Frequently asked question about asthma

ASTHMA – (FAQ)

Dr.Rangadhar Satapathy , MD(Hom) www.multicarehomeopathy.com

What is an ASTHMA ?

Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory lung disease characterized by recurrent breathing problems. People with asthma have acute episodes when the air passages in their lungs get narrower, and breathing becomes more difficult.

The problem is an oversensitivity of the lungs and airways, which overreact to certain "triggers" and become inflamed and clogged.

What Causes Asthma?

There is no known specific cause of asthma, The people with asthma have in common is chronic airway inflammation. Their airways are highly sensitive to various triggers. When their airways come into contact with a trigger, the airways become inflamed (they fill with mucus, swell, and narrow). Then muscles within the airways contract, causing even further narrowing of the airways. This makes breathing difficult and results in an asthma attack.

What are Common Asthma Triggers ?

Inflammatory Triggers :

Symptom Triggers:

Inflammatory (allergic) triggers can cause inflammation of the lungs' airways or tightening of the airways' muscles. Inflammatory triggers include:  Dust mites  Animals  Cockroaches  Moulds  Pollens  Viral infections  Certain air pollutants

Symptom (non-allergic) triggers generally do not cause inflammation, but they can provoke "twitchy" airways, especially if they're already inflamed. Symptom triggers include:  Smoke  Exercise  Cold air  Chemical fumes and other strong-smelling substances like perfumes  Certain food additives like sulfites  Certain air pollutants  Intense emotions

Dr.Rangadhar Satapathy , MD(Hom) www.multicarehomeopathy.com

What are the symptoms of asthma?

• Cough with or without sputum (phlegm) production

• Chest tightness – pulling in of the skin between the ribs when breathing • Breathlessness • Wheezing – a musical, whistling or hissing sound with breathing.

• Begins suddenly • Comes in episodes with symptom-free periods in between

• Worse at night or early in the morning • May subside on its own • Gets worse when you breath in cold air • Gets worse with exercise and heartburn • Gets better with drugs that open the airways

How might asthma affect my lifestyle?

Some people may have to change parts of their lifestyle because of worsening asthma symptoms. It can be difficult to identify exactly what triggers your asthma. For example when your symptoms start within minutes of coming into contact with a cat or pollen. Some people have a delayed reaction. By avoiding the triggers that make your asthma symptoms worse, and by taking your asthma medicines correctly, you can reduce unnecessary symptoms and continue to enjoy your usual lifestyle.

Dr.Rangadhar Satapathy , MD(Hom) www.multicarehomeopathy.com

How do I know if my symptoms are getting worse?

If your symptoms are getting worse you may recognize some or all of the following: • Needing more and more reliever treatment • Waking at night with coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath or a tight chest • Having to take time of work because of your asthma • Feeling that you cannot keep up with your normal level of activity or exercise • If you experience any of the above you should visit your doctor to get your asthma back under control.

What you must do during an attack?

• Take two puffs of your reliever inhaler • Sit up and loosen tight clothing • If no immediate improvement during an attack, continue to take one puff of reliever inhaler every minute for five minutes or until symptoms improve • If your symptoms do not improve in five minutes – or if you are in doubt − call a doctor urgently, especially if: • You are too breathless or exhausted to talk • Your lips are blue

Can Asthma Attacks Be Prevented?

While asthma attacks may not always be able to be prevented, asthma can be managed.

Avoiding triggers as much as possible is the best way to prevent asthma attacks (for example, eliminating pollen, dust, and mold from a home).

• Exposure to pets when children are very young may lower the risk of developing asthma. Children who live with two or more pets are less likely to react to allergens. If, however, an individual is already allergic to pets, it may be important to avoid exposure to that particular trigger.

• Taking medications as directed is essential.

• People who have outdoor allergies should avoid outside activities when the pollen count or pollution index is high.

• For exercise-induced asthma, several things can help. Spending time warming up before starting strenuous activity and gradually cooling down afterward, avoiding activity during a respiratory tract infection, and avoiding exertion in extremely cold weather may help prevent an asthma attack.

• Yoga may help manage asthma.

Risk factors for asthma ?

Risk factors for asthma include the following: • Smoking or living with a smoker is a major risk factor. A significant percentage of children who have asthma have at least one parent who smokes.

• A family history of asthma: If one parent has asthma, a person has a 25% chance of developing it. If both parents have it, a person has a 50% chance of manifesting asthma.

• Having allergies, including hay fever and eczema: It is not known why some people have allergies and some don't, but allergies can be inherited (although people don't necessarily develop the same allergies as their parents have).

• Having allergies or severe viral infections before the age of 3 • Living in the inner city, especially in a low-income group • Being exposed to mice and cockroach waste products

• Frequently being exposed to triggers

Can Asthma Be Cured?

No, asthma cannot be cured. Asthma is a chronic disease in the airways of your lungs.

You may need to monitor your asthma symptoms every day because the disease is always with you. Asthma symptoms and attacks can improve with treatment or with time, but asthma as a disease is not curable.

Treatment can go on for a long time

CAN YOU CATCH ASTHMA FROM ANOTHER PERSON? No. Asthma is not contagious.

Dr.Rangadhar Satapathy , MD(Hom) www.multicarehomeopathy.com

CAN I PLAY SPORTS IF I HAVE ASTHMA? Most people who have asthma should be able to participate in any physical activity they like without having asthma symptoms. You can control your asthma and live an active life. Talk with your doctor about things you can do to manage your asthma when playing sports. Don't forget to keep your Asthma Treatment up-to-date, so that you know what to do in case of an emergency.

IS IT EVEN WORTH IT TO TRY TO AVOID ASTHMA TRIGGERS? Yes, it is worth it to try to avoid asthma triggers. Avoiding asthma triggers and recognizing when they make your symptoms worse are important to help you manage your asthma.

Dr.Rangadhar Satapathy , MD(Hom) www.multicarehomeopathy.com

Can Homeopathy Cure ASTHMA? A PROPER HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT can manage the symptoms very well within a short time periods. The breathing difficulties due to bronchial spasm can be well managed and controlled by proper homeopathic medicines which act like bronchodilators. The homeopathic medicines can relieve the cough, congestion within a short period of time. Besides that a proper homeopathic treatment is required to combat the hypersensitiveness of the asthmatic person so the CURE in its real term can be achieved Homeopathy is very safe and without having any drug side effect.

Asthma though can occur at any age but the Child hood asthma or children asthma is the most common health problem in the present day society. So homeopathy treatment for the asthma provides a safe and long term cure to the small kids.

Dr.Rangadhar Satapathy , MD(Hom) www.multicarehomeopathy.com

SCOPE OF HOMEOPATHY TREATMENT • Homeopathy treatment for asthma can change the hypersensitivity of the person. When the hypersensitivity or the hyper susceptibilities of the person improve he will not then react adversely to the harmless substances which he was reacting before. This can only be possible by a proper constitutional homeopathy treatment for asthma.

• Homeopathy treatment for asthma can well manage the acute symptoms of asthmatic condition like difficulties in breathing, cough, fever, etc effectively and more safely.

• Homeopathy treatment for asthma consists of homeopathy medicines as well as homeopathic nebulisation to give a rapid relief to the patient • Homeopathy treatment for asthma can control the allergic condition of the asthmatic patient more rapidly and effectively.

• Homeopathy treatment for asthma give a long lasting cure to asthma which are clinically verified in thousands of patients Homeopathy is very safe and without having any drug side effect.

Asthma though can occur at any age but the Child hood asthma or children asthma is the most common health problem in the present

day society. So homeopathy treatment for the asthma provides a safe and long term cure to the small kids.

Contact Us ADDRESS Multicare Homeopathy Treatment Center SHOP-HIG-4/4, Housing Board Colony Chandrasekharpur, Besides Nandankanan Main Rd opposite Aditya Care Hospital Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751016 Mob: 91-9937412150 (Dr.Satapathy) Email:pt.care@multicarehomeopathy.co m Visiting hour: 11am to 2pm ; 6pm to 9pm