Articles

Best Air Purifiers on the Market for Pet Owners with Asthma

May 14th, 2012  
The Best Air Purifiers on the Market for Pet Owners with Asthma Over 70% of households in the United States have either a cat or a dog for a family pet. Six out of every ten people are exposed to these animals. In fact, the pet population in this country is over a hundred million, which means approximately four pets to every ten people. These animals provide a sense of security, comfort and companionship for the members of a family. In addition, children learn a number of different life lessons from being raised in a home with pets, such as responsibility, the excitement of life and the heartbreak of death. In addition to cats and dogs, some of the most common household pets that are kept indoors include: Birds Hamsters Mice Rabbits Gerbils Guinea pigs Rats Pet allergies Read more [...]

Asthma Treatment for Children

December 29th, 2011  
Asthma treatment for children is determined according to the age group. Usually what the doctors look for when treating children is to get long term controlled results. Hence, the treatment usually involves fewer drugs and more of a lifestyle modification. Since the treatment is for a child, such methods generally yield positive results over a long-term basis. To carry out treatments for asthma, each treatment is specially tailored, based on the child’s particular needs and requirements. While the drugs help control and relieve symptoms of an attack, parents are encouraged to remove things that might act as allergens. Parents can find more about the things that trigger the attack by being more observant and always keeping track of the flow of the attacks so that they can get a clear picture Read more [...]

What is Asthma?

December 29th, 2011  
Many people ask, ‘What is asthma?’ In a nutshell, asthma is a breathing disorder. If you really dig deep, you will discover that it’s a disorder that is caused by the inflammation in the airways which leads to the lungs, resulting in a tightening of the airways. This restricts the flow of air to the lungs and makes breathing difficult for a person. Symptoms of asthma vary and include, but are not limited to wheezing, severe coughing, shortness of breath, and more. Though asthma is not curable, it can be controlled using medications as well as controlling the environment around the individual. Though triggers are not altogther known, it has been found that certain people are sensitive to certain pollutants and allergens, such as pollen, dust mites, chemicals in the air, and more and that’s Read more [...]

Childhood Asthma Facts

December 29th, 2011  
While infants, children, and adults can develop asthma at any time, in most cases, asthma begins around age 5. There are many factors that can cause asthma – allergies, family history, pollutants, viruses, and exercise may all trigger an asthma attack. Learning basic childhood asthma facts can help your child live and breathe easier. Understanding the reasons behind an asthma attack may help reduce or prevent future attacks. Diagnosing asthma in children may require several tests as shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pains, fatigue, and other symptoms associated with asthma may be caused by another illness or allergic reaction. What is Asthma? An asthma attack occurs when airways in the lungs become constricted by the muscles surrounding them. These muscles contract when foreign objects Read more [...]

Helping Children with Allergies

December 29th, 2011  
For many parents, children with allergies have become all too common. And while many children and parents suffer from occasional or frequent allergy attacks, watching a child cry from discomfort or gasp for air when recovering from an asthma attack is heartbreaking. Feelings of hopelessness, neglect, frustration and sadness are just some of the many emotions parents feel when watching their children during an allergy attack. But there are ways to reduce or even prevent future attacks by making simple changes in your home today. The Benefits of Clean Air Filtering the air inside your home is one way to reduce the number of allergens and pollutants in each room. Allergens stick to clothing, shoes and other items we carry with us when outside. These allergens are then transferred to furniture, Read more [...]

All About Baby Allergies

December 29th, 2011  
Infants and babies may suffer from a variety of allergies – even if they are only a few months old. And while skin rashes are most common, some infants and babies suffer from chronic runny or dry noses and may have trouble breathing (which may signify the onset of asthma), or may experience skin reddening after eating foods they are allergic to. And since there is no way for parents to know their child has an allergy until they have an allergic reaction, preventing future attacks is a parent's only option. Baby Allergy Causes Baby allergies may last a few months or may last into adulthood, depending on the allergy and the severity of it. If you suspect your baby has had an allergic reaction to food or an airborne allergen such as pet dander or pollen, let your baby's physician know so Read more [...]

Have an Asthma Action Plan in Place

December 29th, 2011  
Create an asthma action plan to determine when your child is most susceptible to asthma attacks. This plan allows you to determine triggers, provide medical treatment and create and implement an asthma prevention plan. Consult with your family physician to determine the best course of action to treat asthma attacks. In some cases, medication may be necessary. Record Frequency of Attacks and Possible Triggers An effective action plan includes a record of asthma attacks along with possible triggers. Purchase a diary or notebook that you can take with you to observe and record each time your child has an asthma attack and other important asthma information. While this may seem tedious at first, over time you will notice patterns. These patterns may include times of the day, specific places, Read more [...]

Helping Ease Asthma in Children

December 29th, 2011  
Asthma causes the airways in the lungs to narrow, making it difficult to breathe. This narrowing of the airways may last several minutes or hours, depending on the severity an asthma attack. Helping ease asthma in children is important to protect their health and well-being. Children suffering from asthma may experience slight wheezing, which may escalate to gasping for air as airways continue to narrow. This is caused by muscles surrounding airways that are reacting to increased dust, pollen, pet dander, insect debris, second-hand smoke and other harmful pollutants and allergens in the air. Asthma in children can lead to life-long breathing and other health problems. Health Risks and Symptoms of Asthma For reasons unknown, asthma is on the rise among children. While there are many environmental Read more [...]