| Asthma is a condition in which the airways are | | | | passage and relieve the blockage. Inhalers can be |
| constricted, leading to wheezing and difficulty in | | | | taken to get relief from the problem as and when it |
| breathing. The airways in the lungs known as bronchial | | | | occurs or can be taken as a preventive medicine |
| tubes become inflamed and swollen, blocking the air | | | | every day to prevent the occurrence of asthma. |
| passage. It is not known precisely why the airways | | | | Relieving inhalers are fine if you have a problem once |
| get constricted in certain persons. Symptoms can | | | | in a while, but if you have to take them regularly, say |
| range from mild and occasional wheezing to severe | | | | more than three or four times in a week, then it is |
| wheezing and breathlessness. Asthma can attack any | | | | better that you go in for the preventive inhaler. |
| person at any age. If you are an asthmatic patient, | | | | Preventive inhalers usually contain steroids that can |
| there are a number of factors that can make your | | | | reduce the inflammation in the airways. Sometimes the |
| symptoms worse. These include infections, pollens, | | | | symptoms may not be controlled by steroids alone. In |
| molds, cold or humid air, vigorous exercise, smoking | | | | such cases a longer acting medicine that functions like |
| including passive smoking, stress and becoming | | | | a relieving inhaler may be prescribed in addition to |
| emotional, dust, and allergy to specific foods, medicines, | | | | steroids.In a few cases, where the inhalers alone are |
| or animals.Diagnosing AsthmaIn most cases your | | | | not effective in controlling the problem additional |
| doctor can easily diagnose the disease from typical | | | | medicines in the form of tablets or liquids may be |
| symptoms. Sometimes the diagnosis is not so | | | | prescribed.It is advisable to have preventive treatment |
| straightforward, or you may need to confirm the | | | | if the asthma typically occurs during or after exercise. |
| diagnosis. In these cases, two simple tests are | | | | In this case the affected person should take a |
| performed. These tests involve breathing into a | | | | preventive inhaler before the exercise. Dosage may |
| measuring device that can measure the quantity and | | | | also be increased when the person has a cough or |
| rate of airflow from your lungs. A peak flow meter is | | | | cold.Ways to help yourselfIf you are suffering from |
| a common device used for this purpose. This device | | | | asthma, there are a few simple precautions that you |
| measures the maximum speed of air that you can | | | | should take. Proper use of the in halers is vital to |
| blow. This indicates the peak flow and is characterized | | | | getting relief. Make sure you know how to use your |
| by low and variable values in asthma patients. If over a | | | | inhaler and are using it properly. If you are in doubt see |
| period of a few days, the person records low values | | | | your doctor for help. If the symptoms are not fully |
| of peak flows, which are variable, asthma could be | | | | controlled with the treatment, you should consult your |
| suspected.TreatmentsThe first thing that you should | | | | doctor. If severity of the attack increases at any point, |
| know about asthma is that it cannot be cured. | | | | see you doctor immediately.Various resources are |
| However the symptoms caused by asthma can be | | | | available to help you cope with asthma. These include |
| relieved by avoiding the triggers that cause asthma | | | | reading resources, resource directories and help |
| and by taking medication.The most common treatment | | | | groups. You can find out the resources that are |
| for asthma involves the use of inhalers. Inhalers deliver | | | | available in your area or on the Internet. |
| a small quantity of the medicine directly into the air | | | | |