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