Asthma is a chronic (persistent) respiratory condition affecting millions worldwide. In the US, 26.5 million people have asthma, as per ACAAI, or American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.
Living with asthma is challenging, significantly when the familiar sound of wheezing disturbs the regularity of our breathing. Wheezing is a high-pitched whistle-type sound when we breathe caused by the narrowing of airways. A wheezing defense plan gives some relief from this concern.
In this blog, we will delve into the treatment for asthma, giving you strategies to lessen wheezing through lifestyle changes and medication. In addition, Flovent HFA 110 mcg inhalers are used to treat asthma symptoms.
A brief overview of asthma and wheezing
Asthma is a pulmonary (lung) disease characterised by inflammation and muscular constriction around the airways, making breathing difficult. Here are the symptoms of asthma:
- Coughing. Cough is a prevalent symptom of asthma. It is sometimes the most visible symptom of the condition.
- Wheezing. Asthmatics normally wheeze when breathing out. However, some also wheeze when breathing in.
- Shortness of breath. A long-lasting or chronic shortness of breath is most often due to asthma.
- Chest tightness. Chest tightening indicates that you probably have asthma. In asthma, the bronchi constrict (narrow), the lungs swell up, and too much mucus is produced. Even if you exert all of your effort into breathing, this makes it difficult for air to move through.
[Bronchi (singular-bronchus) are the large tubes that connect to your windpipe or trachea and direct the air to your lungs].
These symptoms are either moderate or severe and they appear and disappear over time. Although asthma is a severe condition, it is manageable with the appropriate medication.
One of these prevalent symptoms is wheezing. It is a high-pitched, scratchy whistling sound when you breathe. It is a sign of any illness that results in airway blockage, such as asthma.
Wheezing defence plan: lifestyle changes
The underlying reason for your wheezing will determine how it is treated. If asthma is the root cause of your wheezing, your doctor will probably prescribe an inhaler to lessen inflammation and widen your airways, such as a Flovent.
There are several defence plans to reduce wheezing at home.
Diet for wheezing defense
- A cup of herbal tea. The tea’s warmth and wetness will soothe your bronchial passageways. Green tea also has antimicrobial effects (kills the growth of microorganisms that causes inflammation in the bronchi).
- Avoid smoking. Your lungs and airways get irritated and inflamed when you smoke. Breaking the smoking habit will help you improve your quality of life by preserving your remaining lung capacity.
- Steam. When wheezing is brought on by dry air, the moist heat of steam relaxes and opens dry airways. Consider taking a hot shower or bath.
- Ginger. It is a fantastic natural treatment for wheezing because it contains chemicals that relax the smooth muscle tissue in the lungs and open airways.
Exercises for wheezing defence
Your lungs function more effectively with breathing exercises. Use these exercises to prevent wheezing:
Lips-pursed breathing: Enter your breath through your nose. Double the length of your exhalation (breathing out) while pursing your lips as if you were going to whistle. It helps prevent asthma heart beating fast.
Breathing from the belly: This exercise involves three easy steps:
- Enter your breath through your nose.
- Place your hands on your belly and see how it grows.
- At least two to three times as long as you take in, exhale through your mouth.
Treatment for asthma
There are many safety considerations for asthma. To control symptoms, your doctor generally recommend medicines or other therapy such as:
Bronchodilators
These medicines ease the muscles that surround your airways. The airways could move since the muscles were loosened. They allow the mucus to pass through the airways. These medications are used to treat both chronic and intermittent asthma and provide temporary symptom relief.
[In intermittent asthma, you only experience symptom flare-ups once every few months.
In chronic asthma, the symptoms are persistent].
Anti-inflammatory medicines
These medicines lessen airway swelling and mucus production. Your doctor prescribes these medications daily to manage or avoid your persistent asthma symptoms.
Asthma inhalers
The most popular and efficient method of getting asthma medication into your lungs is asthma inhalers. They come in a variety of forms and operate in various ways. Your physician advises you to use an inhaler such as:
- A metred-dose inhaler releases a brief burst of medication through a plastic mouthpiece using a small aerosol canister.
- A dry powder inhaler releases the medication only when you inhale deeply.
Asthma nebulisers
Your doctor usually suggests a nebuliser if you have problems utilizing small inhalers. Nebulizer is a machine that transforms the liquid form into a mist. It also comes with a mask, making it a fantastic alternative for babies, young children, and older people. Compared to an inhaler, it takes a little longer to use.
Bronchial thermoplasty
Severe asthma is treated with bronchial thermoplasty. The smooth muscle in the lungs is the focus of the bronchial thermoplasty. Heat is applied during the procedure to cause the smooth muscle to prevent contracting and worsening asthma symptoms.
Three therapy sessions are required, with three weeks separating each session. Bronchial thermoplasty is carried out by a pulmonologist, a physician specialising in the lungs. In each session, your pulmonologist will focus on a different area of your lungs.
[These medications and inhalers are readily available online at the best Canadian online pharmacy].
Takeaway
The rising asthma impact on people worldwide results in the necessity of the wheezing defense plan and treatment for asthma. The defence plan also involves diet modification, lifestyle changes, and medication. The dietary changes involve the importance of healthy habits, steams, herbal teas, and breathing exercises.
The asthma treatment consists of prescribed medication to medical interventions like bronchodilators, asthma inhalers, asthma nebulizers, and bronchial thermoplasty. The treatment option for asthma depends thoroughly on the severity of the asthma symptoms. Seek the health of an experienced pulmonary specialist for an individualised approach and breathe easier.
Jeffrey Grant, a psychology graduate from the University of Hertfordshire, has a keen interest in the fields of mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.