency numbers and inhalers handy. |
| obstructing the airflow. In chronic cases, it can cause | | | | There are a couple prescription medications for those |
| long term lung inflammation. | | | | with asthma like beta-2 agonists, corticosteroids, and |
| There are several factors that cause asthma and | | | | leukotriene antagonists, though those with mild asthma |
| they are mainly genetic or environmental factors. | | | | can try out home remedies. One popular technique to |
| According to some studies, environmental factors | | | | stop an asthma attack is to breathe inside a paper |
| include air pollution, stress, and viral respiratory | | | | bag. Though this is only a temporary solution to |
| infections. These factors apparently can influence how | | | | hyperventilating, the technique does help regulate air |
| severe an individual's asthma would be and how well | | | | intake. |
| that individual would respond to medication. Some | | | | Another highly recommended home remedy for |
| people who got asthma as children sometimes | | | | asthma is chamomile. Chamomile is known to give |
| outgrow it while ones who got the condition through | | | | some calming effects, and reportedly, it contains |
| environmental factors may have it for life. | | | | natural antihistamine properties as well. Other herbal |
| In mild cases, asthma may only manifest with just a | | | | remedies include ginger and nettle leaves, among other |
| few sneezes; though most asthma attacks usually go | | | | things. Some activities are also recommended to help |
| with wheezing, tightness in the chest, shortness of | | | | people with asthma regulate their breathing, like |
| breath and coughing. These symptoms can be | | | | swimming. Activities like yoga that relax the body and |
| compounded by flu or colds and difficulty sleeping at | | | | reduce stress are also prescribed to asthmatic |
| night due to coughing. Asthma triggers vary from | | | | individuals. |
| person to person. Allergens like dust, pollen and mold, | | | | Those who suffer from asthma should always be on |
| sudden changes in temperature, stress, exercise, and | | | | the lookout for their asthma triggers and keep away |
| air pollution can trigger an asthma attack. Early signs of | | | | from them as much as possible. Also, it is important to |
| asthma include irregular breathing, coughing, difficulty | | | | always have medication handy in case an attack |
| speaking, plus stuffy nose, fatigue, and itchy throat. | | | | strikes. |