Cleaner Air Could Reduce Asthma, IBS, Diabetes Rates

If you have asthma, know the symptoms of heart disease and other inflammatory diseases so you can treat them early.


The Environmental Protection Agency announced new rules that will require coal-burning power plants to limit emissions of toxic air pollutants that are known to exacerbate asthma. That's great news for the 8 percent of Americans who suffer from the breathing disorder. And according to a new study being presented at this week's annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, it could lead to fewer rates of other inflammatory diseases. The authors of the study found that people with asthma are more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, irritable bowel disease (IBS), and rheumatoid arthritis than people with healthy lungs.

THE DETAILS: The authors used data from 2,392 people enrolled in an asthma study in Rochester, Minnesota, half of whom had asthma and the other half did not. They compared the incidence of irritable bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and coronary artery disease among those with asthma and those without, and found that with each disease, people with asthma had higher rates. The relationship was strongest with coronary artery disease, in which people with asthma had a 59 percent higher incidence, and with diabetes, in which people with diabetes had a 68 percent higher incidence. Rates of irritable bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis also increased in asthma patients, but, says lead author Young J. Juhn, MD, pediatrician at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, the associations weren't as strong.

WHAT IT MEANS: Though it may seem logical to think that an inflammatory condition like asthma would be accompanied by other inflammatory conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, Dr. Juhn says his results came as somewhat of a surprise, based on the way our immune systems work. "Our immune systems have something called T-helper cells. T-helper 1 cells determine pro-inflammatory conditions, such as coronary artery disease, irritable bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes, while T-helper 2 cells are considered to play a very important role in determining allergic disorders, such as asthma," he says. Because our immune systems work to maintain a balance between the two types, he adds, it would stand to reason that people with asthma would actually have lower rates of those diseases. But that's not what his study found. "At this point, we think there may be some common immune mechanisms underlying this association," he says, most likely something genetic or environmental.

Dr. Juhn's study is one of very few analyzing the relationship between asthma and other inflammatory diseases, so he says that doctors are still in the early stages of understanding what all this means, especially when it comes to solving the problem. "If we find that the association isn't genetic, then, potentially, controlling your asthma may be helpful in reducing your risk of these other pro-inflammatory conditions," Dr. Juhn says. "But if it the underlying mechanism is genetic, the association may be independent from asthma control."

The most important thing to remember, Dr. Juhn says, is that if you do have asthma, pay attention to any out-of-the-ordinary symptoms you may experience. "This study could be very important for early detection," he says. "If patients experience nonspecific chest pain, their doctors may think it's just their asthma, but it could be the beginning of heart disease."


To help you out, here's a list of some common symptoms associated with each condition.


• Coronary artery disease: Chest pain and shortness of breath are the two primary signs of coronary artery disease, which, unfortunately, makes it easy to confuse with asthma. However, pay attention to where you feel pain. Coronary heart pain may be felt under your breastbone, or in your neck, arms, stomach, or upper back. The condition is also accompanied by weakness and fatigue. The most serious symptom is, of course, having a heart attack. And check out these other six unusual signs of heart disease, such as excessive snoring and sexual dysfunction.

• Diabetes: People with type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes typically exhibit very few symptoms, but those who do may notice things like unusual thirst or hunger, blurred vision, frequent infections, and tingling or numbness in your hands or feet. A blood-glucose test will tell your doctor whether you have diabetes, and recently, doctors developed an easy online test that will allow you to assess your diabetes risk based on things like family history and weight. It doesn't include asthma as a potential risk factor, but the test should help you figure out if you're already at an increased risk.

• Rheumatoid arthritis: This is a disease that's stumped a lot of doctors, as the causes of RA remain unknown and symptoms can be vague and sporadic. But you might have rheumatoid arthritis if your joints ache or swell or are tender to the touch (it usually begins in the smaller joints, such as those in your hands and feet), you feel firm bumps of tissue under the skin on your arms, or have morning stiffness that lasts longer than the morning.

• Irritable bowel disease: If you experience a lot of abdominal discomfort, cramping, or bloating, you could be suffering from irritable bowel disease or the less-severe irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS. As with rheumatoid arthritis, there isn't a known cause, but it is an autoimmune condition that seems to be exacerbated by environmental causes, including stressful jobs.


Reduce your risk from heart disease and asthma. Eat lots of Vitamin C and Vitamin D rich foods and fruits.

Dry Powder Inhaler for Deep, Consistent Drug Administration

New inhaler delivers significantly more drug to the deep lung, regardless of strength of breath Dry Powder Inhaler

Cambridge Consultants and Sun Pharma Advanced Research Company Ltd develop a high performance, easy to use dry powder inhaler

Cambridge Consultants, a leading technology product design and development firm, has developed a new high efficiency, easy to use dry powder inhaler in collaboration with Sun Pharma Advanced Research Company Ltd ("SPARC"), one of India's leading pharmaceutical research companies. The inhaler has a uniform delivery profile that ensures the full intended metered dose of the drug is administered to the deep lung, regardless of the strength of the patient's intake of breath.

The device employs a novel de-agglomeration engine to separate the drug from the lactose 'carrier' particles. Based on a highly efficient airway design, the patented drug separation mechanism has successfully completed clinical trials and demonstrated that it is capable of delivering significantly more of the drug to the deep lung than traditional inhalers. In practice, this will minimise side effects from drug build-up in the back of the throat, reduce non-systemic load and wastage, and means almost 50% less active drug needs pre-loading into the device in comparison to a standard inhaler.

This step change in inhaler technology is a reliable and easy to use device, particularly for patients with impaired lung function or those using the inhaler during an asthma attack – overcoming any patient concerns about the ability to use the device effectively.

In addition to its novel drug delivery mechanism, the device integrates a number of user-friendly design features. These include a numerical dose counter to indicate at a glance how many more doses are left in the inhaler before it runs out, a luminous feature to enable users to find the device in the dark and a small pop-out 'braille' button which activates when there are only a few doses remaining. The device gives audible and tactile feedback to indicate the delivery and completion of user steps. The device also features a unique palm-held form, designed to discreetly house the complex dose carriage and delivery system yet remain comfortable to hold and use.

Mr Dilip S. Shanghvi, Chairman and Managing Director of SPARC, commented, "Our search for the right design expertise for this project was global, but Cambridge Consultants stood out to us because of its excellent track record in medical device development. The partnership has worked incredibly well and has enabled us to take the product from initial requirement to market in half the time that such projects usually demand."

Phil Lever, Commercial Director at Cambridge Consultants, added, "We're delighted that SPARC chose to work with us on the technically challenging project as we feel this is a strong endorsement of the world-class development skills we offer, and we are very proud of the inhaler that has been developed as a result of this collaborative partnership." Cambridge Consultants and SPARC are now working together to ready the device for manufacture and the commercial launch is expected in 2011.

Cambridge Consultants will also be demonstrating the device at the Drug Delivery to the Lungs (DDL) 21 conference, Edinburgh International Conference Centre, 8th-10th December 2010.


Notes for editors:

Cambridge Consultants develops breakthrough products, creates and licenses intellectual property, and provides business consultancy in technology critical issues for clients worldwide. For 50 years, the company has been helping its clients turn business opportunities into commercial successes, whether they are launching first-to-market products, entering new markets or expanding existing markets through the introduction of new technologies. With a team of over 300 engineers, designers, scientists and consultants, in offices in Cambridge (UK) and Boston (USA), Cambridge Consultants offers solutions across a diverse range of industries including medical technology, industrial and consumer products, transport, energy, cleantech and wireless communications.

Throughout 2010, Cambridge Consultants celebrates its 50th year in business. Created by three Cambridge graduates in 1960, the company has grown into a leading technology business, renowned worldwide for its ability to solve technical problems and provide innovative, practical solutions to commercial issues. In 2009, the company was awarded the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade. For more information visit: www.CambridgeConsultants.com

Cambridge Consultants is part of Altran, the European leader in innovation and high technology consulting. The Group’s 17,500 consultants, operating worldwide, cover the entire range of engineering specialities, including electronics, information technology, quality and organisation. Altran offers its clients ongoing support throughout the innovation cycle, from technology watch, applied basic research and management consulting to industrial systems engineering and information systems. The Group provides services to most industries, including the automotive, aeronautics, space, life sciences and telecommunications sectors. Founded in 1982, Altran operates in 20 priority countries. In 2008, it generated a turnover of €1,650 million. For more information visit: www.altran.com

About SPARC

Sun Pharma Advanced Research Company Ltd (NSE: SPARC, BSE: 532872) is an international pharmaceutical company engaged in research and development of drugs and delivery systems. More information about the company can be found at www.sunpharma.in.




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Treatment of childhood asthma

MBBS(Ceylon), DCH(Ceylon), DCH(England), MD(Paediatrics), FRCP(Edinburgh), FRCP(London), FRCPCH(United Kingdom), FSLCPaed, FCCP, FCGP(Sri Lanka) Consultant Paediatrician

Asthma is an inflammatory disorder of the airways characterised by narrowing of the air tubes brought on by swelling of the lining of the airway, contraction of the muscles of the airways and increased secretion of mucus or "phlegm". In the case of children, asthma is such a variable disorder that there are many considerations that need to be gauged when one looks at the treatment options that could be used. There is a very wide spectrum of clinical presentation of asthma ranging from mild infrequent attacks through moderately severe and frequent episodes to acute severe life-threatening events. Careful assessment is essential before tangible decisions are made regarding further management and the use of certain medications.

One component of treatment is the management of an acute attack. There are several drugs which are so very useful in controlling an acute episode but judicious decisions have to be made regarding their use. Initial assessment of the severity of the attack is the determining factor for the selection of drugs. This initial evaluation is used to classify the episode as a mild attack, a moderately severe attack or an acute severe attack. The last could be so severe that the presence of certain features would further categorise it as a life-threatening attack. This is a harbinger of death and urgent intensive treatment is absolutely essential to save life. All these assessments need to be done by an experienced doctor using features of the history of the illness, its progression, past history and the findings on clinical examination.

The first requirement for a moderately severe or an acute severe attack is the provision of added oxygen through either a mask or through nasal prongs. The airway narrowing leads to marked interference with ventilation of the lungs that the necessary amounts of life-giving oxygen are not allowed to be provided to the blood and thereby to the tissues of the body. The only initial solution to this problem, at least till one could take steps to correct the narrowing of the airways is to provide an additional increased amount of oxygen into the lungs. Parents often get frightened by medical staff starting a child on oxygen but it is more or less a precautionary measure. Most people believe that added oxygen is given only to a dying patient. This is not true and there are several other instances where added oxygen may be used. Steps must be taken to explain this to the parents or care-givers, allay their anxiety and provide reassurance.

Then there are the drugs that are so useful to treat the acute episode and relieve the airway narrowing. Their action is centred around dilatation of the narrowed airways. These drugs are therefore known by the collective term "relievers". There are several different groups of medications that fall into this category. Some of them need to be given by inhalation, either by using a nebuliser or via a spacer device attached to a metered dose inhaler which is commonly known by the name of "puffer". The advantage of these methods is that only tiny doses need to be used as the drug is directly provided to the lung where its primary effect is required. Some of these drugs could also be given by mouth but then much larger doses need to be used. The oral use is generally employed only for very mild attacks. Many people also believe that these children who are once nebulised will always need nebulisation. This too is not true and there is no scientific basis for this belief. Nebulisation and other forms of inhalation therapy is used for the moderately severe and severe attacks as it is so very effective and the observable clinical effect comes on within minutes. The other advantage is that inhalation therapy could be repeated at very frequent intervals as and when necessary. The general side effects that are seen when the same drug is given by mouth are generally not seen as frequently with inhalation therapy. Inhaled therapy is quite safe in the acute phase of the attack and this is so even when the procedure has to be repeated at frequent intervals. It certainly has no adverse effects on the heart.

There are other reliever drugs that are used through the intravenous route. These are generally used when inhaled therapy fails to control the acute attack. Some of these drugs, just like those used for inhalation therapy, act quite quickly but prolonged treatment in the form of intravenous infusions may be necessary to maintain the achieved dilatation of the airways. There are several drugs that fall into this category and some newer drugs are being increasingly used. All these drugs work by different mechanisms of action, the effects are generally complementary when more than one drug needs to be used and the end results are quite good. It is however imperative that proper doses are used to obtain the best effect.

In markedly severe cases, drugs belonging to the corticosteroid group may need to be used. However, it must be remembered that these medicines take about 4 to 6 hours to produce optimal effect. They could be given orally or through the intravenous route. In severe cases, the latter route of administration is preferred. They act by suppressing the inflammatory response of the airways and this process necessarily takes time. Steroids may need to be continued for up to a week in certain instances. Such short courses of steroids are safe and do not have long-lasting undesirable side effects on the child.

In most acute episodes, ancillary treatment measures are also quite important. If the child is hospitalised, good nursing, attention to good quality nutrition and adequate hydration are essential. The latter is of marked significance as rapid breathing induced by the attack leads to a loss of water from the body via exhaled breath. If it is not possible for the child to drink because of the severity of the episode of asthma, replenishment of the fluid losses should be by the intravenous route. In the case of suspected bacterial infections precipitating the acute attack of asthma, it may be necessary to use antibiotics but it must be stressed that this is perhaps uncommon and the use of antibiotics is certainly not a panacea for all ills in asthma.

Once the acute episode has been brought under control, it is time to assess the need for further long-term treatment. There are several drugs available today which, when used prudently, help to prevent recurrences of asthma. These drugs are therefore known as "preventers". However, these decisions are not to be made lightly as preventive treatment is a protracted form of therapy and needs to be continued for quite some time. There are certain features that suggest that the child may benefit from these forms of treatment. Children with what is known as persistent asthma with some degree of airway narrowing virtually every day, those who get very frequent attacks that interfere with normal life, children with acquired chest deformities as a result of asthma, those with marked exercise induced asthma, those who have growth retardation as a result of asthma, those who have significant disturbance of schooling as a result of asthma, those who are prone to get acute severe episodes of asthma and those who suffer from troublesome nocturnal asthma and persistent night cough that interferes with sleep are the ones in whom preventive therapy may be considered. In addition, those who have poor access to medical care, especially at night too, may be considered for primarily social reasons. The rationale for this is that severe attacks at night may cause a lot of problems and perhaps may even cause death.

There are some oral drugs that may be used for preventive therapy but these are effective only in some cases and are not quite useful in severe forms of the disease. However, some of them may be quite useful in combinations with other forms of preventive therapy, especially in severe and difficult to control cases. In today’s context, the "gold standard" for preventive therapy is the use of inhaled corticosteroids. Only very small doses of these steroids need to be used as the drug is delivered directly to the lungs and as such general effects on the rest of the body are not of any significant consequence. In the recommended doses, even long-term treatment with inhaled corticosteroids is safe. The effectiveness of these drugs depends on their anti-inflammatory action as it counteracts the very basic disturbance in childhood asthma which is inflammation of the airways. All preventive medications have to be given even when the child is quite well as they work purely for prevention and most of them are not useful during acute attacks.

There are several different formulations of inhaled corticosteroids and different inhaler devises that could be used in children. There are some dry powder inhalers that could be usefully employed in older children. The child has to inhale the very fine powder into the lungs. However, the most useful form if inhaler in children is the metered dose inhaler or "puffer". When each dose is actuated, a jet of gas containing the effective dose of the drug is ejected. The only problem is that the speed of ejection is very high, around 70 miles per hour and most children, and for that matter, even adults, find it impossible to synchronise their intake of the breath with the actuation of the device to ensure that the drug is inhaled properly. To get over this problem a holding chamber or "spacer" needs to be used. This device is connected to the puffd the child breathes in and out normally at the other end of the spacer after the puffer is actuated and the dose of medicine is put into the spacer. One-way valve systems ensure that the breaths that are put out do not get into the spacer. In the case of children, they need to be trained under direct medical supervision on the proper technique of the use of all these devices. The parents too must observe and learn all necessary details of these forms of treatment. All inhalers have a finite number of doses and it is useful to write down the date of starting a fresh inhaler on the inhaler device label itself so that a new inhaler could be purchased when all the contained doses have been used up. Many parents wait till the inhaler device completely finishes and is no longer able to eject, before purchasing a new one. This is a mistake as, beyond the total number of doses that are specified in the device, there is only the propellant gas that is emitted. The active drug is available only for the total specified number of ejections.

Whatever the device, it is best to rinse the mouth with water and throw out this water each time inhaled steroids are used. This is to ensure that some of the drug that is deposited in the mouth is not swallowed. All spacer devices need cleaning from time to time and there are special ways in which these need to be cleaned. Vigorous rubbing of the inside of the spacers should be avoided as this interferes with the normal working of the device. Proper advice regarding the use of all inhaler devices should be given by the prescribing doctor and time taken to explain the different aspects of inhalation therapy is time well spent to guarantee proper utilisation of the drug and ensuring optimal effectiveness of these forms of treatment.

Preventive therapy has to be carried out under medical supervision. These children need regular assessment by the prescribing doctors from time to time. The dosage may be reduced by the doctor once control of the disease has been obtained and the child remains well for a reasonable period of time. The dosages may also need to be increased to deal with special situations and when the disease appears to be getting out of control. These are not drugs that could be continued by the parents without regular medical direction. Haphazard changes in dosage, keeping off doses from time to time and abrupt stoppage of treatment should be scrupulously avoided. It must be remembered that the disease is being kept under control by these drugs and the child may develop an unprotected acute severe attack if the drugs are suddenly withdrawn. There is no truth whatsoever in the commonly held belief that patients tend to get addicted to these inhalers. These drugs are used simply because the asthmatic state is of considerable concern which requires their use and there is no risk of addiction to them.

P.S. Boost your immunity against asthma by eating Vitamin C and Vitamin D rich foods and fruits.

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Smoke a testing time for asthmatics

THE National Asthma Council Australia is urging people with asthma in bush fire zones, or those planning summer holidays in the country, to ensure they have considered their asthma as part of their total summer survival plan.

“People with asthma are at particular risk from bush fire smoke, especially the very young and older people,” National Asthma Council Australia Director,Associate Professor Peter Wark.

“The best protection, where possible, is avoiding exposure to high levels of smoke and ensuring your asthma is well controlled from day-to-day.

“This means seeing your doctor to make sure you have an appropriate written asthma action plan to help you manage your asthma over summer as well as making sure you regularly take your preventer puffer,” Professor Wark said.

“If you live in a high risk fire zone, you should also ask for a prescription for a second emergency inhaler, which you should have ready to take with you if you evacuate.

“Keep your back-up medication with your most precious papers or photographs to ensure it goes with you if you decide to leave.”

The National Asthma Council Australia also stressed the need to follow the manufacturer’s storage recommendations for medications during the hotter summer months.

“Keeping a back up inhaler in your glove box may seem like a good idea, but the extreme heat may render your medication ineffective, or worse still, some medication canisters could explode under the intense heat conditions that will occur in cars this summer.”

People who live in built up areas also need to plan for days of smoke haze as winds can move bush fire smoke and harmful airborne particles over great distances.

Bushfire smoke contains particles of different sizes, water vapour and gases, including carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which can trigger asthma symptoms, such as wheezing, coughing or chest tightness

Larger sized air-borne particles, containing burning debris, contribute to the visible haze when a fire is burning.

They are generally too large to be breathed into the lungs, but they can cause irritation to the lungs, throat and nose.

Finer particles and gases, however, are small enough to be breathed into the lungs.

“This is why we are cautioning people with asthma across Australia to be vigilant about their health as the 2009/10 bushfire season unfolds and Australia heats up.”

P.S. Boost your immunity against asthma by eating Vitamin C and Vitamin D rich foods and fruits.

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Just breathe - Buteyko Method

"When a person gets short of breath, intuitively the right thing to do seems to be to inhale deeply," says Margalit Noam. "But amazingly, if asthma patients are asked whether a deep breath helped them during an attack, the answer is unequivocally no. This is because people with breathing problems do not suffer from a lack of air, but from too much ventilation. They inhale too much air and the body has a hard time coping with that."

To anyone who's ever witnessed an asthmatic struggling to get air into his lung, this approach sounds contrary to logic. However Noam, a therapist who treats asthma using the Buteyko method, explains, "When you inhale too much, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the body dwindles and not enough oxygen reaches the tissues. Inhaling more air in order to provide more oxygen to the tissues not only does not help, it actually worsens the situation."


Professor Konstantin Buteyko, a Ukrainian doctor, derived this understanding from the findings of the physiologist Christian Bohr in the early 20th century. Bohr found that a decline in carbon dioxide levels in the body reduces the blood's ability to release oxygen to tissues and vice versa. Based on this phenomenon, known as the Bohr effect, Buteyko concluded that while in a state of shortness of breath, the body will benefit more from a reduction in the volume of air that enters the body. In the mid-20th century, Buteyko developed a unique method for treating patients suffering from asthma and other breathing passage problems, and patients of this method learn to slow the pace of their breathing.


Restoring balance

A shortage of oxygen is not the only problem related to over-breathing. "When there is too much air, the acidity level of the body drops [the PH level increases] and the body is not balanced," adds Noam. "In order to restore its acidity level, the body begins to secrete more lactic acid. This does not improve the situation and only causes fatigue. The breathing system enables the balancing of the acidity level in the body much more quickly than the body's other systems."

"For the sake of comparison," he continues, "the metabolism, the digestive system and kidney tract require several hours and sometimes even several days to restore the body's acidity levels to normal levels, whereas the breathing system can do so in minutes. Slowing the pace of breathing and sometimes even a brief halt in breathing reverses the process, and with a normal breathing pace the body returns to its desired acidity levels."

The treatment is sought primarily by asthmatics, but also helps people with allergies, anoxia, snoring, chronic runny noses, stuffed noses and sinusitis. The treatment is also sought by those with a tendency to suffer from anxiety and unease, high blood pressure and migraines. The direct connection between breathing and the improved conditions is explained by the following: after the breathing is relaxed, oxygen is released to the tissues, the blood vessels expand, pressure from them decreases and pain is reduced.


Learning to relax

Noam's patients attend six two-hour sessions, during which they improve their awareness of breathing difficulties, learn to identify situations where they over-breathe and learn how to relax the pace of breathing.

The Buteyko method is one of the most effective ways of treating asthma patients. In studies conducted in Canada and Australia, patients report a substantial reduction in the use of extenders, inhalers and inhalation machines (up to 96 percent after just 12 weeks) and in asthma prevention medications (49 percent). The reduction in the use of inhalers and medications is of greater significance for asthmatics who have become used to living alongside the inhaler and in many cases become anxious if they can't remember where they put it. Noam also reports improvements for those suffering from sleep disturbances such as apnea or snoring.

In Russia, the method is widespread and has been studied for over 50 years. In the West it is also starting to gain institutional recognition. In Australia, medical insurance covers some of the expenses of attending a Buteyko workshop, given the knowledge that it will save on other insurance costs. In England, a family doctor is authorized to recommend the method for treating breathing problems.

Dr. Avner Goren, a pediatrician and allergy, clinical immunology and asthma expert, as well as the director of the Maccabi health maintenance organization branch in Ramat Hasharon, says he frequently recommends the treatment, based on "the research results that indicate a substantial reduction in the use of medications and also because of the fact that I know for certain that they do not interfere in any stage of the patient's drug treatment."


P.S. Boost your asthma immunity by eating Vitamin C and Vitamin D foods and fruits.



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The Link Between Allergies and Asthma

Allergies and asthma frequently often go together. Pediatric asthma is actually very common in the US especially in children. Your child's body's reaction to an allergen can often lead to an asthma attack, or it might cause an existing condition to become worse. This is a serious issue for those who suffer from both allergies and asthma, because it involves twice the discomfort and a greater risk of health problems.

Allergens cause your body to produce antibodies to get rid of the irritant, causing you to experience a reaction that usually involves sneezing and watering of the eyes. The airways and nasal linings become inflamed as a result of your body's response, which frequently leads to an asthma attack in those who suffer from the condition. Those who have respiratory allergies along with asthma typically experience more severe attacks.

Can treating your child's allergies prevent pediatric asthma? It can certainly lower your chances of experiencing an asthma attack. Receiving injections to treat your allergies is beneficial because it restricts your antibodies from reacting to the allergens. And so the chances of an asthma attack are reduced.

For those children who suffer from pediatric asthma attacks, it's essential that parents should do their best to avoid the irritants that lead to inflamed airways. The most typical culprits are dust mites, pet dander, pollen and certain foods. Those who have family members with allergic asthma are more likely to acquire the disease. These people are advised to be very careful with possible allergens. Most allergy induced asthma is triggered by more than one factor.

You don't always have to use medication if you are successful at avoiding the situations that lead to an attack. However, if you do use medication, it's important that you treat the symptoms of both conditions. Nasal sprays can reduce inflammation caused by allergies. Inhalers can reduce inflammation caused by asthma. Be aware, though, that self-medication can have serious consequences. First of all, you should visit your doctor to discuss the most appropriate course of treatment. You can use medication to cure either of these conditions, but caution is advised because they can aggravate certain health problems.

People are advised to take control of their problem by making sure they know which factors trigger their attacks. Discuss all this information with your physician so he or she can formulate the best possible asthma treatment for your situation. The doctor will try to gauge the factors that you have encountered before and the reactions of your body towards past treatments.

P.S. Boost your immunity against pediatric asthma by taking Vitamin D rich foods.

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NEBULIZER: another way to cure for Pediatric Asthma

A nebulizer, also known as an atomizer, is a machine that vaporizes liquid medication into a fine mist to be inhaled into the lungs via a mouthpiece or mask. A nebulizer is used to administer medication primarily for those with asthma, but also for those with cystic fibrosis or other respiratory illnesses. Although studies have shown that both inhalers and nebulizers tend to be equally effective in delivering medications, nebulizers are preferred for use in more serious rescue situations when one is experiencing a severe asthma attack. Nebulizers can administer a higher dosage of medication, but inhalers are easier to use, preferred for their portability and low cost and good for everyday use.

Nebulizers can vary greatly in size and can run on either electricity or battery power. It consists of a compressor that pumps oxygen through plastic tubing into a cup that holds the liquid medication. Once the oxygen mixes with the liquid, it is delivered in vaporized form through the mouthpiece or facemask to the lungs.

Under normal circumstances, it should take about five to fifteen minutes to complete the nebulizer treatment. However, if a child taking the medication is uncooperative or crying, the treatment may take longer or the effectiveness of the dose may be reduced. A face mask may also need to be used for the elderly or for those unable to use an inhaler themselves.

Medications used in a nebulizer usually include Albuterol, which is a bronchodilator, as well as Atrovent, which is also known as ipratropium bromide. In order to use a nebulizer, a child must have some degree of coordination and be able to cooperate in order for the medicine to be delivered effectively. One of the benefits of using a facemask with a nebulizer is that an infant or elderly person can passively receive the medication when the mask is strapped on and he or she is sitting quietly.

In the case of an emergency involving a power outage, or when a patient needs a nebulizer treatment on the road, there are some nebulizers available on the market with batteries or cigarette lighter adapters. As with any piece of medical equipment, a nebulizer should be sanitized after each use per manufacturer’s instructions.



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When Allergies attack, Fight Back with Natural Remedies

According to the 2008 National Health Survey from the National Center for Health Statistics, it is estimated that about 19.6 million adult Americans suffer from hay fever, with 6.8m children also suffering. Even more, physicians state that more than 11 million office visits are by patients seeking relief from hay fever, which is also known as allergic rhinitis.

Symptoms of hay fever include itchy eyes, runny nose, congestion, and an endless amount of sneezing. All of these symptoms are caused by an overacting immune response to a variety of possible triggers, which include pollen from plants, dust, dust mites, airborne pollutants, mold, and pet dander.

Hay fever is marked by inflammation of mucous membranes in the eyes, throat, ears, sinuses, nose, and lungs. Although the development of inflammation in allergies is complex, one of the most influential factors is immunoglobulin E (IgE), which responds to protein allergens. Although there is a genetic component to susceptibility to allergic response to certain triggers, the focus of allergy relief is on the events that occur as a reaction.

Various natural products offer allergy relief by targeting the factors in allergy pathology. Similar to other areas of immune health, fruits and vegetables are suggested for the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that they provide. Vitamin C is a major antioxidant in the airway surface liquid of the lungs; therefore, it can severely impact allergies and asthma. Low levels of vitamin C have actually been associated with asthma in both adults and children. Also, low levels of vitamin E have been associated with asthma and other wheezing illnesses. Combining antioxidant ingredients also provides additional relief. Therefore, by combining vitamins C and E with the antioxidant NAC, pollen-induced airway inflammation is inhibited by blocking ragweed oxidases which cause oxidative stress and inflammation in the airways.

On its own, NAC reduces mucous viscosity and protects against lung tissue damage. According to scientists, lycopene may also be beneficial. As far as minerals are concerned, both magnesium and zinc have been proven to help. Quercetin has both antihistamine and anti-inflammatory properties, allowing it to inhibit the release of histamine in nasal mucosa of allergic patients. Glucomannan was shown in a study to suppress allergy symptoms, while CLA reduces allergy symptoms such as sneezing.

One of the best natural remedies for allergies is comprised of botanicals such as licorice root, skullcap, pine bark extract, and butterbur. Licorice root offers anti-inflammatory activities along with aide in fighting IgE allergic reactions, while skullcap can restrict inflammatory cytokine production.
Pine bark extract blocks the release of allergy troublemakers in the body even better than a known pharmacological histamine inhibitor.

Similarly, butterbur has abilities in blocking histamine release by IgE-sensitized mast cells and relieving allergy symptoms as effectively as drugs without the drowsy side effects. Although allergies are widespread and disrupt the daily lives of many people, they strike one out of every four Americans, affecting six times more than cancer. The mechanisms of allergic reactions in the body, especially those in the upper respiratory system, are becoming more and more well-known.

Natural products are available that can help to address these mechanisms, along with the mediators that produce the inflammation and symptoms that allergies create. Natural vitamin supplements are available at your local or internet health food store.



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Changes in Weather May Trigger Child’s Asthma

Changes in humidity and temperature result in a increase in Emergency Department (ED) visits for pediatric asthma exacerbations according to a report published this month in Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).

“We found a strong relationship between temperature and humidity fluctuations with pediatric asthma exacerbations, but not barometric pressure,” said Nana A. Mireku, M.D., an allergist at Dallas Allergy Immunology in Dallas, formerly at Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Mich. “To our knowledge, this is the first study that demonstrates these correlations after controlling for levels of airborne pollutants and common aeroallergens.

“Our study is also one of the few to examine the possibility that the weather one or two days before the asthma exacerbation may be as important as that on the day of admission, observing additional ED visits on these days,” she said.

According to the report, patients experiencing an asthma attack often complain that weather fluctuations are a major trigger. Authors note, “the latest National Institutes of Health guidelines list ‘change in weather’ as a possible precipitating factor for asthma, but do not cite any references for this opinion.”

The retrospective 2-year study was performed at a large urban hospital of 25,401 children visiting the ED for an pediatric asthma exacerbation. Data on climactic factors, pollutants and aeroallergens were collected daily. The relationship of daily or between-day changes in climactic factors and asthma ED visits was evaluated using time series analysis, controlling for seasonality, air pollution and aeroallergen exposure. The effects of climactic factors were evaluated on the day of admission and up to five days before admission.

A 10 percent daily increase in humidity on a day or two before admission was associated with approximately one additional ED visit for asthma. Between-day changes in humidity from two to three days prior to admission were also associated with more ED visits. Daily changes in temperature on the day of or the day before admission increased ED visits, with a 10°F increase being association with 1.8 additional visits.

Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the lung airways that causes coughing, chest tightness, wheezing or shortness of breath. More than 22 million Americans have asthma, including 6.5 million under age 18.

"Pediatric Asthma is the most common chronic illness in childhood,” said allergist Richard G. Gower, M.D., president of ACAAI. “Allergists have always known that weather conditions such as extremely dry, wet or windy weather can affect asthma symptoms. This study further defines the role of temperature and humidity on children's asthma and confirms the importance of working with patients to identify the source of their symptoms and develop treatment plans that help prevent them.”


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Children with asthma more vulnerable to H1N1 virus

Secretary of Health Kathleen Sebelius met with students and their parents at Thurgood Marshall Elementary, one of 16 schools in Philadelphia that partners with the Merck Childhood Asthma Network, Inc. (MCAN). The program works to help students better manage their asthma. She talked about the importance of education and creating healthy habits to avoid missing school.

"Nothing is more important than keeping our children healthy, in school and ready to learn as we start the new school year," said Dr. Floyd Malveaux, Executive Director of MCAN and former Dean of the College of Medicine at Howard University. "We applaud Secretary Sebelius for recognizing that staying healthy can be a challenge for students with asthma – a factor that is even further complicated with the possibility of being exposed to the H1N1 virus, which can increase the severity of asthma symptoms, leading to possible hospitalizations."

During the meeting, Secretary Sebelius highlighted the work of the Philadelphia MCAN project as a model for inner-city childhood asthma management. Launched in 2005, the Philadelphia MCAN project has improved asthma outcomes for children and reduced school absenteeism by using a community-based approach that integrates families, community agencies, schools and health care providers to implement scientifically proven asthma interventions.

The Philadelphia program brings hope into communities that shoulder a disproportionate share of the childhood asthma burden. Screening conducted with the Philadelphia MCAN project in partnership with The School District of Philadelphia found that one out of four students in the West, Southwest, Olney, Logan and Germantown communities – target communities for the program – have been diagnosed with asthma or have been admitted to the hospital for wheezing, compared to one out of ten nationwide. The Philadelphia program provides children with asthma and their families access to three key services: Community Asthma Prevention Program (CAPP) classes that educate parents, other caretakers and children with asthma; CAPP home visits where community health workers help families eliminate or control allergens and irritants within the home; and Health Promotion Council (HPC) Link Line services that connect families to asthma care coordinators.

"The unique structure of our program allows us to bring multiple stakeholders to the table to create a successful team that can get children to care and services for better long-term and immediate asthma management," said Dr. Michael Rosenthal of Thomas Jefferson University and co-lead investigator of the Philadelphia MCAN program. "By collaborating with specific schools to identify children that have asthma, the Philadelphia MCAN project has armed school nurses with essential information to assist students who are at higher risk for complications with H1N1 and seasonal flu virus, allowing them to be better prepared to manage these children at school."

Nationally, MCAN, a non-profit organization funded by the Merck Company Foundation, provides funding to four other local programs that target low-income, urban populations with high rates of pediatric asthma in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Puerto Rico. The goal is to evaluate the effectiveness of these programs and use the findings to develop model programs that can be replicated and tailored in communities across the country.

"The Philadelphia MCAN program has shown that we can help children manage their asthma and that means improved quality of life, significantly fewer trips to the ER or stays in the hospital, and best of all, more days in school," said Dr. Tyra Bryant-Stephens from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and co-lead investigator of the Philadelphia MCAN project. "Empowering caregivers and children with this knowledge has helped to greatly decrease the school days missed by children in Philadelphia, a segment of the nearly 13 million schools days missed each year by the millions of children nationwide that have been diagnosed with asthma."

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Dealing With Childhood Asthma

Asthma is a terrible disease, one that is hard enough to live with if you are an adult, but if you are a child it is especially traumatic. Childhood asthma can be so severe that it is practically debilitating, and can really take one’s childhood away from them. If your child has childhood asthma, also known as pediatric asthma, it is important that you make yourself as educated as you can on the disease and also that you watch and make sure that their symptoms do not worsen. If their symptoms ever do worsen and they start to have an asthma attack, they are going to need medical attention right away to treat the asthma. Symptoms would include anything from tightness in the chest and wheezing to coughing and shortness of breath. Keep in mind that these are not the only childhood asthma symptoms and that the asthma symptoms in children will vary from one to another.

Of course one of the most important issues on the subject of childhood asthma is management. There is no cure for the disease as of yet, but there are many effective treatments and remedies that you can use to keep the symptoms under control and help avoid the onset of attacks.

pWhen you are treating asthma in a child it will be much different than it would be in an adult. This is because children are much more susceptible to the effects of asthma, and also because their bodies are smaller and so therefore they are not able to use some of the treatments and remedies that are available to adults.

Combination therapy is the best option when it comes to keeping childhood asthma under control. This means using an inhaler that contains two or more medications rather than just one. Using inhaled corticosteroids only when needed may improve compliance which is likely to occur in patients with mild asthma who have infrequent symptoms.

Taking just one medication or another may help but for childhood asthma you want to avoid asthma attacks even more than you would in adults and so therefore using a combination of medications in the inhaler is going to be your best bet.

If your child has asthma, take every step that you can to become more informed and aware, and that you take every precaution possible to ensure that your child’s pediatric asthma stays under as best control as possible. Work as a team with your doctor to make sure that this happens.


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Natural Cure for Asthma

For people who have asthma, taking medication for a prolonged period of time could really aggravate the situation instead of make things better. It is a common experience for people with asthma that after taking certain medications for sometime, such medication will no longer be able to relieve them during an attack. If you are one of those people who have this kind of problem with your medication, it might be a good idea to start seeking for a natural cure for asthma.

Is there really a natural cure for asthma?

You may not believe it, but nature has the way of healing itself. There is a natural cure for asthma and many people who have tried it would really say that their condition did improve after sometime. The good news about natural cure for asthma is that it has a lasting effect without the ugly side effects that are closely associated with pharmaceutical drugs.

Speleotherapy as a Natural Cure for Asthma

In European countries, speleotherpy is very popular when it comes to a natural cure for asthma. Speleotherapy, which is otherwise known as climatotherapy, is the process of treating asthma by spending some time underground in subterranean caves about 2-3 hours a day for a period of 2-3 months. This practice is based on the belief that salt air is very potent when it comes to treating asthma.

Speleotherapy have been practiced in Eastern Europe for ages. In fact, this type of treatment is so old that this has been handed over from generation to generation and has been proven to be very effective. However, there is no concrete scientific explanation why such treatment could really help in treating asthma.

Aromatherapy as a Natural Cure for Asthma

Another popular natural cure for asthma is aromatherapy. There are a number of scents and oil, which you can use to produce the desired relaxing effect in aromatherapy. For people with asthma, the use of a rock salt crystal lamp has been proven to be quite beneficial. Not only will this rock salt crystal lamp calm the nerves of a person, it is said to relieve bronchial constrictions brought about by an asthma episode.

Purifying the Air You Breathe

You can help prevent asthma symptoms by identifying and avoiding your known asthma triggers. In fact, identifying and avoiding asthma triggers should be part of a detailed treatment plan to help successfully manage your asthma.

A natural way for preventing asthma attacks is to purify the air you breathe. Most asthma attacks are brought about allergic reactions to dusts and pollens that are suspended in the air. If you can minimize the existence of these asthma triggers by purifying the air you breath, you can effectively prevent asthma episodes.


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Symptoms of Asthma in Infants

The symptoms of asthma in infants can be so subtle that you don't even realize infant asthma might be involved. Baby asthma is challenging to diagnose too, because your infant can't tell you in words how he or she is feeling. So doctors rely more on the parent's description of a pattern of symptoms and behavior, as well as family medical history, in deciding what type of breathing problem your baby may have.

Asthma is the most common chronic disease in babies and children. In fact, 1 out of every 10 kids has asthma today. So, if you find out your baby has asthma too, you'll have lots of company. If you do suspect infant asthma is causing your child's breathing problems, it's important to find out for sure as soon as you can. The inflammation of the airways that asthma causes can cause severe respiratory distress and may even lead to death, if left untreated or uncontrolled. Babies are especially susceptible to complications, because their lungs are not as mature to begin with, so early diagnosis and treatment are essential.


What Are the Symptoms of Asthma in Infants?

Common asthma symptoms in adults include:

* Wheezing
* Coughing
* Shortness of breath
* Chest tightness

But it's important to note that the pattern and intensity of asthma symptoms can vary greatly from person to person. With infant asthma, symptoms can be even more variable. They are also different, to some extent, than in adults.

In baby asthma, coughing is often the only symptom the infant will have. Some kids cough all night, but have no noticeable symptoms during the daytime hours. Other infants may cough intermittently throughout the day. Also, when babies wheeze, it's not always because of asthma. It could just be a viral respiratory infection.

So, doctors look closely at patterns when trying to decide whether your infant has asthma. First off, they'll ask you if you've noticed repeated instances of:

* Coughing, especially at night
* Wheezing
* Trouble breathing or fast breathing

The doctor will also look for symptoms that are worsened by:

* Frequent viral infections, such as colds or bronchitis, that seem to "go right to the chest" and last
* Exposure to tobacco smoke or other strong odors / fumes
* Active play
* Contact with common allergic triggers, such as pets, pollen, and dust
* Changes in the weather
* Crying or laughing

Diagnosing asthma in infants can be hard because symptoms must be observed, rather than described. And common testing used to diagnose asthma, such as spirometry, can't be used with infants. And just having any one of the above findings is probably not going to lead your baby's doctor to an asthma diagnosis. But having several of them may. In the end, doctors often diagnose asthma by ruling out other possibilities.


What Other Diagnoses Have Similar Symptoms?

As noted above, wheezing in infants can be caused by more than just asthma. And the good news is that these other conditions are often milder than asthma and may go away completely within a few years, as opposed to asthma, which usually lasts throughout childhood and maybe even into adulthood.

Some of the names for conditions that cause recurrent wheezing and coughing episodes in infancy are:

* Wheezing bronchitis, which is a viral infection
* Bronchiolitis
* Asthmatic bronchitis
* Wheezing associated with respiratory illness or breathing problems
* Para-infectious bronchial hyperreactivity
* RAD

The common factor with all of these labels is that the wheezing is not associated with allergic disease as asthma usually is in children. One of the most common catch-all terms for non-asthma wheezing is reactive airway disease, which is also called RAD for short. RAD may be used to avoid labeling an infant too soon with a more serious diagnosis of asthma.

However, both RAD and infant asthma are often treated the same, because doctors really can't tell for sure if an infant has asthma, and won't know until at least age 5. So, they treat "as if" the infant has asthma.

But parents' worries about their babies taking possibly unnecessary medicine can be soothed by the knowledge that asthma treatment is safe, even for infants. What risks there may be are considered to be offset by the very real benefits of keeping asthma – if it does exist – under control. Preventing more serious respiratory problems down the line is well worth it.
In Summary

If you notice a chronic cough in your infant, especially if it is waking your baby and you up at night, it would be wise to talk with your pediatrician about it. The same is true if you notice your baby having frequent and / or severe chest colds. And remember, wheezing does not have to be present in infants with asthma, as it almost always is with adults. And if your baby does wheeze, it doesn't necessarily mean he or she has asthma.

Don't ignore such symptoms or fear an asthma diagnosis. Asthma is fairly easy to manage with medicine and environmental changes, and taking such steps can help ensure that your infant is able to have a normal, active life.


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Inhalers for Asthma

From my childhod days until I turned 23 years of age, my asthma medication consists only of tablets and capsules or just leave it be. But right after that, I tried the asthma inhaler and immediately I got hooked. The healing time of tablets ranges from 2 hours to 3 hours but for the inhaler it took only 1 or 2 seconds.

Inhalers are the main source of treatment for asthmatic patients and enables them to lead active lives without the fear of an attack. There are different types of inhalers available in the market which can make things confusing.

This article will give some more information about the inhalers for asthma.

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Pediatric Asthma

Ever since I was a child I far as I can remember, I already have asthma. Most of it would occur at night. I cannot breathe properly when lying down. So I have to sit down while relaxing my breathing. There came a point wherein my parents use a nebulizer to calm my asthma.

Asthma is commonly seen in children. It is a leading cause of hospital stays and school absences. Children with asthma may be able to breathe normally most of the time. When they encounter a substance that can cause problems (a "trigger"), an asthma attack (exacerbation) can occur.

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