For the past 30 years, number of individuals suffering from asthma has shot up significantly in the United States. Presently close to 17 million people have asthma in the US. It is the prevailing cause for chronic illness. If these numbers are shocking then it will be hard to believe that out of 17 million people, 2.5 million alone are from the past five years. Increase in air pollution has made the matters worse. Children (especially school going) who are exposed to air pollution are more reluctant to asthma. Several treatments ranging from acupuncture and breathing exercises to inhalers are available to control this dreadful disease. Let us now look into how we can manage asthma:
The first sign of asthma is trouble in breathing. Although asthma symptoms are not easily detected, one should always consult a doctor when it becomes difficult to breathe. Early detection of asthma is helpful for both patient and doctor. It may prove dangerous if you ignore the initial signs. As soon as you have breathing troubles, just visit a doctor. He might prescribe a proper medicine and tell if you can do something to prevent like this happening in the near future.
Physicians may not agree with this, but bodywork, acupuncture and biofeedback show promising future in asthma management. Two kinds of bodywork i.e. rolfing and osteopathic manipulation break up the restrictive patterns in muscles and nerves of the chest area. Meanwhile, an experienced acupuncturist can relatively decrease the persistency of asthma attacks and improve breathing. Since stress can trigger an asthma attack, biofeedback comes in handy. It educates patients on how to control their heart rate and minimize the chances of an attack. In addition, it also helps in reducing stress. To help relax muscles and reduce stress, Yoga can be a very good option.
Generally, asthmatics doesn’t prefer going out. They keep themselves indoors. Therefore, it is of utmost significance to have respiratory irritants, which includes dust, smoke and mold. Irritants are tiny molecules or dust particles that hide in carpets, mattresses and furniture. Make sure you clean them regularly or if possible replace them with the new ones. By following this method, you can control your asthma.
As an asthmatic, relying on inhalers can be irritating sometimes. Use of breathing exercises can prove beneficial in managing asthma. Shallow breathing exercises, discovered by Dr. Konstantin Pavlovich Buteyko, MD in 1952 helps dilate smooth muscles in the airways by elevating levels of carbon dioxide in the blood.
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