Asthma

Testimonial

I found out about The Amber Centre while searching on the internet for alternative therapies for the treatment of Asthma. I have two boys Donncha (4) and Eoin (1). Both have had chest infections on and off since birth.

I phoned The Amber Centre and made appointments. I brought the two lads up and immediately felt “this might work!” I found Alma so helpful and professional, I felt hopeful and so positive following even the first visit.

I would say the improvement in the two lads was nearly straight away. Donncha and Eoin have never looked back.

Sinead, Aidan, Donncha & Eoin O’Connell
Co. Kildare

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic lung condition that causes your airways to narrow in response to various triggers like allergies, exercise, or even cold air, making it difficult for you to breathe. The incidence of Asthma is increasing perhaps due to increasing air pollution and other irritants. In fact, asthma is the most common chronic illness among children (affects one in seven). Fortunately, by taking the proper steps, you can prevent most attacks.

Causes

Asthma attacks are usually set off by a trigger, though sometimes they can strike unexpectedly. Here are common culprits...

• Anything you may be allergic to, such as dust mites, pollen, mould, smog, and animal dander
• Tobacco smoke
• Strong odours or fumes, such as from perfume, paint, or hair spray, pesticides, household cleaners
• Smoke from a wood-burning fire
• Colds, flu, respiratory infections
• Exercise
• Strong emotions (such as getting upset or angry)
• Bacterial infections
• Viral Infections

Symptoms
According to asthma sufferers, having asthma is like running around for five minutes, then trying to breathe through a tiny straw. Typical symptoms include difficulty breathing and shortness of breath, wheezing (a rasping or whistling sound when you breathe), coughing or spitting up mucus, tightness in your chest, and restless sleep or insomnia. For some people, these symptoms are mild, infrequent, and last only a few minutes. For others, attacks happen often, are severe, and go on for hours or even days. In rare cases, asthma attacks are deadly.

Signs of a life-threatening attack include these symptoms...

• Feeling as though you're suffocating
• Being so breathless that you can't speak
• Your lips and fingernails have turned blue or grey

If you (or someone you know) ever experience any of these symptoms, don't wait. Take your asthma medication immediately and call for emergency help.

Prevention

• Identify and avoid triggers. Keeping a diary of the things you've done, the places you've been, and what you've eaten can help you figure out what causes your attacks. Once you know, steer clear of it.
• Monitor your lung capacity with a peak-flow meter. This simple, hand-held device tells you how constricted your air passages are. It can alert you if your asthma is getting worse before you start feeling symptoms. Finally, it can help you identify triggers by showing you how your airways are doing at any given time.
• Stay healthy. Eat a healthy diet, get enough rest, and exercise regularly. However, since exercise triggers an attack in some people be careful not to overdo it.
• Do not smoke, and be sure to avoid places where there is a lot of second-hand smoke. Cigarette smoke is especially irritating to children who have asthma, so ask family members and friends to smoke outdoors.
• Try cutting out milk products. While no formal studies have been done, many doctors report that cutting milk out of your diet can significantly reduce asthma symptoms. (But be patient, it takes a month to three months to see results.).
• Foods containing sulphites (beer, wine, wine vinegar, tea, grape juice, lemon juice, grapes, fresh prawns, pizza dough, dried fruits, canned vegetables) have also been linked occasionally to allergic asthma attacks.
• Have an Allergy Test done to eliminate food that are triggers for your asthma.

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