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Understand tobacco

Tobacco started off in North America and then spread to other parts of the world. It is understood that the invention of the safety match later lead to the smoking of tobacco not only in men but it soon spread to the women also. The use of tobacco in cigarettes continued to grow at a very rapid phase and spread to the adolescents and the older population by the mid 1960′s. It was however at the same time that the U.S. Surgeon General’s influential 1964 report brought to light that there was a strong connection between smoking tobacco and respiratory diseases and cancer.

Tobacco that is the only organic source of nicotine comes in 2 varieties namely nicotiana tabacum and nicotiana rustica. However it is to be noted that nicotiana rustica is most cultivated in the US. The raw leaves of this variety is then dried, shredded and then rolled into cigarettes or cigars. This same variety is packaged as tobacco that is used on pipes or inhaled as snuff. However tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 different gases like nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, and cyanide and particles that also include tar that is a combination of various other chemicals that cause harm to the lungs. It is also found that tobacco contains more than 40 carcinogens like benzo(a)pyrene that have the capacity to cause cancers of various types.

It is shocking to note that almost every 1 out of 4 Americans smoke tobacco, with it being revealing that smoking that brings about tobacco related diseases account for the largest number of adolescent and adults death. So every effort is made to not only prevent smoking, but also to educate smokers about the harms they are putting themselves by smoking tobacco. It is true that tobacco is the most prominent cause for premature death with about 115000 dying of heart disease, about 136000 dying of cancer, with chronic pulmonary diseases accounting for 60000 deaths and stroke accounting for more than 27000 deaths.

This constitutes a strong case for smokers to give up smoking and others to not start at all and protect themselves from the long term ill-effects of smoking. It is again to be understood that when tobacco is taken in the form of cigarettes that we smoke it leads to inhaling of nicotine smoke to the lungs. Smoking tobacco in cigars and pipes causes considerably lesser harm as the nicotine is not readily absorbed in the mouth. However you would definitely still find a few people  that prefer to take smokeless tobacco and prefer to use it either by chewing or as snuff. 

Snuff and chewing of tobacco that are either inhaled or chewed could also result in the slow and direct absorption of nicotine. Both these forms of tobacco that stimulates saliva that initiates him or her to spit frequently to clear the mouth of saliva, that has accounted for the maximum cases of cancer of the mouth even in the adolescent and the young.

Harmful effects of tobacco

Nicotine found in tobacco products are not just a powerful addictive substance but could act on various parts of the body and make you subject to a large number of health problems and diseases. The most harmful effects of tobacco start off when nicotine that is present in tobacco products goes through the lungs and is soon transmitted to the brain. The use of tobacco could also result in the rapid beating of the heart, drawing and pushing more of blood and could cause the heart to work harder due to the constriction of veins and arteries.
 
In addition, carbon monoxide one of the most toxic chemicals found in tobacco smoke could retard the ability of red blood cells transport life saving oxygen to bodily tissues. It is again important to note that the tissues in the heart and brain would start working harder, with this leading to not thickening of the walls, but higher risks for possible heart failure. It is also true that users of tobacco products they become dependent on them and have very unpleasant symptoms like heart rate changes, increased appetite, blood pressure, digestion problems and other symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, nausea, irritability, and fatigue.

You would surely know that people take tobacco to stimulate them, but it is common to hear from chain smokers that it relaxes them. The satisfaction of this physical craving of smokers is what makes them inhale nicotine.
Some harmful facts about tobacco include increased incidences of cancers of the mouth, larynx, kidney, throat, lungs, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, bladder, uterus, and cervix, in addition to heart attacks, stroke, fatal heart failure, cardiovascular disease and leukemia. 

In addition the risk for pulmonary diseases like pneumonia, emphysema, sinusitis, bronchitis, and tracheitis is high. The ill-effects of tobacco also include complications in reproduction for women like premature birth, miscarriage, low birth weight, birth defects and other development defects. Deprivation of oxygen and lack of appetite for healthy foods caused by consumption of tobacco could lead to stunted growth and development of the fetus.

Once a smoker realizes some harmful facts about tobacco, it is best they make an attempt to give up smoking slowly but surely; for nicotine is addictive and all substances that are addictive require slow withdrawal.

Smoking is harmful for the body

Smoking is very easy to get addicted to, causes harm to various parts of the body, but is very difficult to give up. Probably this is the reason that cigarettes are referred to as cancer sticks that reach and cause harm to each part of the body. It has been found that smoking cause about 4000 harmful chemicals, out of which about 50 are well known to cause cancer; it is shocking to note that smoking increases the risk to about 15 different cancers. A recent research has brought out the statistics that by 2015, we would find that about 2.1 million cases of cancer each year will be attributable to smoking tobacco. In addition the American Cancer Society has published its findings that states that about 169800 women died of cancer in 2009 with most dying either of lung or bronchus cancer.

Your lips, mouth, nose, sinuses, throat, and larynx are the most affected as they are exposed to smoke as you inhale and exhale smoke and when you cough to bring out the mucus that is trapped in the lungs. So it is found to be safe to have screening of oral cancer done during dental check-ups.

And best to consult your doctor when certain symptoms like a persistent earache on one side, a red-and-white or red sore or a painless patch of discolored tissue anywhere inside your mouth, a painless hard lump under your jaw, followed by any alteration in your voice, or difficulty chewing or swallowing that doesn’t heal for over 2 weeks.

Next smoking tobacco exposes the tissue lining your esophagus, stomach and entire gastrointestinal tract to toxic chemicals that moves into your blood stream and digestive system. This is the reason that more than 60% of the smokers are at a risk to develop stomach cancer than non-smokers. In addition your kidneys, bladder and pancreas could also be affected, with cigarette smoking leading to urothelial cancer that generally affects your kidney and its connected orgns and the bladder.
 
It is also true that toxins from smoking tobacco gets accumulated in cervical mucus from the blood stream and aggravates the action of human papilloma virus, that is responsible for cervical cancer. This is the reason why female smokers are subject to cervical cancer, and it is found that female smokers that are not 30 are less at risk to develop human papilloma virus antibodies than those that do not smoke. Smoking similarly increases the risk of getting leukemia, with smoking increasing the rate of recovery and survival among acute leukemia patients.

It is true that inhaled tobacco smoke affects the lungs the most, with the risk of developing lung cancer being 13 times higher in female smokers as compared to non-smokers.

How can smoking affect your lungs

The most adverse affect of smoking on the lungs is that it affects the effective intake of oxygen. As you know oxygen is essential for the very important function of respiration. When we breathe in and out the lungs expand and contract as air fills in and is released. But when you smoke, air and smoke are pumped in at the same time. This affects the cilia, the tiny hairs in the lungs that do the work of filtering out particles of dust and other foreign material.

It is found that the clogging of the cilia reduces its capacity to filter dirt and other harmful chemicals in the cigarette smoke. This leads to its being deposited and accumulating in the linings of the lungs or alveoli. It is to be realized that a clogged alveoli hampers the effective exchange of oxygen and carbon-di-oxide that ultimately leads to shortage of oxygen supply to the heart.

It is again important to note that if you smoke the lungs lose their effectiveness to expand and contract normally, with tar being the main culprit. When the lungs does not expand and contract normally during inhaling and exhaling, these tissues could also get rigid with excessive smoking and lose their characteristic of elasticity over time. When the lungs remain expanded for a very long time it becomes difficult to exhale leading to a condition that is known as emphysema.

It is again important to note that cigarettes contain cancer causing substances that could lead to a film like deposit called tar inside the lungs. This build-up of tar continuously could lead to cell degeneration that leads to break-up of cells inside the lungs that could lead to lung cancer. It could also lead to smoker’s hack that is characterized with coughing violently and spitting out of phlegm.

It is again important to note that clogging of mucus that is caused by cigarette tar sticking to the tiny hairs along the nasal and throat passage is what causes smoker cough that is the attempt of the body to forcibly release the clogged mucus off impurities and other harmful chemicals.

Lastly it is important to realize that nicotine is an addictive substance found in cigarette and other tobacco products that hampers all parts of the body. The harm done by constricting of blood vessels could take a toll on the heart too. The heart needs to pump harder throughout life to provide the lungs and all parts of the body with oxygenated blood.
 

Smoking and your body

Smoking brings to mind the fact that it affects many parts of the human body starting from the mouth to the lungs and bronchi, the heart, and the other body organs. Smoking puts you at a risk of cancer of mouth, gun disease, tooth decay and bad breath with teeth acquiring an unsightly yellow color and narrowing of blood vessels leading to life threatening diseases like stroke and heart attacks. It is true that gases like hydrogen cyanide and other chemicals that reach the bronchi and then the lungs could cause serious damage to the bronchi lining by inflaming it and causing smokers cough. In addition the mucus secretions of the lungs could also be seriously impaired with smokers being 10 times more likely to get emphysema and lung cancer. 

In addition smoking could affect other systems like the digestive system, with increased acid secretion in the stomach causing heart burns and ulcers. It is also seen that smoking accounts for the highest rates of the deadly cancer of the pancreas, with this habit also acting as a trigger for cancers of the throat and esophagus. It is still more significant to note that smoking cigarettes excretes many cancer causing substances that are secreted through the urine and could be one of the most prominent risks for cancer in the bladder. Again smoking is found to cause blood pressure that could hamper the functioning of the kidney. 

It cannot be denied that smoking causes over 230,000 deaths due to cardiovascular diseases. Smoking can have devastating effects with nicotine raising the blood pressure and leading to the deposit of bad cholesterol on the arteries. This could lead to poor blood circulation, heart attacks, loss of effective circulation of blood and also impotency. In addition cigarette smoking could cause atherosclerosis, stroke, angina and peripheral artery disease. In addition women that smoke increase the risk of cervical cancer, with pregnant smoking women have babies that are born still or underweight and with a lot of health problems. 

How smoking can affect the heart
 
Cigarette smoking is the most known cause for coronary heart disease that could present itself as angina and heart attacks. Presenting 3 times the risk than for non-smokers, coronary heart disease occurs when the arteries that carry blood to the heart vessels gets either blocked or narrowed with deposits of fatty substances. Called atherosclerosis this could bring about angina that is a severe pain bought about in the chest by exertion and relieved with rest or it could be a heart attack where a part of the heart muscle is dead due to the deprivation of oxygen.
 
Smoking is the cause for heart attacks in men under the age of 45, with heavy smokers having 10 to 15 times the chance of getting fatal heart attacks than non-smokers. It is again worthwhile in noting that even light smokers have an increased risk of coronary heart disease, with many women that just smoked about 1 to 4 cigarettes having about 2 ½ times the risk for coronary heart diseases than non-smoker women.
 
Inhaling tobacco smoke could cause instant responses within the heart that starts off with increase in heart rate by more than 30%. Nicotine present in tobacco is responsible for this because it leads to narrowing and constricting of arteries. In turn it is also responsible for increasing the resistance for the blood flow that is responsible for the increase in blood pressure. Next it is the carbon monoxide in tobacco smoke that plays the role in reducing the ability of the blood to carry oxygen.

Carbon monoxide, an important byproduct of tobacco smoke has always played the role of boosting the level of cholesterol in the blood, increases the level of white blood cells and has been the prominent cause of heart attacks. It is this gas that hampers the blood’s ability to transport oxygen throughout the body. Carbon monoxide not only adversely affects the heart’s ability to transfer oxygenated blood throughout the body, but it also causes damage to the arteries lining and increases the rate at which the plaque builds up on the arteries.

It is but natural that atherosclerosis or the arteries in the heart getting clogged with plaque makes the affected smoker to experience not just pressure in the chest, left arm and jaw, but also pain. These symptoms of angina could ultimately cause the heart muscle to die and lead to heart attack. The hard pumping of the heart and its effort to overcome the resistance caused by plaque in the arteries could lead to tissues in the heart becoming thicker and less efficient and ultimately leading to congestive heart failure or disease.

It is also vital to note that blood cholesterol levels are impacted by smoking, with increased fibrinogen levels and platelet counts making the blood more sticky and also being easily attached to the hemoglobin in the blood and bringing about reduction in the life saving oxygen that is to be available to the tissues. It is true that smoking increases the total cholesterol by the chemicals present in cigarettes and is also instrumental in raising the bad cholesterol and bringing down the amount of good cholesterol or HDL.  Smoking cigarettes has also been said to be associated with higher levels of triglycerides.

All this goes to the how can smoking affect your heart.

Pregnancy and smoking

Smoking may be pleasurable to many women, but it is very significant to know that smoking is one of the predominant causes for infertility and complications during pregnancy and childbirth in women. It is very necessary to note that smoking can cause adverse consequences to the unborn baby, with babies being born premature, being too small or underweight at birth and babies being born still. It is again significant to note that babies that are of low weight could also develop serious problems like a mental retardation, learning problems, and cerebral palsy. Again smoking is the most leading cause for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) after birth.

The smoke from cigarettes contains more than 4000 harmful chemicals, the most significant and dangerous being cyanide, lead, and about 60 chemicals causing cancer. Again the toxins get into the blood stream of the baby and cause deficiencies of oxygen and other nutrients.  Prominent gynecologists and obstetricians are of the opinion that many of the complications can be treated by effective medications and other treatments, provided women gave up smoking to protect their and their babies’ health in the womb.
 
Firstly smoking affects the fertility of women greatly. It accelerates the rate at which the woman’s eggs become unstable and is also responsible for early menopause in women. It is significant to note that this drop in the years of fertility by about 40% as compared to non-smokers, these women also take longer to conceive. In many cases the way to normally conceive becomes very difficult or sometimes impossible. In addition to difficulty and longer time to conceive, many smoking women are faced with the increased risks of low-weight babies, and increased miscarriages caused by abnormalities in chromosomes.

In addition it is significant to note that men that smoke also face problems in fertility and can become unable or find it difficult to make a woman conceive. Men suffer not just with low sperm count and motility, but could also have difficulty in the movement of sperms and have a damaged and changed DNA. This not only affects the quality of the sperm, but could act as the worst deterrent to conception and pregnancy in ones partner.  Next smoking affects not only general health, but smoking 20 cigarettes a day lead to lower concentrations of protamines, an integral part of cell division that ensures correct chromosomal formation during conception.

Smoking and the baby in the womb

You would surely give up smoking when you realize that it could harm your baby in the womb significantly. Smoking causes a shortage of oxygen in the blood and you would surely agree that this shortage would act as a great deterrent to the growth and development of the baby. So it is not rare to find children of smoking mothers being born of very less birth weight, sometimes less than even 5 pounds. It is best to understand that just drinking a pack of cigarettes each day could bring down the weight of the unborn baby by about half a pound, in addition to delivering babies with stunted growth in the womb and complications for a lifetime.

It is still more significant that babies are born premature, with premature delivery leading to even complications as emergency C-sections and babies born still or being subject to sudden infant death syndrome and asthma after birth. Next it is important to note that babies that are undersized and underweight also have under-developed bodies. It is quite possible that the infant’s lungs are not well-developed to take up its function on its own.

This may involve them being kept attached respirators or in an incubator for a few weeks. In addition there is a risk of such newborns having problems in breathing for a very long time, with the added risks of asthma and other respiratory disorders. You would consider it worthwhile not to smoke before and after getting pregnant when you realize that smoking leads to children with impaired brain structure that shows up as learning disorders, relatively low IQ’s and behavioral problems.

Smoking mothers may find the incentive to give up smoking when they discover that smoking during the first trimester of pregnancy would increase the chances of the newborn being born with heart defects several times. You would be shocked to know that if you smoke, you would increase the chance of your baby being born with the risk of certain types of congenital heart defects by about 70% more than mothers that did not smoke. Your motivation as a smoking mother would still increase when you realize that you would be putting your newborn to defects like the obstructed flow of blood from the right side of the heart into the lungs and openings between the upper chambers of the heart. 

Ultimately the solution to eliminating the ill-effects of smoking in the newborn lies in the action plan to quit smoking. It is best to quit even before one conceives, for this would help you conceive sooner. Your motivation lies in thinking best for your child and planning to eat a healthy and balanced diet exercise well and prepare yourself positively for the birth of the child coupled with the thoughts of having a healthy well developed child. This is more easily said than done, but is definitely possible with the help of support anon groups that have helped those with the strong motivation to quit smoking.

Is nicotine harmful for the body

You must have realized that smoking is harmful for health and once a person gets addicted to smoking it is very difficult to give it up. It is a well known fact that cigarettes can cause cancer due to about 4000 harmful chemicals that are present in it, with more than 50 chemicals being instrumental in increasing the risk of over 15 different types of cancer.  It is estimated that smoking tobacco would lead to about 2.1 million cancer deaths by the year 2015, but it is to be understood that smoking causes these deaths. There is a controversy whether nicotine actually leads to lung cancer, or is it just a myth. 

You would definitely know that nicotine is an active component of most tobacco products and is responsible for the feeling of high that is felt by most people when they smoke. It creates a feeling of relaxation and calmness when taken in small doses, with its psychoactive properties extending to an increase in heart rate and energy in the person. It is however to be realized that nicotine that is a colorless liquid and smells like tobacco turns brown when it is burnt and plays the role of altering the chemistry of the brain and you could get addicted to it with use.

But there is a controversy regarding whether nicotine is really addictive, with many research on the subject showing that nicotine is actually not addictive nor does it cause cancer. It is actually the chemicals that are found in cigarettes that make it addictive; this has been proved by the fact that once people start using nicotine patches and gums it becomes much easier to kick off the habit of being dependent on nicotine than trying to quit the smoking habit without these devices. Also the addiction to nicotine can be traced to the social and psychological patterns created by using nicotine products and is more of a chemical issue.

Again nicotine does not necessarily cause lung cancer; this is evident from the fact that nicotine gums and patches would otherwise not be available so easily over the counter.  This may bring you into thinking that what then in cigarettes actually causes lung cancer. It is best to understand that it is just the smoke that is generated by smoking tobacco leaves. These tobacco leaves generate gases like carbon monoxide, free radicals, tar and other substances that actually act on the lung tissues and cause cell damage and cancerous tumors.

It is the smoke that goes in with fresh air that affects and clogs the cilia or fair hairs inside the lungs and results in their getting clogged and reducing their capacity to filter out dust and other foreign particles. The further depositing of tar and harmful chemicals on the lining of the lungs hinders free exchange of oxygen and carbon-di-oxide leading to the shortage of oxygen in the blood that is circulated. 

The effect of nicotine – nicotine does not cause cancer

Nicotine has a similar chemical structure as neurotransmitters in the brain that allows it to activate not only the receptors in the brain, but also those in the other parts of the body like the heart, peripheral nervous system, adrenal glands and the muscles. These receptors have been active in the various functions of the body like muscle movement, heart rate, learning, memory and muscle movement, so nicotine affects these functions and makes them a bit abnormal.

Nicotine that can be addictive is responsible for causing its spontaneous release within the brain and this affect your moods, appetite and memory in addition to other bodily systems like the cardiovascular system and the respiratory system. Nicotine also causes a higher blood sugar due to the release of glucose from the pancreas.
 
It is still more significant to find that nicotine releases a neurotransmitter dopamine that is found to produce a feeling of pleasure and reward in the brain. Yes it is true that nicotine selectively damages the brain like other addictions like amphetamines, cocaine, and ecstasy and affects the fibers in the brain that control emotional control, sexual arousal, REM sleep and seizures.

It is again to be realized that nicotine is quickly metabolized and its effect is short lived and it may totally be absent within a few hours, hence there is the need for smoking or fulfilling the need to take it in some form again.

So multiple doses of nicotine are needed to prolong its effect, but multiple dosages of nicotine also create a tolerance within the body and initiates further intake.  So abstaining from smoking and nicotine withdrawal syndrome may last for a month, though the craving takes a few months to get over. The withdrawal symptoms for nicotine too could range from irritability to attention deficits, and sleep disturbances to increased appetite.

As a last note, nicotine does not directly cause lung cancer, but it could turn addictive with time, but there is ample research to find out ways by which the same positive effects of heightened awareness and strengthened short term memory can be created and sustained without the ill-effects of nicotine.
 

Understand about tobacco and smoking

The question can smoking cause mouth cancer is answered in the affirmative. It is very important to note that tobacco in cigarettes are harmful to both smokers and non-smokers as they contain over 250 harmful chemicals like cyanide, carbon-monxide and ammonia. Smoking causes various types of cancer like cancers of the kidney, bladder, pancreas, stomach lung, esophagus, cervix, acute myeloid leukemia, larynx, mouth, and throat. It has been known by research that chemicals like arsenic, benzene, beryllium, 1-3 butadiene, formaldehyde, cadmium, benzo(a)pyrene, ethylene oxide, nickel, toluene, polonium-210 and vinyl chloride cause cancers of different types.

Smoking may provide a temporary feeling of elation among smokers, but this mood would be blown away when smoker realize that smoking has affected millions of people all over the world by affecting every part of their body and lead to the diminishing of overall physical, mental and emotional health. Besides various forms of cancer, smoking has been the most prominent cause for heart disease, aortic aneurysm, stroke, asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, hip fractures, cataracts, pneumonia and other infections in the air passage.

Besides it is significant to note that smoking is also the greatest risk factor for erectile dysfunction. Sudden infant death syndrome and abnormally low birth weight are some of the risk factors in pregnant women smokers.
 
It is prominent to note that smoking contributes the highest number of premature deaths, with about 40% dying of cancer, 35% dying of heart disease and stroke and about 6% from lung diseases. So it is contended that regardless of age, smokers could considerably reduce their risk of disease by giving up smoking.

Can second hand and third hand smoking cause harm

You need not always be a smoker to be afflicted with harmful disease and conditions of heart, lung, respiratory tract and stroke besides cancer, just inhaling environmental tobacco smoke, involuntary smoking, or passive smoking can cause these conditions.

So living with a smoker could also expose you to the same health hazards like a smoker. Secondhand smoke increases your risk of heart disease by about 25 to 30%, with children undergoing excessive risks for SIDS, ear infections, colds, pneumonia, bronchitis, and more severe asthma. Exposure to secondhand smoke slows the growth of children’s lungs, makes them turn breathless and makes them cough and wheeze.

Third hand smoke that has just recently come into the limelight is also a prominent factor that causes the ill-effects of smoking. This is caused even by an infant’s unintentional exposure to the unburned tobacco and tobacco smoke. It could be also come from contact with the carpet of the room used by the smoker or his or her clothes.

This is a potential hazard especially to infants and toddlers. Smoking outdoors does not essentially help as the smoking residues come along with the smoker indoors and enter even an infant’s body through the skin.

Yes, smoking can cause mouth cancer

It is astonishing to note that just in the United States Of America there were about 30,00 new cases of mouth cancer, with about 8000 patients dying each year. This is a cause of great concern as smoking cause cancers of the mouth or oral cancers of the mesopharynx, lip, salivary glands, tongue,  floor of the mouth, and hypopharynx  in about 90% men and 60% women that are afflicted. It is still more significant to find that all forms of tobacco are harmful and cause mouth cancer.

Chewing tobacco in the form of loose leaves, plugs or twists of rope with spitting or swallowing the tobacco can cause mouth cancer as also snuff. Snuff that is cut or powdered tobacco sold in different scents and flavors is also harmful as it is placed between the cheeks and gums or behind the upper or lower lip. It is also harmful to inhale moist snuff into the nose. Pipes, hookahs, bidis and kreteks are equally causes for mouth cancer.

It is true that cigarettes contain many cancer-causing agents or carcinogens that not only stain the smoker’s teeth, but also his or her fingers. It is significant to note that the level of risk for mouth cancer depends largely on how long the person has been smoking and the number of cigarettes he smokes in a day.

Understanding the connection between mouth cancer and smoking requires knowing that long term smoking increases the time of exposure to carcinogens that plays a negative role in suppressing immunity. These cancer causing agents then play the role of altering the functions that are played by the oncogenes and genes that suppress tumors in the tissues in the mouth. You would then see the uncontrolled cell growth that marks the onset of pre-cancer conditions in the mouth.

Knowing the first signs of mouth cancer could help in early detection and cure. There could be persistent white or red patches in the mouth.  Some more of the significant symptoms could include persistent mouth or lip sores, a lump in the throat, tongue, or mouth followed by difficulty in swallowing or chewing, voice changes and an unusual long-lasting sore throat.

It is found that neglect has lead to the death of many in just 5 years. The adage, “Early detection helps cure”, requires undergoing a simple and painless examination. It is best to ask your dentist and primary care to examine your mouth regularly. The treatment of mouth cancer lies only in radiation therapy and surgery.

To conclude oral cancer can be prevented by avoiding all forms of tobacco products and drinking alcohol. Quitting smoking could help to slowly but surely decrease risk of mouth cancer and a second cancer in the long run.

What is Asthma?

Asthma or Reactive Airway Disease (RAD) is a chronic inflammation of the human lungs which causes disorder of its airways. Due to asthma, the bronchial membranes get swollen, muscles in the airway get tightened and excess mucous is produced which block airway and makes it narrow. Hence the asthmatic patient will have difficulty in breathing.

Need for knowing Why do people get asthma?

People should be aware of why they get affected by asthma. This is because asthma means the lung membranes have become over sensitive due to some triggers or causes. So by finding out why do people get asthma, those triggering factors can be avoided and asthma attacks can be prevented.

Why do People Get Asthma?

People get asthma either due to external agents or the internal reactions that happens within the body. People get asthma due to specific factors such as pollen, dust, fur, chemicals, medicines, occupational exposure etc. Some factors are non-specific such as cold, smoke, pollution etc.

What are the triggers of Asthma?

Various triggers or causes due to which people get asthma are listed below:

Exercise: Some people get asthma due to their regular exercises. This exercise induced asthma attack can be prevented by taking preventive medicines and tying a scarf around the nose before starting the regular exercises. Such people should avoid cold/dry air and they should be in warm or moist air. People can also change their exercises if possible. Indoor games and summer sports like swimming are much preferable for outdoor games such as football and winter sports like skiing.

Heartburn or Reflux Esophagitis: People get asthma attack due to heartburn too. This affects in the night time when the person is lying flat on the bed. Due to acid reflux, the acid leaks into the swallowing tube, throat and the entire breathing passage causing wheezing and choking. If asthma is not triggered by cold, respiratory irritation or allergens, then it means reflux has triggered asthma in that asthmatic patient.

Allergies or Exposure to Allergens: Asthma in 75% of the asthmatic children are triggered by allergies such as dust, dietary changes and genetic factors from parents. Asthma attacks in such cases can be avoided by undergoing immunotherapy or medication for asthma.

Respiratory Infections: People might get asthma due to respiratory infections such as cold. This will lead to asthma and wheezing. Weather changes such as humidity, temperature, changes in barometric pressure also act as triggers to asthma.

Stress: Asthma occurs due to stress as well. The stress can be emotional or physical. Reduction of stress avoids blood pressure and asthma.

What is Wheezing?

Wheezing is a symptom mostly associated with asthma where a whistling sound is produced continuously in the respiratory tract while breathing. The sound is in high pitch while inhaling. It results in disturbed sleep due to labor breathing and whistling sound.

What causes Wheezing in Asthma?

Wheezing is caused due to shortness of breath or some allergic reaction. When the bronchiolar smooth muscle is constricted in asthma patient, the airflow is narrowed in the respiratory tract. The whistling sound or wheezing is caused when this airflow is obstructed by the excess mucous. Due to this wheezing problem, asthma is also called as Reactive Airway Disease (RAD).

What causes Wheezing in Kids and Infants?

About a million of kids and infants in the world are affected by wheezing due to asthma. Wheezing in kids mostly starts at the age of 6 but very rarely from the age of 3. Kids and infants are mostly affected due to the family history where their parents are affected by allergies and asthma. For infants, it is difficult to diagnose if wheezing has occurred due to asthma as the infants do not cooperate for the lung function tests. If a baby has got infection in the respiratory track, the babys small airways is swollen and blocked with excess mucous easily than adults there by leading to wheezing. As the infants airways are very small, it is difficult for the Doctor to diagnose that this wheezing is caused by asthma as the diagnosis is based on location of wheeze.

Natural Treatment for Wheezing in Asthma

When patient with allergic asthma has wheezing, care should be taken to avoid exposure to allergy or infection. Consume some ginger and one whole garlic everyday. Consuming tea made by boiling tea leaves along with feverfew also reduces wheezing. Disinfecting the patients lungs is possible by performing a steam inhalation with tea tree oil. Respiratory inhalers, vaporizer, hot shower, warm moist air etc. reduces wheezing.

Medicines to Control Wheezing in Asthma

Wheezing in Asthma can also be controlled by consuming medicines prescribed by the medical practitioner. The medical practitioner will test the patient, diagnose the cause of wheezing and then prescribe the medicines. Here are the commonly prescribed medications for Asthma, but they have to be consumed as per medical practitioners advice:

1.Inhaler and Primatene mist gives fast and reliable relief from Wheezing.

2.Over-the-counter drugs, inhalers and tablets relax the airway muscles and thus give relief from wheezing.

3.Epinephrine aerosol inhaler gives temporary (few hours) but fast relief.

4.Ephedrine tablets give long lasting relief for wheezing but the tablet takes half-an-hour to react after consumption.

What are Swollen Glands under Chin?What Causes Swollen Glands under Chin?

There are several factors causing the swelling of glands under the chin. They are:

1.Virus and Bacterial Infections: The common and major cause for the swollen glands under chin is infection due to virus which leads to common cold. There are
also other types such as bacterial and parasitic infections which also causes swelling of glands under the chin. This infection increases the count of white blood cells for responding to the foreign object and hence the swelling of gland happens.

2.Other Common Infections: Apart from virus and bacterial infections, there are other common infections that cause swollen glands under chin. Those infections
are: measles, strep throat, abscessed or infected tooth; wound infections like erysipelas or cellulitis, ear infections, HIV which causes AIDS, flu, cold, mononucleosis. These infections lead to swelling of glands in neck, swelling of glands under chin, mouth sore, tonsillitis, gingivitis, and skin infections.

3.Occurrence of Tuberculosis, Cat Scratch Fever, and Syphilis: Some uncommon infections such as tuberculosis, sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis and
cat scratch fever which is an infection from bacteria by cat bite or scratch can also be the cause of swollen glands under chin.

4.Toxoplasmosis: Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection which results from the contact with feces of infected cat or by taking undercooked meat. This
Toxoplasmosis can also cause swollen glands under chin.

5.Blood Cancer: The malignant and uncontrolled multiplication of the lymphocytes as in leukemia and lymphoma causes swelling of glands under the chin.

6.Disorders in Immune System: Disorders in the immune system can also cause this condition. One such disorder is lupus, an inflammatory disease that targets
skin, joints, blood cells, heart, lungs and kidney. Other one is rheumatoid arthritis- which targets the tissues that line up the joints.

7.Side Effects of Medications: In rare cases, the side effects of medications such as anti seizure medications like phenytoin and malaria preventive medications
can also cause swollen glands under the chin.

8.Epstein Barr Virus: This is a kind of virus which is the major reason for tonsillitis and also swelling of glands under the chin.

9.Improper Diet: Lack of nutrient foods and improper diet is an indirect cause for the swollen glands under the chin.

10.Other Rare Causes: Anxiety and depression, chronic constipation, osteoarthritis and carpel tunnel syndrome are other rare causes of swollen glands under
chin.

Understanding respiratory infection

Breathing that we consider vital for life can turn difficult for some people when they suffer from respiratory infection. This infection affects the respiratory system that consists of the lungs, bronchial tubes, upper respiratory tract, trachea, pleural cavity and the nerves and muscles responsible for respiration, with some causing inflammatory lung diseases, obstructive lung diseases, restrictive lung diseases, respiratory tract infections, pleural cavity diseases and pulmonary vascular diseases.

It is worth noting that respiratory infection cannot be always taken easy, as some like pulmonary embolism or bacterial pneumonia could prove a threat to life. Again respiratory infection could prove to be a great problem in children and restrict their activities, however parents could help children overcome them with setting a balanced of protection and not being overprotective. Some great home remedies for respiratory infection have really worked.

Great home remedies for respiratory infection

Respiratory infections can make you very weak and also bring down immunity, so consuming a balanced and nutritious diet helps. Eat foods rich in Vitamins would help fight infection. Consuming abundance of green leafy vegetables like carrots, spinach, fenugreek leaves helps. In addition, it would be best to consume abundance of betacarotenes that is present in yams, apricots, radish, lemon, carrots, spinach, onions and tomatoes. It is best to also take advantage of getting your abundance of vitamins and minerals that is found in legumes, fresh fish, food grains, milk products and milk of low fat and lean poultry and meat.

Milk and its products like cheese, low fat cheese, yogurt, and cottage cheese would give you lots of calcium, vitamins and minerals. Consuming legumes, sprouts, pulses, and cereals would provide dietary fiber, iron, Vitamin E, B vitamins, and magnesium. Vitamin C is vital for increasing resistance to infections, maintenance of body tissues and antibiotic properties. Vitamin C rich foods and supplements upto 75mg a day would help increase vitality and neutralize toxing in the system and effect cure
Spices have always proved great as home remedies for respiratory infection to ward off infections. The warming and pungent effect of cloves have proved very effective in increasing the heat in the stomach and stimulating the function of the liver and promoting better blood circulation. One cannot easily forget the powerful antiseptic effect that cloves have on infections.

Some best home remedies for respiratory infection include adding spices and herbs like nutmeg, cardamom, cinnamon, horseradish, ginger, onions, and garlic in your daily diet by adding them to stews, soups, or salads. Burdock, another herb helps to get over allergies and cold symptoms, with most herbs helping clear phlegm and other infections.

Respiratory infections could cause blocking in the nasal cavity and throat, so steam inhalations have worked wonders as home remedies for respiratory infection. Steam serves the best when herbs are added to it and the steam in inhaled. It is better to cover yourself with a thick towel while inhaling in steam. Inhaling steam for 15 to 20 minutes will help clear the nasal cavity and sinuses. Spending time in the closed bathroom with hot water turned on or a water sauna would help promote perspiration with promoting better breathing.

These great home remedies for respiratory infections are sure to work.

What is Throat Candida Infection?

Throat Candida infection is also known as Candida Albicans throat infection. A person is infected when there is an overgrowth of Candida fungus. This fungus lives naturally in the digestive tract. As per human physiology, when the body is healthy and immune to diseases, it can control the spread of Candida fungus. But due to stress or by consuming medications like antibiotics or oral contraceptives, Candida throat infection may occur resulting in the spread of oral yeast infection. Patients suffering from Aids, diabetes and cancer, dry mouth and pregnant ladies are more prone to get this infection.

Throat Candida Symptoms

The main symptom of throat candida is overgrowth of the yeast inside the throat, and is very painful. Patient experiences difficulty in swallowing due to inflammation. The inflammation is caused by large amount of Candida present in the throat. The other symptoms are burning sensations in throat and altered taste, usually while eating very spicy or sweet foods. When Candida throat infection spreads to the esophagus it is called esophageal Candidiasis, a quite common infection in people with weak immune systems. As it is present deep inside the throat, it is difficult to detect during an oral examination. An endoscope is prescribed to identify this kind of Candidiasis. Esophageal Candidiasis can cause pain and difficulty, combined with chest pain as well. If esophageal Candidiasis is not diagnosed and treated it may lead to serious respiratory problem.

Typical symptom of throat Candida is the appearance of whitish, soft velvety plaques on the mouth and mucous membranes of the tongue. The tongue is covered by a pasty and stale coating with foul smell. This condition is also seen inside the cheeks, under the tongue and also in the back of the throat. In extreme cases there is lot of unwanted weight loss as a result of adverse pain in swallowing which leads to less eating. This symptom is usually combined with fever, dizziness, hair loss and swollen throat. When this infection reaches the esophagus, the patient will experience severe itching in the throat. Other visible signs of this infection are pale or heavily coated tongue and cracks around the corners of the mouth.

Throat Candida, when overgrown in the throat, usually appears like white spots. These white spots give a creamy feeling.In many cases, bleeding may take place when the whitish material is scraped. The other symptoms include nausea and chest pain. Patients may also experience a feeling of food getting stuck in the throat region or the mid-chest area. That can also spread across different portions of the body. The organs affected by the infection include the lungs, the liver and the skin. Spreading of the infection mostly takes place in people suffering with HIV, cancer or any other condition that causes the weakness of the immune system

Acknowledge the fact that you have to live and manage asthma

Asthma that is caused by allergies and other causes and requires a long term treatment and care. It also requires the building and management of an asthma care and prevention plan that requires you to set up a partnership with your specialist for an effective action plan. A definite asthma management plan that covers methods for prevention of asthma not only identifies triggers, but also effective management when the asthmatic symptoms worsen.

An action plan involves not just making one but involving even younger asthmatic children in their effective management, with making provisions for regular check-ups and knowing when medical care and advice is absolutely necessary. Learning the correct and effective use of medications with recording of asthmatic attacks to ensure how effectively they have been managed with the lungs working well is important. These steps will help you keep track of things that would enable your specialist to render quality medical care.

Learn the prevention for asthma for quality health and life

Prevention of asthma and building up a quality health and life requires eliminating or minimizing the use of things that cause allergies or worsen the asthmatic symptoms. This cannot be just told at a glance, but require a close study of all the everyday things that set off or worsen the symptoms of breathlessness and wheezing, typical of asthma attacks. Once the triggers/and causes are found out steps should be taken to control and eliminate them.

It is quite evident that some may get attacks of asthma due to smoke and pollution, while others may get it during climatic changes when the level of pollen in the environment is more. Some may also be allergic to gases polluted with burning fireworks. Then the prevention of asthma lies in limiting the time spent outdoors and also aiming at getting effective maintenance of heating and cooling systems. If animal dander and fur triggers an attack it is best to avoid keeping pets or at least avoiding their coming into the house especially the bedroom.

Prevention of asthma in special groups of people:
Prevention of asthma and its treatment in children younger than 5 years could be tricky and the doctor is the best judge whether they should be given long term medications or treated with quick relief medications. This would mainly depend on their assessment if asthmatic symptoms would prevail above the age of 6 years. Inhaled corticosteroids can slow the growth of children, so can poorly controlled asthma. So inhaled corticosteroids or Montelukast are generally given as on a trial basis for about 6 weeks and stopped if no benefits are seen.

Older Adults present another group of people that could experience difficulties in prevention of asthma due to the various medicines like beta blockers, aspirin and other pain relievers, and anti-inflammatory medicines they take. Taken together the asthma medications could worsen asthma symptoms and also lead to weak bones when inhaled corticosteroids are taken in high doses. This would require taking calcium and Vitamin D supplements.

Pregnant Women pose special problems for prevention of asthma because insufficient oxygen supply leads to underweight and premature babies. It is advisable and safe to continue asthma prevention medications, but the doctor would be the best judge to adjust and administer your asthma control plan.

With knowledge about prevention of asthma, you would be able to effect better management of your condition.

Candida Glabrata is non-dimorphic haploid yeast. The occurrence of candida glabrata can be treated using anti-fungals, probiotic treatment, anti-pyretics, oxygen therapy, boric acid and in extreme cases, using a surgery. An overview on these treatment options is covered below.

Candida Glabrata Treatment with Anti-fungals

The mucosal infections of Candida Glabrata like thrush and esophagitis are usually mild. These can be treated with oral anti-fungals for two to three weeks, twice a day. Anti-fungals can be used in the form of ointment for external application in treating skin and vaginal infections.

Candida Glabrata Treatment with Probiotic Treatment

Probiotics are a natural and popular remedy in treating yeast infection. These are live microbial organisms that are existing in the vagina and in the digestive tract. Probiotics are referred to as friendly bacteria as they suppress the excessive growth of non-friendly yeast such as Candida. Probiotics are available as oral supplements. Very high potency of probiotics is significantly effective in treating Candida. The intestines have to be flooded with friendly, beneficial bacteria to ensure that there is no room for yeast and harmful bacteria to thrive.

Candida Glabrata Treatment with Anti-pyretics

Anti-pyretics namely aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen are used to bring down the fever associated with Candida Glabrata. These drugs are available in the pharmacy across the counter. However, experts warn that aspirin should not be used by children whose age is less than 18 years, if consumed then it may lead to serious side effect called Reyes syndrome. This syndrome can lead to the swelling of the liver or the brain.

Candida Glabrata Treatment with Oxygen Therapy

Oxygen therapy is given to treat shortness of breath. Shortness of breath is a common infection of Candia Glabrata in the brain, bloodstream and lungs. Oxygen therapy involves administration of oxygen using facial mask or a nasal cannula.

Treatment for stress in Candida Glabrata Treatment

The women suffering because of frequent vaginal yeast infections often show symptoms of being under chronic stress. According to experts, chronic stress plays a role in frequent yeast infections. Treatment to reduce stress, along with medication, is essential. Change in the life style is also necessary to help reduce Candida Glabrata.

Boric acid for the yeast infection like Candida Glabrata

Boric acid vaginal insertions have been found to treat the infections caused by yeast in women with diabetes better than anti-fungal pills. Studies show that the infection, when treated daily with boric acid vaginal suppositories or insertions for a period of 14 days, is cured better.

Surgical alternative in the treatment of Candida Glabrata

Candida Glabrata infections associated with prosthetic valves may require removal of tissues that are infected or surgical drainage. A combination of surgery and anti-fungals are normally required to treat prosthetic valve endocarditis.

Lets start learning about chest pains and their causes

Chest pain could arise out of various reasons that and could range in nature from mild to moderate and then severe. It could often be also associated with infections or problems in the lungs. It is observed that lung conditions that cause chest pain could be difficult to live with as the pain could be very severe. Severe chest pain usually caused by tightening of the chest muscles could be due to chest congestion that could be caused by severe bronchitis conditions or even severe respiratory infections or colds. It could also be due to pleurisy, pneumonia or a blood clot in the lungs, lung cancer or even asthma in a chronic or acute form.

It is best understood that problems in the pleural cavity in the chest could lead to problems like chest pain as there is difficulty in the expansion and contraction of the chest while breathing. Similarly lung collapse or tension pneumothorax could cause chest pain as there is a decrease in the lung space due to the air in the lungs entering the pleura. Asthma of a severe or acute form is also one condition experienced. This could also be evidenced with difficulty and shortness of breath.

Again, pleurisy or pleuritis that could be caused due to chest infection or injury could cause chest pain when the two pleural membranes rub against each other while breathing. There could also be severe breathlessness accompanied by the chest pain. In still other cases some infections that are caused by bacteria could severely obstruct the movement of air to the lungs that could again cause severe chest pain accompanied with heavy coughing and breathing difficulties. This could or not be associated with asthma and its accompanying symptoms.

Know how asthma causes chest pain

Chest pain in asthma could be very serious also as sometimes it could bring about severe constriction in the airways and also cut off supply to and from the lungs severely. This could call for immediate medical attention to remedy the situation. It is also common to experience chest tightness that could occur with other prominent symptoms of asthma like severe wheezing, difficulty and shortness of breath, and chronic coughing.

Chest pain or tightness arises out of the airways that carry the air to and from the lungs becoming severely inflamed with mucus that causes narrowing or constriction of the airways. The tightness in the muscles in the chest could be triggered by irritants in the air, water or food and could be aggravated with intense physical activity or stress caused by the tightening of the chest.

Next it is best understood that chest pain or tightness should never be ignored even if you have not had previous attacks of asthma, as medical professionals would be able to suggest an appropriate plan to avoid further attacks. Your medical professional would be in the best position to suggest steps you should take when you experience preliminary asthma symptoms, as frequent chest tightness could show that no proper control measures are taken to control the situation. Watch out for asthma that causes chest pain.

About asthma

It is very astonishing to note that more than 23 million Americans have asthma, a chronic disease of the lungs that is caused by inflammation and constriction in the airways. Asthma that is a very difficult disease could make a person breathless, cause wheezing, tightness in the chest and also cause mild to chronic coughing. Asthma has lead to poor quality of life in children and adults if left not properly managed, as the inadequate supply of oxygen from the nose and mouth could lead to improper functioning of the cells in the body.

Why do people get asthma?

The main reason for getting asthmatic attacks is the narrowing of the bronchi tubes. There is a definite cause or trigger, but such triggers need not make you asthmatic for life. Some asthmatic attacks start off with cold air, while others from vigorous exercises and still others from stress. It is not rare to find that polluted air, smoke, dust, pollen, animal dander, certain foods and even perfumes could start off asthma attacks.

It is also observed that some attacks trigger off during certain times of the year, while others may occur at any time. Every asthma attack would last for a few hours, with some also coming on a daily basis. It is also worthwhile noting that any 2 asthmatics may not suffer from the same triggers and causes. Being cautious and asthma wise would need you to avoid these triggers and causes completely, with causes holding more importance over triggers.

It is best to know that most people that suffer asthma in youth have allergic asthma that could mean that your parents, grandparents or somebody in the extended family or blood relations had asthma. It is true as most doctors contend that the reason why some people are more susceptible to asthma attacks is because asthma is also a hereditary disease and runs in some families more than others are.

Certain allergic things in the environment could also cause asthma, and it could be anything like house mites, cats and dogs or their dander or moulds. Environmental irritants like cigarette smoke, strong air sprays, disinfectants, dust mites, pollen, colognes and animal hair, and even certain foods. They could cause allergies and inflammation and irritation in the bronchia in some, making the airways swollen and sensitive and cause asthmatic symptoms.

Some other possibilities could be colds, exercise, laughter and tobacco smoke that could aggravate asthma situations. However they are more of causes and need not always cause an asthma attack. Some recent studies show that the obese account for every 3 out of 4 asthma cases of asthma, with the reason being that the obese have under expanded lungs. In addition a common observation is that the obese have low-grade systematic inflammation of the airways and also narrower airways.

With modern medicine and prompt corrective action most attacks of asthma have been considerably overcome. Most asthmatics have been asked to consider other options like yoga and low grade exercises with the advice of a medical practitioner and under a certified yoga or fitness trainer. Last, but most important the role that is played by stress and anxiety in the occurrence of asthma attacks. Stress leads to a person either hyperventilating or over breathing, that in turn could decrease the oxygen in blood, constrict the air passages and lead to panic attacks and asthmatic attacks.

All this goes to tell us why do people get asthma.

Blood pressure and its common causes

The question whether asthma causes high blood pressure would be more clear when we understand what are the common causes. As things generally look probably the answer could be both in the negative and affirmative. The most causes for high blood pressure or hypertension could be the heart beating more faster than it actually does, the narrowing of the arteries causing force in the blood flow, or the volume of blood being more than the normal volume of blood in the human body. All these conditions cause increased pressure of the blood on the walls of the artery.

It is worth knowing that increase in age along with other serious and non-serious medical conditions like chronic kidney disease, thyroid disease, and sleep apnea and certain medicines like those used in asthma and some cold relief methods, birth control pills and hormone therapy could cause hypertension. Children below the age of 10 could have hypertension due to kidney disease while those above 10 could have it due to other reasons like stress and other reasons that most adults also experience. It is best to know how does asthma cause high blood pressure.

How does asthma cause high blood pressure

The most commonly prescribed drugs for asthma is the metered dose inhaler that most of us are familiar with if you have a person suffering from asthma in your family. It is also to be realized by one and all that the use of these metered dose inhalers work in targeting beta receptor molecules only and in giving short term relief only. So their use could produce cheat tightness and difficulty in breathing within a few days and they prove ideal only for sudden and minor attacks of asthma.

In addition the answer to how does asthma cause high blood pressure goes on to further indicate to us that these beta receptor molecules only line the passages for respiration. Then these receptors get stimulated with medicines that help to expand the respiratory passages and thereby giving relief from the symptoms of asthma. Next it is important to note that the beta-receptors that most of us use familiarly used in the control of asthma symptoms also play a vital role in controlling the diameter of the blood vessels. As they work they also decrease the diameter of the blood vessels.

This could cause hypertension or high blood pressure that requires the use of beta- blockers that are most commonly used for nullifying the effect of beta-receptors and dilating the vessels and bringing down high blood pressure. But here there is a controversy, as some contend that if beta agonist asthma medications that are used in MDIs are used to directly expose the blood vessels the amount of constriction in the blood vessels were comparatively very small.

It is true, as beta agonists used in MDIs like albuterol remain only in the lungs with only small amounts in the blood vessels and their effect also fades away quickly. Also, certain long acting drugs like fenoterol and salmeterol are also sometimes used and they work for a longer time in the lungs though they are unfriendly with the beta-receptors found on blood vessels. So it makes for some sensible conclusions that asthma medications could affect blood pressure if they stimulate beta-receptor activity that influences the rise in blood pressure.

So the answer to does asthma cause high blood pressure lies in accepting the fact that many asthmatics have blood pressure, but it is also true that certain blood pressure medications could also aggravate asthma attacks. The solution only lay in developing effective treatments that could balance the treatment of both the conditions namely, asthma and hypertension or high blood pressure.

Understanding wheezing and need for a natural home remedy

Wheezing generally occurs when a person in unable to breathe properly and experiences great discomfort and gets tired getting adequate supply of life sustaining oxygen. Characterized with a coarse, high pitch and sometimes musical sound it is caused by an obstruction in the path of breathing and could be caused by mucus, inflammation of the tiny ducts in the lungs, obstruction due to a foreign body, scarring of tissue and presence of tumor.

Some other causes could be bronchitis, bronchiolitis, pneumonia, GERD, emphysema or heart failure, allergic reactions to foods and pollen and excessive smoking. The attention of medical specialists is needed in wheezing in the serious form, however the mild form could be attended to with natural home remedies.

Choose the best natural home remedy for wheezing

Knowing the cause of wheezing, that occurs when the air is passing through the lungs and is inhaled and exhaled though not effectively suggests one of the easiest and most effective natural home remedy for wheezing. Steaming helps in clearing the air passage and loosening the mucus to be expelled from the body. In addition a warm towel placed on the chest also helps promote better quality breathing. Some have also found great relief in sipping warm water slowly.

Ineffective intake of air that causes wheezing may also cause giddiness and lack of energy that is best cured with the natural home remedy of use of garlic. Garlic plays the role of a preventive and anti-inflammatory agent with helping to clear the mucus that is produced in the air passage. Garlic juice can be taken with other vegetable juices or chewed raw daily. It would also help to boil milk with a few cloves of garlic and drink it flavored with honey and ginger, both increasing the anti-inflammatory properties.

If you are a heavy smoker, the chances are that you could suffer from the problem of wheezing that is due to the lower efficiency of the elasticity and efficiency of the lung tissue. The damage could be gradual but progressive with the natural home remedy lying in the strong resolve to give up smoking followed with emotional support of near and dear. In addition taking steps like use of nicotine patches and gums could help to slowly but surely quit smoking and get over wheezing problems.

Alternative therapies like breathing exercises, yoga and less strenuous physical exercise could help as a natural home remedy for wheezing. During normal times it is best to practice seep breathing exercises that not only improve breathing capacity and strengthen lungs, but also helps clear obstructions in the breathing passage. Yoga is sure to improve lungpower and bring calmness, tackling 2 important reasons for wheezing, stress and obstruction in air passage. In addition less strenuous physical exercises added to ones daily schedule helps to improve blood circulation and repair damaged tissues effectively.

The last note

A well-balanced and nutritious diet would definitely help further in effecting a remedy for wheezing, as it would improve the bodys capacity to withstand physical stressful situations and stress that triggers asthma. It is a well realized fact that having a good nutritious diet helps the body to effectively work and handle all types of mental and emotional pressures also.

Just pick up an effective natural home remedy for wheezing to suit you.

Understanding bronchitis in children and its remedies

Children that are very prone to common colds stand the risk of bronchitis or inflammation of the medium sized airways in the lungs. There could be a build up of bacteria and mucus in the throat. Bronchitis could start off from acute common colds that spread to the lungs, causing inflammation and accompanied by difficulty in breathing. Bronchitis showing the symptoms of common cold could by accompanied with a strange squeaky sound accompanied by labored breathing. Accompanied with a lot of phlegm and wheezing, bronchitis if neglected could prove to be very dangerous in young children.

Chronic bronchitis accompanied with enormous secretions from the bronchial mucus glands could in extreme situations turn the whole body of children blue. It is often better in case of children to resort to natural remedies for bronchitis rather than treat it with strong medications that could weaken them. It is interesting to note that advocates of Ayurveda feel that bronchitis is caused due to disorders in the digestive system with most remedies aiming at bringing the digestive system to normal.

A look at some good natural remedies for bronchitis

It is a well noted fact that when fresh air fails to reach the lungs, children may have to exert themselves more to expel out the mucus as spasms prevent the bringing up of the mucus. One of the natural remedies for bronchitis in children would be to make them consume a lot of fluids. Fluids help to not only make the mucus blocking the windpipe thin to be expelled, but also assists breathing.

It is found that the daily intake of fluids should make up about 6 to 8 glasses that could be in the form of water, herbal teas or juice. Drinking a lot of fluids in the form of warm water and soups helps greatly to clear the discomfort in the chest and throat. Chicken, tomato and vegetable soup made at home taken periodically with a tang of pepper and lemon has helped greatly in healing bronchitis. Drinking soups can help clear congestion and be very comforting to a sick child and have always
cleared congestion much better than other fluids.

It is very necessary to be very careful with children that have bronchitis because children are very sensitive. Warm clothing to cover the chest and breasts is very important for protection against the cold and when the child is taken out for a walk to get fresh air. In addition it is very necessary to avoid exposure to cold and damp weather and not take cold drinks that could aggravate the situation. Another natural remedy for children suffering from bronchitis would be to avoid smoke in the form of cigarette and firewood smoke in his/her environment.

One more of the natural remedies for bronchitis in children would be to clear mucus and phlegm and assist breathing with herbs like ginger, cayenne, fenugreek, lobelia, marshmallow, mullein, pokeroot, and yarrow. Ginger is the herb that can be used as one of the natural remedies to be used in bathtubs, and they can also be taken orally along with cayenne to promote perspiration, relieve congestion and reduce fever. Herbs like fenugreek, poke root and mullein can be given with honey for flavor, with these herbs helping the bronchial tube to effectively to expel mucus and phlegm and reduce swelling on glands, while lobelia helps relieve spasms and promote a soothing, calm and relaxing effect.

It is found that if children are given marshmallow and poke root, these herbs help soothes and coats the inflammation, and prove to be a natural antibiotic to cleanse swollen and infected glands and help in expelling wastes and toxins and breaking down the mucus respectively. Yarrow is the wonder herb that helps in flu and fevers and you could find great benefit in their power to heal and soothe mucous membranes, glandular system and problems in the respiratory system.

These good natural remedies for bronchitis in children are sure to work.

Knowing about chronic bronchitis and its natural cures

Bronchitis or swelling in the air tubes that get irritated and swollen with mucus blocking the airways could start off with irritants like tobacco, dust and chemical fumes and cause severe coughing. It is to be understood that mucus in the air tubes or bronchi could facilitate trapping of bacteria and other pathogens and cause infections that could extend to the lungs and other parts of the respiratory system. Acute bronchitis could come as attacks that last for a short time, however chronic bronchitis is more of a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that could last for months or even a few years.

Chronic bronchitis is more often caused with exposure to airborne irritants like cigarette smoke and environmental pollution. So natural cures for chronic bronchitis rests on elimination of the irritants or allergies with chances of turning into more problematic and worse conditions like asthma and pneumonia. It is best understood that acute bronchitis is contagious, but chronic bronchitis does not contain any risk of being passed on.

Natural cures for chronic bronchitis maybe easy

You may think that doing exercises is harmful, but far to the contrary mild exercise like walking, simple yoga and pranayama exercises and deep breathing exercises help to facilitate easy breathing with strengthening the muscles involved in breathing. Exercises outdoors in the fresh morning air helps to get fresh unpolluted air. Exercises could help, but your doctors advice is very necessary before starting the exercise regimen.

Deep breathing exercises or breathing in and out of the mouth slowly with lips partially closed helps to slow down the fast breathing accompanied in chronic bronchitis. It is also found that natural cures for chronic bronchitis rest on taking hot and warm water baths and showers. The breathing in of steam helps to stop chronic coughs and facilitate the elimination of mucus from the airways.

In addition it is best to do steam inhalations with herbs like eucalyptus, thyme, peppermint, and rosemary. These set of home cures for chronic bronchitis can be done at home with a commercial steamer or a pressure cooker in which the water is boiled with herbs and opening the weight a bit at a time. Keeping the boiling water in a heat resistant bowl on a table and covering ones head with a towel helps experience an antiseptic, expectorant, and airway-relaxing feeling.

Moisture and humidity have always played a role in the natural cures of chronic bronchitis. Drinking a lot of fluids helps not only get something nutritious when one cannot take solids, but it also helps dilute the mucous in the lungs to be expelled out easily. In addition humidifiers and vaporizers could greatly help if you suffer from chronic bronchitis. They help to prevent the thickening of mucous and its building on the walls of the bronchi and relieve persistent coughing.

Dietary Changes- some natural cures for chronic bronchitis

Natural cures for chronic bronchitis rests on healthy diets that involve abstaining from dairy and high sugar foods. Eliminating dairy products helps do away with the increase and thickening of mucous that could turn difficult to eliminate. Use of spicy foods like cayenne pepper, picante sauce, and jalapenos helps in easy and quick elimination of mucous. Consumption of more fresh fruits and will give ample vitamins and antioxidants, with Vitamin A being very beneficial for respiratory health.

Arent these natural cures for chronic bronchitis within your reach?

All about wheezing and its underlying causes

Wheezing or a whistling sound that is heard while breathing in asthmatics is quite common, with cough accompanied with wheezing being an indicator of serious health conditions or disorders. The breathing disorder, wheezing is caused with the narrowing of the airways or its being obstructed with excess mucus. This whistling or musical sound or one caused indicating great difficulty in breathing takes place when the air crosses the obstruction or narrowing. It is possible wheezing could be caused due to some simple medical problems or may lie in more deeper causes and serious medical complications that may involve the consultation of a medical professional immediately.

It is but natural for one that is prone to asthmatic attacks to cough and wheeze at the same time, this taking place when the airways reacts to triggers causing their narrowing or producing excessive mucus. Wheezing could be observed both when the person inhales and exhales air. The other causes for wheezing could be pneumonia and bronchitis and other common causes like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchiectasis (destruction and widening of the airways), cystic fibrosis, and tuberculosis and lung cancer that causes wheezing along with cough that may bring up bloody sputum.

It is worth noting that besides asthma that is also known as a form of reactive airway disease, bronchitis could also cause wheezing accompanied with cough when a person affected tries to expel out mucus. The symptoms of wheezing could be worse in a patient already suffering from asthma. In addition those suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that permanently damage the airways could experience worst symptoms of wheezing when exerting themselves even slightly. In addition gastro-esophageal reflux disease or GERT there could be pronounced wheezing when acid has refluxed high enough in your esophagus and then enters your throat causing you to wake up with a start if sleeping. In such cases coughing and wheezing could be pronounced and easily mistaken for asthma.

But what causes wheezing in asthma exactly

Asthma has been rightly termed as a reactive airway disease because it causes wheezing. Wheezing or the coarse whistling or musical sound produced with breathing is produced in the respiratory tract. The reason for its occurrence can be placed to the cause that a part of the bronchial tubes and branches are obstructed. This is aggravated by the fact that these tubes also narrow down and cause further difficulty in breathing more freely.

So those that suffer lung or respiratory infection produce the auditory effect of wheezing. These infections and obstructions take place primarily due to reaction to allergens and triggers.

The triggers or allergens could be anything like animal dander, pollen during change of seasons, mold, dust mites and various other physical, emotional strain and stresses like menstrual cycle, work stress, family stress or anything. The intake of fried food, pickles and caffeinated drinks could also sometimes cause obstruction and infection in airways and asthma along with wheezing.

So it is right in saying that the whistling or musical sound produced in asthma is caused primarily by 2 lung conditions namely, reduced airflow to the lungs followed by narrowing of airways and congestion in the lungs due to allergic substances in the air, and food. However it is wrong to diagnose wheezing and its underlying cause all by oneself, as only a specialist would be able to point out if it is something more serious requiring urgent professional help.

It is right to say that knowing what causes wheezing in asthma would make you disease smart to know when you should seek professional medical help.