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The price of asthma medication has soared in the U.S. over the past decade and a half. The jump – in some cases from around a little over US$10 to almost $100 for an inhaler has meant that patients in need of asthma-related products often struggle to buy them. Others simply can’t afford them.
To make matters worse, asthma disproportionately affects lower-income patients. Black, Hispanic and Indigenous communities have the highest asthma rates…..Story continues…
Source: The Conversation
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By using a steroid inhaler, as directed by your doctor, you will improve your symptoms and reduce the risk of a severe attack. Inhalers are the safest, most effective treatment for asthma and allow people with asthma to lead a normal, active life. Asthma is a chronic (long-term) condition that affects the airways in the lungs. The airways are tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs.
If you have asthma, your airways can become inflamed and narrowed at times. This makes it harder for air to flow out of your airways when you breathe out. However, you can take steps to help prevent asthma from developing. They include doing your best to keep your home free of dampness and mold, avoiding air pollution as much as possible, and making a healthy lifestyle a priority for you and your family, for example, by adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet.
In both the ADA and Section 504, a person with a disability is someone who has a physical or mental impairment that seriously limits one or more major life activities, or who is regarded as having such impairments. Asthma and allergies are usually considered disabilities under the ADA. Your asthma may not be under control, and your provider may need to change your dose of daily control medicines. Some quick-relief asthma medicines include: Albuterol (ProAir HFA, Proventil HFA, Ventolin HFA) Levalbuterol (Xopenex HFA).
The life expectancy of asthma patients is no less than any other normal human being, up to 80 years on an average. So, if you are a child, a teen, youngster and you have to live with it, at least be happy that it’s not cutting off your life span.While children are more likely to outgrow their symptoms, adults may also see their symptoms disappear and go on to lead asthma-free lives. But outgrowing asthma is not true for everyone. Sometimes symptoms can come back on their own—even many years later.
In most cases, adult-onset asthma is caused by some type of allergen, such as mold, dust mites or even your pets. As many as 30% of all adult-onset asthma cases are associated with allergies. Other cases of asthma in adults are triggered by irritants within your home or work environment. Asthma complications include:
- Signs and symptoms that interfere with sleep, work and other activities.
- Sick days from work or school during asthma flare-ups.
- A permanent narrowing of the tubes that carry air to and from your lungs (bronchial tubes), which affects how well you can breathe.
There’s plenty of research¹⁰ backing caffeine in alleviating asthma symptoms. Caffeine, found in drinks like black and green tea or coffee, may improve lung function and help dilate your airways.The most common factors for developing asthma are having a parent with asthma, having a severe respiratory infection as a child, having an allergic condition, or being exposed to certain chemical irritants or industrial dusts in the workplace.
The most common factors for developing asthma are having a parent with asthma, having a severe respiratory infection as a child, having an allergic condition, or being exposed to certain chemical irritants or industrial dusts in the workplace. Research suggests breathing in steam can moisturize your airways, reducing irritation. The heat and humidity can promote mucus thinning and drainage.
If you’ve encountered an asthma trigger that’s lingering on your skin or in your hair (like pollen), a hot shower might also help by washing away the irritant. The most common asthma triggers include allergies, air pollution and other airborne irritants, other health conditions including respiratory infections, exercise or physical activity, weather and air temperature, strong emotions, and some medicines.
Asthma is a chronic (ongoing) condition, meaning it doesn’t go away and needs ongoing medical management. Asthma affects more than 25 million people in the U.S. currently. This total includes more than 5 million children. Asthma can be life-threatening if you don’t get treatment. During sleep, the airways tend to narrow, which may cause increased airflow resistance. This may trigger nighttime coughing, which can cause more tightening of the airways.
Increased drainage from your sinuses can also trigger asthma in highly sensitive airways. Sinusitis with asthma is quite common. Asthma can cause fatigue or a general feeling of low energy. This can be due to the extra effort required to breathe. Difficulty sleeping: asthma symptoms can worsen at night, leading to disrupted sleep. If asthma wakes you up more than twice a month, this is a sign of uncontrolled asthma.
People with silent asthma don’t cough or wheeze like those with typical asthma, but otherwise, the symptoms of an attack are similar: Trouble breathing or feeling short of breath. Chest tightness. Distress or anxiety. Symptoms can include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness. These symptoms can be mild or severe and can come and go over time. Although asthma can be a serious condition, it can be managed with the right treatment.
People with symptoms of asthma should speak to a health professional. Uncontrolled asthma can lead to severe exacerbations, or asthma attacks, that may require oral corticosteroids, an emergency room visit, or hospitalization. A rescue inhaler may be needed several times a day. Asthma medications prescribed by your allergist will help to relieve the coughing attacks.
These include a fast-acting bronchodilator inhaler, which expands the airways in the lungs and offers quick relief, or a corticosteroid inhaler, which relieves inflammation when used daily. Often both types are needed. A person with asthma has an altered lung lining,4 which can increase the risk of inflammation and mucus production. Adequate hydration is important for thinning mucous.
Therefore while drinking certain beverages will not cure asthma, staying hydrated may help keep it under control. Many people with asthma find warm air soothing. A steam bath — in a sauna or your shower at home — can help clear out mucus that can make it hard to breathe. If stomach acids reflux, or back up, into the esophagus, the inflammation caused could trigger an asthma attack. Avoid acidic foods such as tomatoes, oranges, chocolate, and fried, spicy, or fatty food.
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