Asthma
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My chronic cough turned out to be adult asthma tells the story of one woman who had a cough she just couldn't shake. When ribs bruised from violent coughing landed her in the emergency room, 40-year-old Linda Finlayson of New Jersey learned that she had asthma, most likely triggered by a bout of pneumonia. Although she had never had asthma before, Linda developed the condition after her lung infection.
To prevent asthma attacks, Linda takes several medications, including corticosteroids, a bronchiodilator, and allergy medicines to prevent an allergic response and congestion, which could trigger asthma symptoms.
While these measures helped keep Linda's asthma from flaring up, she decided to do more to improve her lung function specifically, and her health in general. She signed up for a half marathon and began running. Her lung function has improved significantly, and while her doctors are not comfortable taking her off her medications, she rarely has asthma attacks now.
As with many asthma sufferers, Linda is quite affected by allergies, which can lead to asthma symptom flare-ups. Spring seasonal allergies are particularly challenging for her; she has to be very careful not to get congested because the mucus drips into her lungs and causes breathing difficulty. Cat dander and secondhand smoke are also potent allergens for Linda, and can lead to asthma attacks.
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Medical News Today reports on Five Things You Don't Know About Springtime Asthma. The article highlights the fact that though 24 million Americans have been diagnosed with asthma, "millions more" may be at risk and not even know it. Allergists of the American College of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology want people to be aware of five little-known facts regarding this prevalent and on-the-rise disease. Below is a summary of their points:
- Asthma symptoms can be subtle. Coughing at night and getting winded when walking upstairs can both be signs of asthma.
- Stormy weather can trigger asthma trouble. Asthma-related emergency room visits spike after thunderstorms, likely because of an increase in pollen.
- Pollen allergies trigger asthma. Tree pollen is especially common in the spring. If you think you might be allergic to pollen, testing can help you pinpoint the right cause and treatment of your allergies and possible asthma triggers.
- Exercise can trigger asthma attacks. Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction (EIB) affects ten percent of Americans, even if they don't have asthma. Inhalers are often prescribed for those with EIB. In addition, choosing exercise like swimming, walking, or baseball can often lessen attacks.
- Asthma can strike at any age. Even if you never had asthma as a child, you could be experiencing asthma symptoms.
In Asthma Rates Rise Sharply in U.S., Government Says, the NY Times highlights a recently released Centers for Disease Control study that reports asthma rates in record numbers. According to the report, nearly one in 10 children and one in 12 adults has asthma.
The number of individuals suffering from asthma has risen sharply between 2001 and 2009 among all demographics studied (whites, blacks, Hispanics) and in men and women. Black children have seen the steepest increase in asthma cases with cases rising from one in nine in 2001 to nearly one in five in 2009.
Scientists from the Centers for Disease Control point out that asthma can be controlled when properly managed. But at the same time, they are at a loss to explain the cause for the increase in asthma cases, especially with the decrease in known triggers of the disease, like cigarette smoke. Principal deputy director of the CDC Ileana Arias puts it this way: "We don’t know exactly why the number is going up, but, importantly, we know there are measures individuals with asthma can take to control symptoms."
However, the NY Times points out, "Prevention depends on educating patients about appropriate use of medications and ensuring that each patient has a written medical plan to control asthma, but the report found that only one-third of patients had been given a plan and only about half had been advised to make changes to eliminate asthma triggers at home, school and work."
Research continues about what may account for this increase in asthma cases. Possible causes include exposure to allergens, traffic exhaust fumes, pesticides, and some plastics. Factors like obesity and diet are also being researched for their role in contributing to asthma.
It's no surprise that dust in the house is a major allergy and asthma trigger, but the reason described in this Science Daily video may be news to you. I was very surprised and interested to learn more after watching this video.Can Your Home Trigger Asthma? Environmental Toxicologists Link Household Bacteria to Asthma discusses how chemicals called endotoxins are shed by the bacteria that's part of household dust. Endotoxins can be thought of as the outer shell of bacteria, which is shed and is found everywhere in the environment including your home. Endotoxins can inflame airways and trigger asthma.
Because endotoxins found in household dust are a danger to allergy and asthma sufferers, it's important to minimize exposure to dust as much as possible. While endotoxins are found in smaller concentrations throughout the home, your bedroom is where they have the greatest effect on your health.
Here are some recommendations for lowering the amount of endotoxins in your home:
• Wash bed linens in hot water at least once a week.
• Reduce clutter so cleaning is easier.
• Use allery bedding like pillow encasings and mattress covers.
• Don't eat in bed.
Fox News reports on a wellness center in Manhattan that features salt rooms, which are said to help skin problems, sinus issues, and asthma. Salt therapy, also known as halo therapy, has been practiced since the 1800s and is believed to be cleansing to the skin and lungs. The wellness center aims to mimic natural salt caves in Europe.
While allergist Dr. Hale Yarmohamadi points out that the benefits of salt rooms have yet to be scientifically proven, she does acknowledge the use of salt solutions in nasal irrigation and that saltwater baths may help people with allergic skin conditions.
Would you try the salt room cure to treat allergies, asthma, or allergic skin conditions?
While allergist Dr. Hale Yarmohamadi points out that the benefits of salt rooms have yet to be scientifically proven, she does acknowledge the use of salt solutions in nasal irrigation and that saltwater baths may help people with allergic skin conditions.
Would you try the salt room cure to treat allergies, asthma, or allergic skin conditions?
Fox News reports on a small study indicating that art therapy makes children less anxious about their asthma. Published in the May issue of the Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, the results suggest "encouraging initial data" that art therapy improves the emotional health of children with chronic conditions such as asthma.
Asthma is the leading cause of children missing school, and an estimated one in ten children suffers from the condition, according to the Centers for Disease Control. When it comes to asthma, controlling anxiety affects the condition itself since anxiety can actually bring on an asthma attack. Authors of the study write, "Simply thinking about past asthma attacks can bring on feelings of anxiety."
Art therapy is more involved than simply drawing or painting. Rather, children work with therapists to express feelings through their art that may be hard for them to put in words. Art therapist Anya Beebe at National Jewish Health in Denver and leader of the study puts it this way: "It's not about painting pretty pictures. It's about helping people go deeper and using art as a process to express and release their feelings."
Dr. Beebe's study involved studying two groups of children between the ages of seven and fourteen who had persistent asthma; one group received art therapy for seven weeks while the other did not. The children were tested for coping skills, self-concept, anxiety, worry, and quality of life before and after the seven weeks.
At the end of the seven weeks, the group of children who had received art therapy was found to have lower anxiety levels and higher quality of life and self-concept scores. These improvements continued six months later.
To learn more, visit the American Association of Art Therapy.
Asthma is the leading cause of children missing school, and an estimated one in ten children suffers from the condition, according to the Centers for Disease Control. When it comes to asthma, controlling anxiety affects the condition itself since anxiety can actually bring on an asthma attack. Authors of the study write, "Simply thinking about past asthma attacks can bring on feelings of anxiety."
Art therapy is more involved than simply drawing or painting. Rather, children work with therapists to express feelings through their art that may be hard for them to put in words. Art therapist Anya Beebe at National Jewish Health in Denver and leader of the study puts it this way: "It's not about painting pretty pictures. It's about helping people go deeper and using art as a process to express and release their feelings."
Dr. Beebe's study involved studying two groups of children between the ages of seven and fourteen who had persistent asthma; one group received art therapy for seven weeks while the other did not. The children were tested for coping skills, self-concept, anxiety, worry, and quality of life before and after the seven weeks.
At the end of the seven weeks, the group of children who had received art therapy was found to have lower anxiety levels and higher quality of life and self-concept scores. These improvements continued six months later.
To learn more, visit the American Association of Art Therapy.
The spring season and the month of May always are times when allergy and asthma sufferers seem to have the most symptoms. The increase in pollen during these months make going out of the house a problem for many of our readers. That makes this month the perfect time to raise awareness around the country asthma.
On May 5, 2010, at the 13th annual Asthma Awareness Day Capitol Hill advocacy day, the Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA) group is unveiling their first ever Great American Asthma Challenge. This challenge is the first ever grassroots campaign to change asthma care in America.
Check out this article to learn more about the festivities in Washington DC and to see the schedule for the day. The AANMA has a lot of successes to celebrate this year. Find out how you can be part of the action on May 5.
On May 5, 2010, at the 13th annual Asthma Awareness Day Capitol Hill advocacy day, the Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA) group is unveiling their first ever Great American Asthma Challenge. This challenge is the first ever grassroots campaign to change asthma care in America.
Check out this article to learn more about the festivities in Washington DC and to see the schedule for the day. The AANMA has a lot of successes to celebrate this year. Find out how you can be part of the action on May 5.
Norwegian cross-country skier Marit Bjorgen, who won the bronze medal in the women's 10-kilometer race this week, has something in common with a surprising number of people – she has exercise-induced asthma. As far as Olympians go, CNN.com reports, half of cross-country skiers and a quarter of aspiring Olympic athletes in general have exercise-induced asthma, according to a 2000 study of 170 athletes conducted by the United States Olympic Committee.
But exercise-induced asthma isn't triggered only by such extreme athleticism. Any exercise in cold weather can trigger an asthma attack. As Dr. Len Horovitz, a pulmonary specialist with Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City puts it, "Any [exercise] outdoors on a mountaintop is a culprit, but just jogging in Central Park will do it as well.
Why does the combination of cold air and exercise trigger attacks? "Both cold air and exercise in and of themselves can trigger asthma symptoms, but doing them together is more likely to trigger an exacerbation," explains Dr. Thomas M. Leath, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine.
Dr. Horovitz adds, "The evaporative loss and cooling of the airways triggers the process of bronchial constriction. One sport you don't see exercise-induced asthma in so much is swimming. The humidity at water level is such that there isn't as much evaporation as in running or winter sports."
Exercise-induced asthma is characterized by bronchospams, which cause the victim to wheeze and have chest tightness, among other symptoms. The symptoms usually begin several minutes after exercise begins, but may start as late as after the exercise routine is completed. Though it's clear that brochospasms are responsible for the onset of exercise-induced asthma, it isn't certain why they occur. Some believe that increased blood flow caused by exertion forces the blood vessels in the airways to expand, leading to airway constriction. Others think that cold air activates inflammatory cells in the airways.
Fortunately, as many famous athletes have demonstrated, exercise-induced asthma doesn't have to slow you down. Bronchodilators, administered through inhalers, are effective at fighting symptoms by relaxing the muscles that line the airways to the lungs. Aside from inhalers, warming up for a few minutes before getting into full exercise mode, breathing through your nose, or wearing a scarf or mask around your mouth can go a long way in preventing symptoms.
For more information about asthma and cold weather, see our article Coping With Asthma During Winter.
But exercise-induced asthma isn't triggered only by such extreme athleticism. Any exercise in cold weather can trigger an asthma attack. As Dr. Len Horovitz, a pulmonary specialist with Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City puts it, "Any [exercise] outdoors on a mountaintop is a culprit, but just jogging in Central Park will do it as well.
Why does the combination of cold air and exercise trigger attacks? "Both cold air and exercise in and of themselves can trigger asthma symptoms, but doing them together is more likely to trigger an exacerbation," explains Dr. Thomas M. Leath, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine.
Dr. Horovitz adds, "The evaporative loss and cooling of the airways triggers the process of bronchial constriction. One sport you don't see exercise-induced asthma in so much is swimming. The humidity at water level is such that there isn't as much evaporation as in running or winter sports."
Exercise-induced asthma is characterized by bronchospams, which cause the victim to wheeze and have chest tightness, among other symptoms. The symptoms usually begin several minutes after exercise begins, but may start as late as after the exercise routine is completed. Though it's clear that brochospasms are responsible for the onset of exercise-induced asthma, it isn't certain why they occur. Some believe that increased blood flow caused by exertion forces the blood vessels in the airways to expand, leading to airway constriction. Others think that cold air activates inflammatory cells in the airways.
Fortunately, as many famous athletes have demonstrated, exercise-induced asthma doesn't have to slow you down. Bronchodilators, administered through inhalers, are effective at fighting symptoms by relaxing the muscles that line the airways to the lungs. Aside from inhalers, warming up for a few minutes before getting into full exercise mode, breathing through your nose, or wearing a scarf or mask around your mouth can go a long way in preventing symptoms.
For more information about asthma and cold weather, see our article Coping With Asthma During Winter.
It's fairly obvious that parents with food allergic children must be vigilant during Halloween festivities. Treats must be carefully monitored so that anything containing nuts, dairy, or other allergy triggers may be removed before allergic children eat them.
But what's less apparent, as Medical News Today reports, is the possible dangers asthmatic children face during Halloween. Clifford W. Bassett, MD, Chair of the Public Education Committee of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) says, "If your child suffers from asthma and/or allergies, be aware and prepared for potential triggers to ensure a safe and fun time for all during the holidays."
The AAAAI offers the following tips to keep children with asthma and allergies safe and out of emergency rooms during the holiday:
But what's less apparent, as Medical News Today reports, is the possible dangers asthmatic children face during Halloween. Clifford W. Bassett, MD, Chair of the Public Education Committee of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) says, "If your child suffers from asthma and/or allergies, be aware and prepared for potential triggers to ensure a safe and fun time for all during the holidays."
The AAAAI offers the following tips to keep children with asthma and allergies safe and out of emergency rooms during the holiday:
- Beware of costumes. Mold, dust, and latex products can trigger asthma. Don't use costumes stored in the attic or basement, and be sure to wash new costumes before they're worn. Masks can trap dust and mold, so get a costume without one.
- Don't enter homes. Keep your child on the doorstep of homes during trick-or-treating. This will keep them away from indoor asthma triggers such as cigarette smoke or pet dander.
- Monitor weather changes. Both cold air and humidity can make breathing difficult for asthmatic individuals. Make sure your child is warm enough.
- Keep sick children at home. Cold and flu symptoms can severely aggravate asthma conditions, so if your child isn't feeling well, have him or her rest and recover rather than make matters worse by going out and trick-or-treating.
- Read labels carefully to avoid allergy-inducing foods before your child eats his or her treats. Homemade treats should be avoided entirely.
- Always be prepared. Carry your child's Epi-pen in case of any food allergy emergencies, and make sure a rescue inhaler is carried along.
What may seem intuitive to many who suffer from allergies and asthma is that the two are linked. And now it's official: results from a recent national survey have found that "asthmatics that have allergies may alleviate symptoms by reducing allergen exposures inside their homes," as Medical News Today reports.The study used data from the National Survey of Lead and Allergens in Housing (NSLAH) to look at factors that contribute to high allergen levels in homes. The researchers then looked for an association between elevated household allergen levels and occupants' asthma status. Their findings are the first to relate total allergen burden inside American homes and its relationship to asthma.
Principal Investigator in the Laboratory of Respiratory Biology at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Darryl Zeldin, M.D., states, "Indoor allergen exposures are of great importance in relation to asthma because most people spend a majority of their time indoors, especially at home." He further adds, "This study confirms that indoor allergens play a major role in asthma."
Another lead researcher of the NIEHS, Paivi Salo, Ph.D., says, "Our results highlight the importance of reducing exposure to allergens as a fundamental part of asthma management. Although homes cannot be made allergen free, asthmatics that have allergies may need to do a better job in reducing allergen levels in their homes to improve asthma control."
For more information, see How to Decrease Your Total Allergen Load.
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According to Reuters, the journal Optics Express reported today that a new laser ananylzer may be able to detect cancer, asthma, and other diseases through samples of a patient's breath. The technique is called cavity-enhanced direct optical frequency comb spectroscopy.Jun Ye, the leader of the research at the University of Colorado, stated, "This technique can give a broad picture of many different molecules in the breath all at once."
So far, over 1,000 different compounds have been identified in human breath. The laser uses mirrors to bounce the laser's light back and forth until it touches every molecule in the patient's exhaled breath. It can help detect traces of compounds that indicate the presence of various diseases.
For instance, people with asthma may prodcuce too much nitric oxide as compared to individuals without asthma.
For more about asthma, see What is Asthma?
Several pharmaceutical companies had impressive exhibit booths at the 2007 ACAAI meeting in Dallas.
One of the more interesting booths was for Xolair, a medication to treat allergic asthma. Xolair works by blocking immunoglobulin E (IgE), an underlying cause of allergic asthma. Approximately 60% of asthma cases are mediated by IgE.
The Xolair "Air Xperience" was a 3-D, multimedia experience that allowed me to feel the chest tightness and difficult breathing that occur with asthma attacks.
As you can probably see from the photo, I wasn't very comfortable in the tight vest (I was really trying to smile) - and I had not yet stepped into the Air Xperience when the photo was taken.
Besides the vest, I also had to wear 3-D glasses. Once inside the Air Xperience booth, I watched a 3-D movie about allergic asthma. Whenever the main character had an allergic asthma attack - when a cat walked into the room, for instance - the vest got very tight around my chest (much like an arm cuff on a blood pressure machine), making it harder to breathe.
I was relieved to take off the vest, but I'm glad that I got to experience some of the discomfort of an asthma attack.
Visit www.xolair.com to learn more about the medication.
Visit The Asthma Solution Guide to learn more about asthma.
Reuters UK reports that women who have irregular menstrual periods are more likely to have abnormal lung function and asthma.
"Physicians should be aware that women with menstrual irregularity seem to be at greater risk of asthma and impaired lung function," says Dr. Francisco Gomez Real from Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
Earlier research found links between airway abnormalities and sex hormone irregularities. For instance, studies have implied relationships between asthma and abnormal levels of sex hormones; obesity, asthma and lung function; and between lung function and insulin resistance.
"Obesity, low physical activity, and menstrual irregularity are risk factors in airway pathology," Real concludes. "I would say that especially women with menstrual irregularity who do not exercise daily should undergo lung function testing, as those women represent, by far, a greater health concern. In addition, women exercising daily do not seem to be at risk of (irregular) lower lung function."
"Physicians should be aware that women with menstrual irregularity seem to be at greater risk of asthma and impaired lung function," says Dr. Francisco Gomez Real from Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
Earlier research found links between airway abnormalities and sex hormone irregularities. For instance, studies have implied relationships between asthma and abnormal levels of sex hormones; obesity, asthma and lung function; and between lung function and insulin resistance.
"Obesity, low physical activity, and menstrual irregularity are risk factors in airway pathology," Real concludes. "I would say that especially women with menstrual irregularity who do not exercise daily should undergo lung function testing, as those women represent, by far, a greater health concern. In addition, women exercising daily do not seem to be at risk of (irregular) lower lung function."
Medical News Today reports that one out of ten people in North American now suffers from asthma. (That's around 35.5 million people!)Since the 1960s, the rate of asthma among North American children has increased each decade by as much as 75%.
Professor Richard Beasley of the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand points out, "The prevalence of asthma is higher in certain ethnic groups such as Blacks and Hispanics compared with the white population. In the United States the rates of hospital admission for patients of color compared with white patients are 50% higher in adults and up to 150% higher in children."
The steady increase in asthma cases, however, affects all ethnic groups, and asthma mortality rates are rising, too.
"The rate of asthma mortality in the United States in the mid-1990s was approximately double that in the mid-1970s," says Beasley.
See our Asthma Solution Guide to learn more about asthma.
ScienceDaily reports that researchers at Wake Forest University found that people with mild asthma may be able to switch from twice-a-day steroid medication to once-a-day treatment with an inhaler or possibly even a single once-a-day pill.In the study involving 500 adults and children with mild, persistent asthma, once-a-day treatment with a combination of fluticasone propionate and salmeterol in a single inhaler (Advair® Discus) was equally effective as treatment with twice-a-day fluticasone propionate (Flovent® Discus). Both treatments had failure rates of 20 percent, where "failure" is defined as hospitalization or urgent medical care, the need for additional medications for asthma, a decline in lung function, or the need to take more than 10 puffs a day of a rescue inhaler for two consecutive days. Treatment with the oral medication montelukast (Singulair®) had a 30 percent failure rate.
"This study suggests that patients whose asthma is well controlled on twice-daily fluticasone can be switched to once-daily flucitasone/salmeterol without increased rates of treatment failure," says lead author Stephen Peters, M.D. "While the group on the combination inhaler therapy clearly did better than those on the oral montelukast therapy, it is important to note that 70 percent of patients on this oral therapy did well according to the treatment failure criteria, and were symptom-free on 79 percent of days."
"Patients should find a therapy that that works for them and fits their desires, preferences and lifestyle," stresses Dr. Peters. "Patients who are doing well with the gold standard which is twice a day inhaled corticosteroid, but want to try other options, should talk to their doctors."
