Health Choices

There are more than 10 milllion people who have been diagnosed with asthma, and that’s just in the United States. Some medical experts actually believe that asthma has reached epidemic proportions due to it’s pervasiveness. Toxic chemicals and pollution in the environment are the primary contributors to the development of this disease. There is an increase in the number of people dying from asthma, mostly because the warning signs are being ignored.

While an asthma attack is in progress, the lung’s airways start to swell and secrete mucus. Soon they will start to spasm. It becomes harder to breathe as the airways become narrower. The most common symptoms of an asthma attack are wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing, congestion, fever, pain and dry mouth.

An attack can be caused by almost anything. The most common trigger of an attack are allergies, and other causes include stress, a poor diet, overexertion, or a respiratory infection.

Many attacks are a result of contact with irritants like pollen, gas odors, smoke, and exhaust fumes. An attack can also be brought on by certain foods such as peanuts, corn, dairy or chocolate. They can also be induced when you take antibiotics, tranquilizers or hormone therapy.

There are quite a few vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements that have been used successfully for asthma treatments. Vitamin B is the most significant of these. Not only can it decrease the severity of an attack but it preserves the biochemical equilibrium in your body.

Vitamins A and E used together are particularly effective at protecting your lungs from the effects of environmental pollutants. As well, big dosages of Vitamin C are highly successful in combating asthma.

Another effective treatment for improving breathing and assisting with bronchial responses is gingko biloba. Another good choice is odorless garlic. The anti-inflammatory properties of this supplement decrease the risk of an asthma attack.

If you think you might have asthma, see your doctor right away to get tested. In the meantime, your diet should be high in protein and include plenty of fruits and vegetables that are loaded with vitamins. And steer clear of known triggers.

Although an asthma attack can be quite stressful, there are options available to help prevent it from overtaking your life. If you’ve been diagnosed with asthma by a medical doctor, ask lots of questions and find out what the most effective asthma remedies are.

You can sometimes help to avoid an asthma attack by using natural products like vitamins and nutritional supplements. There’s no reason to avoid enjoying your usual activities. It can often be managed successfully although it might slow you down somewhat.