While it is considered an allergy, asthma is so prevalent (especially among children) that it deserves to be addressed in its own chapter.

Proper care and health maintenance is essential to warding off the debilitating repercussions of exposure to irritants which could trigger all the symptoms underlying such disease.

What exactly is Asthma allergy?
Asthma allergy is a chronic lung disease characterized by difficulty of breathing, wheezing, coughing, and increased mucus production during recurrent attacks. These same symptoms can cause death in some cases depending on the severity of the amount of allergens involved and antihistamine molecules produced by the body enough to block the airways for the transportation of air to the lungs.

Around 7 to 10% of children experience the condition and current statistics shows an increasing number of sufferers. Asthma allergy does not seem to be an inherited disease since a family member, who apparently do not have relatives exhibiting the symptoms of the disease, can be infected anytime should he or she is exposed to environmental factors triggering the onset of the disease.

People with this medical condition have a very sensitive bronchial pathway. Presence of molecules or particles recognized by the body as foreign can set a huge allergic attack characteristic of the condition described above.

From a medical point of view, asthma is a type of allergy. Allergy is defined as a change in the body’s biological activity due to the presence of one or more types of allergens (substance promoting the symptoms of allergy.

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, more than 50 million Americans are suffering from allergy and currently 20 million individuals, comprising the wide-range of America’s population experiences the symptoms of asthma.

Causes of Asthma allergies
The causes of asthma allergies are the same as for other allergies we have discussed. Causes can be in the form of dust, certain chemicals, scents, and various odors. Other trigger factors may be in the form of temperature. Cold or hot air can provoke allergic reactions to patients sensitive to them. In any case, allergic reactions are specific to individuals and not all individuals suffering from allergy responds universally to all types allergens.

Particularly interesting clients are the ones allergic to some forms of physical activity like exercise. In the same manner, emotional state is one factor for some individuals in order for the characteristic asthma symptoms to set in.

Among all these influential agents, smoke has been found to occupy the universally recognized trigger attacks for patients with asthma allergy especially for children. At least 8 out of 10 children are more prone to developing asthmatic conditions once exposed to these agents.

Perhaps, as society becomes industrialized and increased fume emissions accelerates, more and more people will develop symptoms characteristic of this disease.

Who Are at Risk?
Statistical data shows that asthma allergy is not a discriminating disease. It affects people of all ages, race, culture, color and gender.

Especially predisposed to developing such illness are people who are exposed to heavy car or industrial emissions and filthy surroundings. 10 to 12% of children averaging 18 years of age are the common target.

Additionally, individuals whose relatives have a history of such illness are more at risk in manifesting such condition in the future.

Latest Diagnostic Device and Treatments
Gone are the days when people die of symptoms and complications involved in asthmatic attacks. Due to the development of studies and research in asthma allergies and other forms of allergies, treatment and varying levels of diagnosis were introduced to properly treat the symptoms typical of asthma allergy.

But basically, one first hand “cure” or initial activity to be done in the management of asthma allergy is to avoid the source of the allergens to which the individual is allergic to.

For example, if the individual is allergic to dust, staying indoors may help reduce the probability of allergic occurrence. In any case, consulting a family doctor or an immunologist will provide you the most practical and wise information regarding dealing with individuals experiencing such condition and recommendations which will keep you from attacks you would rather stay away from.

In older people, it is sometimes difficult to decide whether the problem is asthma or another lung disease or heart disease. Other lung diseases that cause similar problems are bronchitis and emphysema, particularly common in people who smoke. There are many symptoms for asthma; a wheezing sound can be heard while breathing when you have a cold or a feeling that you can’t take enough air into your lungs, the chest may feel tight in cold or problems quite often. Sometimes mucus comes while coughing and it may last more than a week, at times the cough often comes back.

The causes for asthma are difficult to make out. For many people, a tendency to asthma may be inherited. Other factors may also be involved. The basic problem is inflammation of the airways. Some times the problem involved are; smoking cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or anything else, increases your risk of developing asthma symptoms. Asthma can be in the family, inherited. A blood relative with asthma or allergies (father, mother, sister, brother, son, daughter), you are at higher risk of getting asthma. People who are allergic to pollen, pets, or dust are at higher risk of developing asthma. Pollutants such as ozone and particulate matter can make asthma worse and trigger asthma attacks. Some medications which treat heart disease and high blood pressure may cause asthma symptoms or make asthma worse. Proper medications and prescription needs to be taken.

Successful treatment of asthma needs cooperation between the patient and the health care provider. If you have asthma, you have to know your own body well so you can notice when changes happen. Asthma gives early warning signs of trouble. You also have to work closely with a health care provider. You need to know what the best treatments for you are. Many good treatments for asthma are available today. The treatments will relax the air tubes in your lungs and help you breathe easier. The treatments reduce the swelling and inflammation in the air tubes.

Good treatment for your asthma means working with your health care provider on a regular basis, not buying drugstore remedies that may be expensive and may not treat the problem. In fact, asthma may also be triggered by over the counter drugs. Some drugs may cause problems for people with asthma causing irregular heart beats (cardiac arrhythmias).

It’s important to follow your health care provider’s advice about your treatment. Some medicines help prevent asthma. You need to take these medicines all the time, even when you feel well. Other medicines may be needed if your asthma starts to get worse. If your asthma is getting worse, it’s important to start treatment early, as soon as your symptoms begin. It is a chronic disease, like diabetes or heart problems. You need a health care provider who knows how to treat asthma.

Breathing
People with asthma have acute episodes or when the air passages in their lungs get narrower, and breathing becomes more difficult. An asthma attack always causes difficulties in breathing. Clearly it is also an emotional issue, but underneath the emotions is the breathing or lack there of that causes the emotional stress. For a better understanding about what to look for when your breathing is deteriorating, consult your doctor and have them give you a test. Second Hand Smoke is a big cause of asthma attacks, asthmatics are generally not smokers. Cigarette smoke can drastically exacerbate the disease and asthmatics have a hard enough time breathing without filling their lungs with smoke.

Treatment
Asthma is treated by drugs that relax the muscle of the breathing passages. The most effective treatment for asthma is identifying triggers, such as pets or aspirin, and limiting or eliminating exposure to them. The goal of the treatment is to control the disease by following and asthma action plan you create with your doctor, taking asthma medicines as prescribed, learning what things make your asthma worse and taking steps to avoid exposure to them, tracking your level of asthma control, and responding quickly to worsening symptoms.

Allergy
Allergy tests can help identify avoidable symptom triggers. Allergies are a key cause of asthma in adults and children so exposure to things that trigger an allergic response in susceptible people (allergens), such as house dust mites or, more precisely, its droppings is important in influencing the development of asthma. Allergy plays a key role in about half of all asthma cases. The majority of these triggers can often be identified from the history; for instance, asthmatics with hay fever or pollen allergy will have seasonal symptoms, those with allergies to pets may experience an abatement of symptoms when away from home, and those with occupational asthma may improve during leave from work. Dealing with seasonal allergy symptoms have become a fact of life for many of us. Sometimes over-the-counter allergy medicines just do not do the trick.

As we all know asthma is a disorder affecting the airways of the lungs and is considered not to be curable. Asthma is triggered by many things, like pollen or cigarette smoke. It is one of the most common chronic conditions in the United States, affecting roughly 20 million Americans.

1) Allergic Asthma
This type of asthma is the most common among all the other types. Statistics show that kids are more prone to allergic asthma with 90% having the disorder. Allergens such as molds, pollen and mites are the most common culprit of allergic asthma. Exercising in cold air or inhaling strong fumes, dust, smoke, perfumes or colognes can actually make it worse.

Since allergens can be found everywhere, people with allergic asthma must be careful with the places they go to as well as be vigilant in the cleanliness of their surroundings. As much as possible, they should steer away from dusty places and make their home or work-area as dust-free as possible.

2) Non-Allergic Asthma
From the name itself, it is obvious that non-allergic asthma is not triggered by any allergy-related factors. Usually it appears after middle age and is most often a result of recurrent infections in the lower and upper respiratory tract.

Just like allergic asthma, Non-Allergic is triggered by factors not related to allergies. It is characterized by the obstruction of the airways due to inflammation that is partially reversible and controllable with proper medication. Although the causes of non-allergic asthma may be different, the symptoms are still the same; wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, rapid breathing and tightening of the chest.

Non-allergic asthma can be triggered by intangible factors such as stress, anxiety, over or under exercise, cold air, hyperventilation, dry air, viruses, smoke, and other irritants. Unlike allergic asthma, the non-allergic type does not involve the immune system in the reaction.

3) Nocturnal Asthma
From the name itself, it is quite obvious that this type has something to do with sleep. And yes, it actually has something to do with sleep because it disturbs or disrupts the sleeper’s good night sleep. It deprives individuals from having a good night’s sleep because they usually waken in the middle of the night by very dry coughs.

Tightening of the chest is one of the very first symptoms of nocturnal asthma, followed by a series of uncontrollable, dry coughs. This type is one of the least preferred asthma because it is actually a scary kind. Who would want to wake up in the middle of the night feeling helpless and unable to breathe?

4) Occupational Asthma
Again, the background and cause of this type of asthma can already be guessed or determined from the name itself. This kind is just like any other kind where the only thing that makes it distinct from others is that it is acquired in the place where an individual is working.

Perhaps one of the most common occupations that induces asthma are teaching (chalk dust exposure), factory workers (exposure to dust and other powders), painters and construction workers (exposure to paint and other fumes), etc.

The symptoms are no different from the symptoms of the abovementioned other types; wheezing, dry coughs, tightening of the chest, rapid and shallow breathing are still present.

5) Child-onset Asthma
This usually occurs when children are exposed to certain allergens such as dust mites, fungi, animal proteins, and other potential allergens. When a young child or infant wheezes during viral infections, it may be a hint that asthma may be brewing around the corner as they grow older.

6) Adult-onset Asthma
It can easily be described as a type of asthma that develops during adulthood. It may be allergic, non-allergic, occupational, mixed, seasonal or nocturnal. The distinct characteristic is that it occurs in adulthood.

7) Cough-variant Asthma
This kind of asthma may be a bit difficult to diagnose since it can be confused with other kinds of cough that may be related to chronic bronchitis, sinus diseases or post nasal drips due to hay fever. It would usually take a lot of tests and check-ups before the doctor can make a proper diagnosis.

Mixed Asthma
This is a mixture of extrinsic and intrinsic asthma. This is a more serious kind since the sufferer must be vigilant to both extrinsic and intrinsic factors that can trigger asthma attacks.

9) Seasonal Asthma
From the name itself, seasonal asthma only occurs during certain seasons wherein the pollens or other allergens seem to be more present than any other season. For example, an individual is quite healthy all year round except during Christmas season, when firecrackers are more common. The dust and smoke emitted by firecrackers may be the triggers for the asthma attack.

Is there a cure for asthma? While there’s no direct cure, there are ways to manage asthma that will eventually let you live a life as if you have been cured from Asthma. There are a lot of natural treatments for asthma, that’s inexpensive and you should try. How well the treatments work depends on the person, but none of them can harm you so it’s worth a try to see which mixture of them works best for you. Below I have listed different natural treatments for asthma that will put you on the path to cure asthma naturally.

Tip 1
Teas: There are several different teas that are recommended to cure asthma naturally. They are not teas that come in tea bags, but are therapeutic teas that you would make in a tea pot. Chamomile is usually found in tea form and is used as a natural treatment for asthma, many people say it assists them with their breathing. It is thought that chamomile has the authority to reduce the force of allergies on the body which can decrease the problems that you’re having with breathing that’s caused by allergies.

Tip 2
Motherwort: This is a natural item that opens up the airways and it also serves to decrease panic and anxiety. When you get worried about your breathing, you are more prone to aggravate the symptoms of asthma. Taking something that reduces that anxiety can lessen the chances that you’ll cave in to that panic and can help to reduce problems with asthma.

Tip 3
Omega fatty acid: Is also used as a natural treatment for asthma, it boost the ingestion of omega fatty acids as they will help decrease the levels of arachidonic acid, Arachidonic acid can cause an asthma attack. This acid can be found in these type of foods: shellfish, egg yolks and meat

Tip 4
Dry grapes: Eat the dry grapes covered with water for a night. This is the best natural cure for asthma, and can greatly increase breathing and air flow through the lungs.

Asthma can be a tricky disease that can be very confusing to anyone dealing with it. Still, there are some things that can be done to reduce the impact that asthma has on our lives. Reduce the number of things in your life that are causing allergy-related asthma. In addition to food allergies, make sure to keep your home free of things such as dust and smoke since these can cause asthma problems. If you follow what I provided above you can start to make the claim that you can cure asthma naturally.

Allergic factor is one of the dilemmas of a medical practitioner and problem becomes more compounded and complex when a person is allergic (hypersensitive) to more than one allergens. It is a tedious and arduous job of a doctor to treat an allergic patient who, at most occasions, is not generally aware of an allergic factor which has landed him in the present predicament. To discern, treat and contain allergy is a stupendous talk when a doctor’s acumen and the patient’s patience and perseverance are on the test.

Due to indiscreet use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers for growing food grains, use of chemicals to purify polluted and contaminated water, use of carbide to ripen the fruits, additives used in pickles, sausages, jams, syrups, toxic gases emitted by vehicles, indiscreet and imprudent use of drugs (without knowing their side effects), pollens, climatic effects of weather changes, food allergies, air pollution etc are some of factors which could, and often do, cause allergies to many hypersensitive persons which includes all men, women and children of all the age-groups. There is hardly any person who is free from some one allergic reaction or the other.

Of the various types of allergies and sources of their origin, some can be easily managed by the patient, some by proper medication and the rest can be prevented and preempted by taking recourse to certain medicines.

Some of the allergies are manageable but majority of whom have the tendency to recur, even despite sustained efforts by the doctor’s and patients. Most of the various types of allergies which manifest and impact majority of patients can be easily treated, if not cured fully. It requires a sustained, honest and painstaking effort and resilience on the part of a doctor and the patient to reciprocally co-operate with each other to find a plausible solution. But, then, many patients do not favorably respond even to the best type of medical devices and medicines.

Causes
Asthma is caused by obstruction of the airway, chiefly due to broncho-constriction, that is, constriction of the passage of air in the lungs, and to a lesser extent by secretions and swelling of the respiratory passage. There can be various causes for broncho-constriction but three factors which possibly interact with each other are worth considering, as their removal may help in curing asthma. These are: 1) allergic reactions, 2) infection of the respiratory tract, and 3) psychological factors. However, it must be emphasized that in most cases the underlying cause is unknown and the only alternative is to provide symptomatic treatment with bronchodilator drugs.

Allergic Reactions
Reaction to inhaled or ingested substances to which a person is allergic appears to be the commonest cause of asthma. This is called allergic asthma. It can be either seasonal or non-seasonal. Seasonal asthma is the more common of the two and is due to inhaled pollens, moulds, and eating of certain vegetables and fruits. A mite found in house dust appears to be the main bug responsible for ‘house dust allergy’. Non-seasonal asthma may be due to allergy to feathers, animal-dander, foods (tartrazine is a yellow food additive which cause allergy), and drugs like penicillin, aspirin, and indomethacin.

Infection of the Respiratory Tract: Respiratory infection is a common cause of asthma in young children, the very old, and in most of the severe cases. These patients initially suffer from a common cold which progress into bronchial asthma.

Psychological Factors
Emotional stress and strain play an important role in asthma. Asthmatics are usually irritable and stubborn. The disease can also be a factor in aggravating their suffering and emotional behaviour. They have a peculiar psychological make-up or ‘asthmatic personality’. A dry cough at night, exercise, crying or a hearty laugh have also precipitated acute attack in some cases.

Some allergic asthma conditions may run in the family. It can be related to other disease conditions, such as hay fever and eczema. It can also be associated with aspirin sensitivity or any forms of allergy based on the person, such as mould spores, pollen, house dust mites, dogs, cats and many more.

Generally, allergic asthma cannot be cured, but attacks can be prevented by keeping it under control. As part of the allergy asthma treatment, the asthmatic person should engage himself in kinds of sports or physical activities.

For every asthma case, there is an absolute match of treatment. Generally, in the case of allergic asthma, there are two types of allergy asthma treatment, namely the reliever and preventive medications. These medications are usually accompanied with atomized form of inhaler devices and some additional usage of plastic spacers for the increase of penetration into the lungs.

With the preventive medication as allergy asthma treatment, it uses medicines that help guard any asthma attacks caused by swelling and inflammation of the lining of the mucous membrane. Preventive medication does not give instant relief to the person. Instead, relief should be built up for a longer period of time with continuous usage.

The reliever medication as an allergy asthma treatment focuses more on the assistance to the patients with breathing difficulties during asthma attacks. It helps relax the muscles that surround the bronchial tubes, and gives instant relief of the asthma symptoms.

In any case that the asthma condition is indicated with poor control, then the dosage of the preventive medication should be increased.

Unfortunately you may not realize that the conditions are related and childhood eczema or hay fever may mean that you may develop with allergy asthma.

Eczema and hay fever:
Eczema is a condition that causes inflammation of the skin. Hay fever is an inflammatory condition that often affects the throat, the lining of the nasal cavity and the lining of the eye lids.

Asthma, eczema and hay fever are inflammatory conditions which are caused by an overreaction of the immune system to substances that in the majority of people have no effect. These conditions are often present together and this is especially true in case of children. Children grow out of eczema and hay fever as they grow but allergy asthma tends to remain in adulthood and as they develop, the disease also develops.

Children may suffer with only one condition, normally eczema sometimes and it will be cured by itself in time. As children suffer with only one condition, they are prone to develop with other conditions later in life.

Adults who are newly diagnosed with allergy asthma report that they suffered with eczema in early life or had symptoms of hay fever regularly as adults. As the lining of the nasal passages and that of the bronchioles and bronchi are continuous, asthma and hay fever are seen together thus if one area is affected, the other area will also be affected.

Chronic sinusitis:
If you are suffering with allergy asthma, you may suffer from chronic sinusitis. Sinusitis is an inflammatory condition that affects the mucus membranes of the sinus cavities behind the nasal passageway.

According to the cause of the infection, symptoms vary and you may suffer with cold or flu like symptoms such as runny nose, blocked sinus or headaches. Allergies that cause asthma also cause sinus infections in allergen sensitive people, so the two conditions go hand in hand.

Acid reflux:
If you are an adult with asthma, you may also complain about gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter functions inadequately that means some of the contents of the stomach are able to flow back up into the esophagus.

Many people experience acid reflux but people who have allergy asthma have more severe symptoms often. The reason behind this is medications that are prescribed for asthma relax smooth muscle layer within the bronchioles that constricts during an asthmatic event. These medications also relax the smooth muscle sphincter between the esophagus and the stomach and this result in acid reflux giving you heartburn.

Irritable bowel syndrome:
Allergy asthma is also associated with irritable bowel syndrome and intermittent constipation. This condition is also related to the medications you take for asthma. Everyone with allergy asthma does not suffer with bowel problems but those with severe asthma require high doses of medication may experience symptoms occasionally.

It is uncommon for an asthma sufferer to be diagnosed with asthma alone and if you are an adult, hay fever commonly accompanies allergy asthma. You can use anti histamines to treat both the conditions.

People with allergy asthma who are diagnosed with other associated conditions should not think that it is the end of the world and you have treatments for allergy asthma as well as associated conditions. After diagnosing with allergy asthma and other medical conditions, consult the doctor and take the medications strictly to lead a normal life.

Asthma allergies are mainly a condition that affects your lungs, throat and sometimes nose, so any strenuous exercise or physical activity raise your heart rate and breathing rate.

Allergies
Allergies are caused by an over-sensitive immune response. Allergies can cause inflammation inside the nose. They are the primary cause of asthma. Allergies are triggered by reaction of the immune system to allergens, which are materials of biological origin, specifically proteins; common allergens are: waste from house dust mites 23% of American homes have levels sufficient to cause asthma particles from bacteria, fungi, plant fragments, pollen, mould, etc rubber in latex gloves, the dust from tires, and elsewhere. The allergens, being of biological origin, are mistaken by the immune system as having the capacity to infect the body, and the body reacts as if to disable them, causing the symptoms of asthma.

Treatment
The goal of treatment is to reduce allergy symptoms caused by the inflammation of affected tissues. Call for an appointment with your health care provider if severe symptoms of allergies or hay fever occur, if previously successful treatment has become ineffective, or if your symptoms do not respond to treatment. Medical treatment options include antibiotics, decongestants and other treatments to reduce the swelling of the lining such as nasal steroid sprays.

Allergens
Common allergens such as pollens, dust mites, mildew and cockroaches, can cause year-round allergy symptoms. Now that you have an idea of what’s causing your asthma flare ups, what you going to do about it?