US Green Living .com
Asthma is a chronic breathing condition that affects more than 6 percent of children in the United States and around 300 million people around the world. The illness restricts the airflow after the throat becomes inflamed and a large quantity of mucous becomes present making it difficult to breathe. Asthma attacks can be caused by a number of different factors such as allergic reactions to substances in the air like second hand cigarette smoke,
variations in the temperature and humidity of the air, strenuous activities like exercising, and even emotional factors such as stress.
Although not usually fatal, asthma attacks were responsible for as many as 255,000 deaths in 2005. It is the most frequently diagnosed chronic disease among children, but a large percentage of adults also suffer from the disease.
Since 1980 when the diagnosis of children with asthma was at 3.6 percent, the prevalence of the illness has been on the increase. There has been a 75 percent rise in diagnoses of children over the past 25 years. The likelihood of having asthma is increased by certain factors, the most significant being genetics. If someone in your family has had asthma or if your mother smoked during pregnancy, you have a much greater chance of diagnosis. Being born premature or underweight or contracting some sort of other respiratory disease at an early age can also contribute to the possibility of being affected by asthma.
Asthma is a worldwide problem that affects people of every gender, race, background, and social class. However, the occurrence of asthma is more common in third world countries, while in the developed world the disease is more prevalent among minority groups of lower economic status. This is most likely due to the fact that expensive treatment and medications are less accessible by these groups of people. In turn, someone from a low income group is more likely to die from an asthma related attack.
A variety of drugs have been developed to combat the symptoms of asthma. These usually are administered via an inhaling device. For long term relief, the most common preventative treatments are inhaled glucocorticoids such as beclomethasone, budesonide, ciclesonide, flunisolide, fluticasone, mometasone, and triamcinolone. Despite the popularity of these medications, their use over long periods of time has been proven to include a number of harmful side effects. Other long-lasting treatments include oral albuterol, bambuterol, formoterol, and salmeterol. These treatments, referred to as long acting bronchodilators are often used in combination with inhaled steroids. Beta2-adrenoceptor agonists including bitolterol, levalbuterol, salbutamol, and terbutaline are short-term medications administered to either prevent or fight a sudden asthma attack. A variety of alternative medicines and home remedies are also commonly used as well as various forms of physical therapy such as yoga.
Asthma and its effects on the quality of life of those who suffer from it are of increasing concern. The World Health Organization recognizes asthma as an important public health concern. With proper care and preventive measures, the probability of the occurrence of harmful asthma attacks resulting in damaging effects and even death can be greatly reduced.
