Nocturnal Asthma – 4 Main Reasons It Can Occur
By Debbie Davis
Not being able to get enough air is frightening any time of day, but when it happens in the middle of the night you are even more vulnerable. Here are 4 common threads that people who experience this condition have and some suggestions for managing the problem.
Decrease in FEV1 Ratio – This is basically a measuring of the amount of air a person is able to exhale and they have inhaled as deeply as possible. Normal adult volume is should be between 3 and 5 liters which translates to approximately 80% capacity. This decrease in lung capacity typically occurs during the night which makes symptoms more severe.
A time released bronchodilator prescribed by your physician will help air passages remain open through the night time hours. A peak flow meter will give an accurate reading of your lung capacity which is important in forming a management plan.
Lower Amounts of Epinephrine – This hormone helps relax lung muscles and also control the amount of histamines introduced into the body. Being able to control histamines is important because histamines control the amount of mucous that is produced and secreted. Read the rest of this entry »
Preventing Asthma Attacks With an Air Purifier
By Andrew Bicknell
In recent years environmental researchers have done studies that show that in most cases the air we breathe indoors is more polluted then the air outside. There are a few reasons for this; more energy efficient homes, more synthetic materials used throughout our homes, and the chemicals in many of the cleaners used daily.
Because of this increasing indoor pollution people who suffer from asthma are at a greater risk of having an attack inside. One way to solve this problem is to filter, or purify the indoor air. Pollen, dirt, dust, pet dander, mold spores, and bacteria can all trigger an asthma attack and the best way to deal with these airborne threats is with an air filter.
There are many reasons that asthmatics need clean air to combat the effects of their condition. An understanding of the disease helps to clarify just why this is true.
Asthma affects between 3 to 5 percent of the general population at one time in their life. With the exception of newborns it affects all ages and genders equally. It is a condition that causes the bronchioles and bronchi, (the airways in the lungs), to narrow, restricting airflow and causing difficulty breathing.
The symptoms of asthma are pretty well known; trouble breathing, inability to catch ones breath, and a wheezing cough are the main signs of an asthmatic attack. Read the rest of this entry »