What You Should be aware of about Asthma

From early onset to full diagnosis & possible cure

You have heard of asthma, even if we do not know exactly what it is. How much do you know about asthma, its causes, its symptoms and its treatment? You’re not alone if you discover that you don’t know as much as you thought you did. Here are some revelations about asthma.

First, know that asthma can affect anyone, regardless of age, sex, race or other factors. It is most common in children or people with a family history of asthma although it can occur in families with no history and early-onset asthma is also possible.

We know that asthma is caused my inflammation in the airways of the lungs which leads to the common symptoms of asthma but we do not know exactly what causes this inflammation. We do, however, know what types of conditions and circumstances can attribute to or cause a flare-up of asthma. We call these asthma triggers.

Exercise is one of the most common triggers of asthma and even people with mild asthma can experience symptoms triggered by exercise. However, getting exercise is actually good for your body and your asthma; you just need proper treatment while doing so.

Pollen and certain types of molds are another trigger for people with asthma. During the season of hay fever, many people with asthma need additional treatment and may have trouble going outdoors. Indoor molds can also contribute to asthma flare-ups.

Upper respiratory infections are another common trigger for asthma. If you have a cold, flu or other type respiratory infection, you will likely have an occurrence of asthma symptoms.

Certain foods and certain medicines can also trigger asthma symptoms. These can vary from person to person and can be allergy-related so your doctor can help you determine your triggers and avoid them as much as possible.

Emotions can also affect your asthma. While asthma is not directly related to your nerves or your emotional state, there are certain emotions such as stress or even laughter than can cause or aggravate the symptoms of asthma.

Please note that these things do not cause asthma, nor do allergies cause asthma, they just contribute to the condition and often lead to flare-ups or “attacks” as they are often called. If you have asthma, your children could be at a greater risk for getting it too so it’s important to learn the early warning signs and keep an eye on it.

There is no cure for asthma but there are many treatments available. Advancements in technology and medicine every day are leading us to new treatments and possibly a cure in the future but for now, we have to settle for the treatment plans our doctors deem best for us.

Sourced and published by Henry Sapiecha 24th August 2009

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Lung Cancer is a serious disease?

What do you know about it?

Lung cancer or lung carcinoma results from an abnormality of the cells in the lung. This is the same way that cancers anywhere else in the body work. This abnormal growth is usually called a tumor and a lung tumor can cause serious problems.

The main types of lung cancer are small cell lung carcinoma and non so small cell lung carcinoma.

Knowing the difference is important because lung cancer treatment varies depending on the type.

Causes of Lung Cancer

The body is a complex organism made up of many different cells all working together, Cells are constantly dying, splitting and re-growing but sometimes things go wrong and cancers develop. When this happens in the lungs, it can greatly affect the lung’s ability to function properly.

Lung cancer kills more men and women each year than any other type of cancer. It is made worse by cigarette smoking although many cases of lung cancer exist that are not directly related to smoking. Smoking greatly increases your chances of developing lung cancer, however. If you suspect you may have lung cancer, you should stop smoking immediately.

In addition to smoking, some other causes of lung cancer include passive smoking, or second hand smoke, asbestos exposure, radon gas, air pollution, genetics, heredity, and other lung diseases or conditions. There are different types of lung cancer. If you are already predisposed to getting lung cancer from one of the reasons listed above, it’s very important that you take care of your lungs and learn all that you can about lung health.

If possible, you need to avoid the pollutants that may cause your lung cancer and seek the help of a professional if you think you may already have contracted lung cancer or if you are having breathing problems. In many cases, lung cancer is fatal but it doesn’t have to be for you. The sooner you seek treatment, the better your chances of recovery will be.

Lung Cancer Symptoms

While some 25% of people with lung cancer have no symptoms at all, there are many who will begin to notice some of the early signs and symptoms. Talk to your doctor immediately if you

• cough up blood,
• have persistent and frequent cough,
• wheezing or shortness of breath,
• chest pain or tightening when breathing,
• unexplained weight loss and fatigue,

You are also at risk if you have previously been diagnosed with a lung previous lung cancers or abnormal growths like lung nodules.

What Is a Lung Nodule?

A lung nodule is a small abnormality in the lung. It is also known as a pulmonary nodule that can be seen on a chest x-ray if it is larger than one centimeter.

Most lung nodules, which are sometimes called “lung spots” are noncancerous or benign lesions. Nonetheless, anyone diagnosed with a lung nodule should investigate it further because it may actually be an early stage of lung cancer. It might also be an indication that cancer is present and is spreading (also called metastasizing) from another part of the body to the affected lung.

A needle biopsy, which is also known as a needle aspiration, may be necessary to determine if a lung nodule is cancerous or benign. A biopsy involves removing some cells from a suspicious area within the body and examining them under a microscope to determine a diagnosis.

Sourced and published by Henry Sapiecha 214th AUgust 2009

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Mexican Swine Flu:  You are at Risk?

The latest outbreak of swine flu that has millions of people across a variety of countries sweating like pigs with worry is not the typical swine flu that affects pigs primarily. Swine flu is a new strain of flu that originated in Mexico.

It is a combination of strains of bird, pig, and human flu.

It is important to understand exactly what Swine Flu is and how you can protect yourself from it.

You do not need to be overly concerned or panicked, but you should act with some  caution. The first strain of the flu was found in Mexico and then it began to spread to other parts of the world. As a result WHO raised the pandemic level all the way to level 5. This is one level below a full blown pandemic. By the end of spring of 2009 the Swine Flu had subsided, but health officials were still concerned about it coming up again in the fall.

Swine Flu has been extremely over rated. The reason for this is that thousands of people die from influenza each and every year. The Swine Flu has only killed a few people which is a small number compared to how many deaths fever causes annually.

Usually influenza causes about 350,000 deaths each year.

Most of these influenza deaths are in older people who have weaker immune systems. Some pigs in Canada were even diagnosed with the H1N1 Flu, or Swine Flu. As a result millions of people stopped eating pork. This is not necessary because cooking meat kills the flu. In Egypt, hundreds of thousands of pigs were slaughtered because of the fear of Swine Flu.

One of the most dangerous things about this flu is that it can live on non-living objects. That means if someone has swine flu and coughs on a counter, you can get the flu by touching that counter. That is the main reason as to why people are so scared about this specific strain of the swine flu.

You may want to walk around with a disinfectant so that you can use it on your hands to prevent from getting the swine flu. Washing your hands is one of the best things you can do to prevent yourself from contracting the H1N1 virus. As long as you wash your hands and stay away from sick people you should have no problem avoiding the swine flu.

There is also talk of a vaccine in the works for this particular strain of swine flu but it may not be available until late 2009.

Sourced and published by Henry Sapiecha 24th August 2009

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The Effects of COPD or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease on the Lungs

Really value & respect the term  - Took his the last breath.

Having a lung disease (also called a pulmonary disease) is never an easy thing to cope with.

Living with COPD, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, can be especially challenging.

Our lungs are very important to healthy life and function. If you have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD, you know that breathing doesn’t always come easily.

COPD is basically a combination of two other respiratory diseases- emphysema and bronchitis. With these pulmonary diseases, just like with COPD, the flow of air through the lungs and bronchial tubes is blocked. This is usually a permanent condition which gets worse over time, making it very difficult for the sufferer to breathe.

Causes of COPD

The number one cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the United States is smoking. Statistics show that nearly 15% of smokers will develop COPD. Cigarette smoke damages the lungs in several ways. One of the best ways to prevent COPD or to prevent it from getting worse is to stop smoking immediately and try to avoid being around smoke since the exact effects of second hand smoke on COPD are not completely known.

There are other things that can cause or contribute to COPD as well. Indoor and outdoor air pollution can cause or worsen COPD. Stoves used for cooking as well as silica and similar pollutants are dangerous as well. Another cause of COPD is a rare genetic condition called AAT. This causes about 1% of the cases of COPD each year.

COPD Treatment and COPD Management

In most cases, a certain amount of COPD management is possible even if the disease can’t be fully cured.

Certain types of COPD therapy that can help reduce obstruction of the airways, making it easier for you to breathe normally again. There are many medications that can assist and even reverse many of the symptoms of COPD. The earlier you seek treatment for your condition, the better your chances of reversing damage.

If you have COPD, it is important that you learn as much as you can about what caused it and what type you have. Get COPD help by working together with your doctor and talking about your past, medical history, family history and symptoms. Working together with your doctor, you can find the best plan of treatment for your COPD. Untreated COPD will most certainly always worsen.

Sourced and published by Henry Sapiecha 24th August 2009

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