Asthma is basically an inflammation of the air passages. Once your air passages start to constrict, you will experience the different symptoms like wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing, chest pain and tightness. Asthma treatment is focused upon resolving the inflammation of the air passages. Anti-asthma medications cannot cure asthma because these simply prevent an attack from occurring and exacerbation of symptoms. The said medications are for prevention and control, not cure.
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Asthma is a chronic disease that is caused due to swelling or inflammation of the tubes which carry air to the lungs which results in narrowed airways. Thus less air moves though air tubes. The sensitivity of airways increases due to swelling. The air carrying tubes react strongly to the things the person is allergic to, resulting into tightened muscles around the air tubes. As the less air moves through the air tubes, asthma attack is caused. When asthma attack occurs the patient experiences trouble in breathing, tightness in chest, coughing and wheezing. In a severe asthma attack, the air tubes become so narrow that a very small amount flows though them. Moreover, an overwhelming desire to breathe rapidly makes the situation even more worse. If a person experiences such an attack then he need immediate medical assistance.
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Getting rid of asthma is impossible. This is because of one fact; asthma is chronic. So to avoid confusion early on, it is best that this is understood. But although this is impossible, many people diagnosed with asthma are enjoying their lives to the fullest without fear of attacks or flare ups. How is this possible without a cure then? Well asthma may indeed be incurable, but nobody ever said that asthma is uncontrollable.

People who have gained great control over their condition can lead normal lives without having to worry about their condition ever. But the way to total control and long lasting relief is not easy, depending on the severity of your case; it might take months if not years before any signs of real improvement can be seen. Not to mention it will take both you and your clinician’s effort to achieve any breakthrough in your condition.

You must realize early on that this is not an easy road to take. Patience and perseverance are required of you, but this is nothing if you think about the benefits that you will be able to gain in return. Imagine being able to enjoy any or most of the activities that you love without even having to stop and think about your condition. If you are really interested in achieving control over your condition here are a few things that you should keep in mind:

Never take your medication for granted: and do not overly depend on it as well, the more you become dependent on your medication the weaker you own immune system will become. Your medication is there to help you handle the situation, not take care of everything.

Follow what treatment plan: Keep in mind that the main aim of your treatment plan is to achieve long term control and relief with as little medical intervention as possible. Your treatment plan must also change along with your condition, the more your condition improves the lesser and lesser will you be required to medicate.

If you’re looking for information on the various types of asthma then you need to read this article. We’re going to look at five of the most common types of asthma, their causes and what you can do to minimize their effects.

1. Allergy Induced Asthma

Allergy induced asthma is just what it sounds like - asthma that is brought on by some sort of allergen. This could be pet dander, dust, food or some sort of environmental trigger.

The allergen often makes breathing difficult by affecting the bronchial tubes and airways, and this can lead to asthma problems, even if you have not suffered from them previously.

2. Adult Onset Asthma

Adult onset asthma is a condition that does not appear until adulthood. While many people who develop an asthma condition do so during childhood, it is not always the case. Asthma can appear during middle age or even older, so if you suddenly start showing symptoms that appear to be asthma, you should consult with your doctor to get a professional diagnosis.

3. Child Onset Asthma

This is an asthma condition that begins during childhood. It is often triggered by exposure to things such as dust, mold, animal proteins and other potential allergens. If a child develops a persistent cough or a wheezing sound when they breathe, it can be a symptom of an asthma condition and should be checked by a doctor.

4. Seasonal Asthma

Seasonal asthma will only occur during certain seasons, when certain allergens are more prevalent. A common trigger is pollen during the spring and summer (hay fever) but other less obvious things can also trigger a reaction, such as smoke from campfires or forest fires during the dry season.

If a person’s asthma symptoms only appear during certain times of the year, try to isolate any unusual factors that could be contributing to it at that particular time.

5. Occupational Asthma

Occupational asthma is a condition brought on by certain environmental factors at a person’s place of work. This can include things such as dust, mold, airborne particles and fumes.

For people who work with vapors and liquids that are potentially hazardous, proper protective gear and effective ventilation is important. These situations are generally pretty obvious, but other are somewhat less so.

Asthma, it was once thought, was brought on by stress, especially in children. Studies have shown that an estimated 75 percent of the population has some degree of dehydration, significant enough to affect their health. Along with dehydration, the majority of people’s body state is acidic due to our typical North American diet. Children love junk food which is very dehydrating and acidifying to the body which will explain why there are over 12 million child asthma sufferers in North America. There are many millions of adult sufferers as well.

Now we know that asthmatics have excessive levels of histamines in their lung tissues. If you breathe through your mouth long enough your mouth gets dry. Water is an integral part of keeping the lungs moist and functioning properly. Every time you breathe out, you lose water. When enough water is lost through the lungs, histamine kicks in to constrict the bronchial passages and increase mucus production to conserve whatever water is there. The mucus covers the tissues to prevent them from drying out. Once a diagnosis of asthma has occurred the person has been chronically dehydrated for some time. The constriction of the bronchial tubes occurs because there is not enough water to keep the cells hydrated and the nerves and blood vessels in the tissues are stressed and inflamed due to the histamine response.

If you are properly hydrated, the moisture in the lungs is rapidly replaced so histamine is not required to conserve and delegate water. By drinking enough water, particularly alkaline, ionized water, the inflammation in the lung tissue is relieved much sooner than drinking bottled water, tap water or reverse osmosis water. Water that is magnetized does not have a high enough pH to effectively address the acidic body terrain that is endemic in the population. Water that is microclustered is the most effective in hydrating the body. People seem to experience that the “water is wetter”, which seems like a silly statement, but the surface tension is significantly different. The alkalinity helps reduce the acid terrain and restore cellular balance.

Tests in animals show that an increase in water intake will reduce histamine levels significantly. Studies show that within a 2 to 3 week period enough water is present to reduce mucus buildup in the bronchi and lungs. Once this starts to occur, the spasms reduce and the bronchial passages begin to open. Normal breathing begins again as the body continues to be hydrated. In my clinic, I am seeing the same results with clients, their asthmatic symptoms are no longer there, now that they are hydrated properly. One client decided that his asthma was gone so he stopped drinking alkaline, ionized water. He started to drink tap water again. Within 3 weeks, he was starting to see symptoms again. Wisely, he started drinking alkaline, ionized water again and he is now symptom free.

Asthma is a chronic disease that causes difficulty breathing due to an inflammation in the bronchial tubes.

The most common symptoms are: wheezing, coughing, difficulty breathing, a sensation of pressure, pain or tightness in the chest area, shortness of breath associated with allergens or physical activity. If you are experiencing these symptoms you should see a doctor and get a proper diagnosis. Left untreated, asthma symptoms become more frequent and severe, sometimes leading to death.

Although natural remedies have not been as effective in treating asthma as in other conditions here are some of the most popular ones:

1. Butterbur
Butterbur is an herbaceous perennial plant, native to Europe and northern Asia. It is also called Bog rhubarb, Devil’s hat and Pestilence wort. It contains Petasin and Isopetasin which are believed to have an anti-inflammatory effect.

Studies have shown that it reduces the severity, number and duration of asthma attacks.
Side effects may include: headache, indigestion, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation. It is not recommended for pregnant or nursing mother, children or people suffering from kidney or liver conditions.

2. Fruit/ Vegetables
It is believed that a high consumption of apples may protect against asthma. Also, research has found that women who have a greater intake of tomatoes, carrots and leafy vegetables are less prone to have asthma. Furthermore a daily intake of fruits and vegetables during childhood reduces the risk of developing asthma.

3. Buteyko Breathing Technique
This technique was named after Konstantin Pavlovich Buteyko, its creator. Its basis resides in the belief that raising blood levels of CO2 through shallow breathing can be some sort of relief for asthmatics.
Studies concerning the benefits of this therapy have not been consistent. Critics argue that the Buteyko Breathing Technique is expensive and that the amount of carbon dioxide in the blood does not make any difference.

If you are considering any natural remedies for asthma, including the above, it is important that you consult your doctor before you begin because it may interact with you current medication.