FAQs on airway of Ashtama

Do I have fear of cortisone?

The fear of side effects of cortisone is large in many people but at the current state of research mostly unfounded.

Because cortisone is the drug with the help of metered dose inhaled, it goes directly to the right place, namely the mucous membranes of the bronchi in the lungs. Beginning to reach low doses to achieve the improvement of the disease. In comparison with cortisone tablets almost no more medication gets into your blood.

The regular (usually every morning and every evening inhaling) and proper use of medication is very important.

After inhalation of cortisone, it is useful to drink, to eat or to brush his teeth, so no drug residues remain in the mouth, as in sensitive people can thus form a thrush (fungal infection).

The inhaled cortisone does not help immediately! It takes some time (often 10 to 14 days) until the effect occurs and the patient also noticed the improvement.

Cortisone is the most effective drug to counteract the inflammatory reactions in asthma (the very basis of the disease that is) counter.

If only one or irregular income of the active ingredient passes through an incorrect inhalation technique is not sufficient at the site of action (in the respiratory tract) worsened the clinical picture more and more. As a result of respiratory distress occurs and the emergency spray to be inhaled bronchodilator more often.
What can patients do provide support to improve my asthma?

     Take part in asthma training.
     Do you (after consultation with the doctor) Sports, for example moderate endurance sports.
     Learn breathing exercises and breathing techniques like the "pursed lip" applies.
     Remember that smoking irritates the airways and additional damages. By quitting smoking you increase the effectiveness of the medication.
     Make as allergies in allergy-free holiday as possible targets.
     A regular climate change (sea-air or high mountains) may be helpful.
     Make use of physiotherapy services. In this example, can knock massages to loosen mucus and cough are applied.
     If you are overweight you should lose weight because it helps you to breathe.
     Avoid stress and allow yourself enough sleep.
     Relaxation techniques like autogenous training to help with stress or fear (dyspnea).
     A regular vaccination against infections of the upper and lower respiratory tract influenza, pneumococcal pneumonia) is important.
     Regular sauna (if your doctor supports this) helps fight infections.
     Work out with your treating doctor an asthma emergency plan to be well prepared when needed.
     Identify their personal peak flow best value (respiratory current) and then measure these regularly. For a good overview, you can enter the values ​​in an asthma diary. Your doctor to give the curves of valuable information.
Helps the desensitization in allergic asthma?

With a moderate (mild to moderate), allergic asthma, an immunotherapy (specific immunotherapy) may be performed. The treatment can be done only if the asthma is well controlled and effective therapeutic drugs (for allergy desensitization of the special release) are available. The immunotherapy may be particularly effective if there are additional symptoms of allergic nose and eyes. Particularly good results are achieved in younger patients with clearly diagnosed allergy triggers. Many years and older with asthma, by achieving the anti-asthmatic drugs and only a slight relief from their symptoms not only allergies, but also by other factors such as odors or cold are triggered eligible for desensitization of the question. These patients are at risk patients who may experience unwanted side effects of immunotherapy and the treatment shows little effect.
  

Rehab and Therapy

Chronic diseases such as asthma, eczema or allergies have a major impact on the lives, especially for working life. This raises the question of how these diseases can be positively influenced by rehabilitation measures.
Since 1 January 2000 used the term "cure" is no longer officially. It is rather a distinction between medical care services (formerly Spa) and medical rehabilitation (rehab). Medical care services, measures to eliminate a possible weakening of health that can lead to disease in the foreseeable future. At a medical rehabilitation already there is a disease which needs to be cured or alleviated.
Mother-child treatment
The mothers of cures and treatments of the mother-child mothers recovery work are prevention services and inpatient rehabilitation measures. This is first of all, in contrast to mother-child rehabilitation measures, the health of mothers in the foreground. Children can be taken with, if it endangers their health, are also ill or separation from the mother is not justifiable.
Child-mother (father)-rehab
In the child-mother-father-child rehabilitation or rehab the affected child is paramount. Depending on the age of patients in inpatient rehabilitation measures also be taken with parents, as these are also crucial for the implementation of home treatment responsibility.
The application
With the doctor was the need for medical care or medical rehabilitation services discussed and selected a suitable device, a request must be made. Depending on the employment relationship are different devices cost units:
By a treatment or rehabilitation stay alone, a chronic disease are certainly not cured. You can contribute through the learned behavior better in everyday life and professional life dealing with the disease.
Tips for selecting a suitable device:

    A corresponding clinical picture your specialist care must be ensured. As atopic dermatitis does not use any clinic that specializes in lung diseases. Especially in children, the condition for optimal care to treatment by child and adolescent medical specialists (pediatricians) is.
    Can the kitchen set on an individual fare?
    Are employees of other professional groups (eg, respiratory therapists, nutrition specialists, psychologists, educators) in a multidisciplinary team available?

COPD treatment

First and foremost, it applies with a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), to prevent a worsening of the disease, relieve symptoms and improve quality of life and exercise capacity of patients. It requires a consistent long-term therapy.
The most important prerequisite for a successful therapy is the avoidance of inhaled triggers, particularly smoking cessation. Today there are no drug therapy that is more effective than smoking cessation.
Smoking cessation: A supportive measures for smoking cessation are nicotine patches, sprays, chewing gums and special tablets. The most effective method is the non-pharmacological smoking cessation in the form of a behavior therapy program combined with medical advice.
Drug therapy: It relies mainly on the use of the following substances:

    Beta-2-agonists are used to solve the Bronchialverkrampfung and bronchodilatation.
    Anticholinergic drugs are among the atemwegserweiternden of first choice.
    Theophylline: The bronchodilator chemically related to caffeine substance is possibly also as a tablet or drops prescribed.
    Glucocorticoids are used for anti-inflammatory therapy. By the administration in tablet form about ten to 14 days can usually influence the course of acute illness cut short and cheap.
    Mukopharmaka: Expectorant drugs reduce the frequency of acute exacerbations of inflammatory disease in high-risk winter months.
Long-term oxygen therapy: In the late stage, a long-term oxygen therapy needed. As oxygen sources for home use oxygen concentrations or liquid oxygen.
Physiotherapy: The good "Bronchialpflege" is especially abundant in mucus production places a high therapeutic value. In addition to a respiratory therapy, there is little helpers at home, for example, the ® Flutter VRP 1-Desitin ® or the RC-Cornet. Making a good one "internal tapping massage" of the bronchial tubes, which contributes to the loosening of mucus and to facilitate expectoration.
Sports: Physical training is the most important addition to medication therapy. COPD patients should limit physical activity, but rather an exercise program, adapted to the individual capacity to integrate into everyday life.
Nutrition: COPD patients should try to maintain their normal weight or desirable. Overweight calls from the body more power. Furthermore, the fluid intake is crucial. Drink keep the mucus thin, thus it can be coughed up more easily.
Our tips for dealing with COPD

    Enter the smoking!
    Take your medication regularly!
    Work out with your doctor a contingency plan!
    Avoid clothing and attitudes, which constrict the chest.
    Do not use highly scented cosmetics, perfume or hair spray.
    Attend a respiratory training and COPD.
    Avoid respiratory infections, and go to the flu vaccine.
    Stabilise your weight under the guidance of a dietician.
    Avoid jobs where you come into contact with dust
    Treat yourself to a yoga class or autogenic training.

Chronic Bronchitis / COPD

Chronic bronchitis in connection with emphysema are summarized under the term COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). In Germany there are approximately three to five million people in it.
Chronic bronchitis is mainly a disease of adults. It is characterized by symptoms lasting more than three months in the form of cough and sputum production in at least two consecutive years.
Causes of chronic bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis has not one but usually several causes:

    The single most important factor is the long-term damage to the bronchial mucosa by inhaled cigarette smoke.
    Other factors can affect air pollution, be professional inhaled noxious agents (dusts, fumes, gases) and passive smoking.
    Frequent respiratory infections as well as age, sex and genetic susceptibility are justified also important.
With increasing age increases the rate of bronchitis. Men are affected more frequently than women. Among the genetic factors, e.g. the plant-induced bronchial hyper-responsiveness (hyper) to call.
Simple chronic bronchitis
The symptoms of the "simple" bronchitis are cough with sputum due to inflammation-induced overproduction of bronchial mucus. The symptoms are usually in the morning after waking up in the most pronounced. This is especially true for the most common underlying "smoker's bronchitis".
The prognosis of simple chronic bronchitis is usually favorable. However, with continued inhaled smoke increases the risk of developing lung cancer.
Chronic obstructive bronchitis
In contrast to simple chronic bronchitis, which in most cases takes a harmless, is the chronic obstructive form a serious course and late course of severe disease. She is a frequent cause of premature disability, quality of life and reduces significantly affects the shortening of life expectancy.
The symptoms can be very stressful for the patient and varied:

    Cough and sputum production.
    Shortness of breath initially only with greater physical exertion, later at lower pressures in everyday life and eventually phased in peace.
    The radius of the individual concerned is reduced to a minimum so that the lowest loads as dressing and undressing, going to the toilet etc. shortness of breath due to be extremely difficult.
    A portion of the patient also suffers from a non-specific bronchial hypersensitivity (hyperreactivity), so that the bronchial irritation occurring with the lowest due to cold, strong smells, physical exertion or paroxysmal dyspnea infections to suffocation.
Related bronchitis and COPD
COPD is the abbreviation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic lung disease with permanent narrowing of the airways. These include the pure form of chronic obstructive bronchitis, mixed forms, for example in conjunction with an over-sensitive bronchial asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary emphysema and the.

Bronchitis can relieve

Acute bronchitis is an inflammatory disease of the larger branched, lower respiratory tract. The main symptom is a severe, painful cough. It arises mostly in connection with a cold or flu and is far more than a minor infection.
The cause in question are different triggers:

    viral and bacterial infections
    Diseases such as whooping cough, measles, e.g. can lead to acute bronchitis.
    rare fungi (such as Candida albicans)
    Irritants such as a continuous exposure to dusts, smoke, fumes or chemicals at work can be considered as a trigger.
The symptoms of acute bronchitis are cough and sputum production as an expression of increased production of mucus in the bronchi by inflammation. The cough is accompanied by a characteristic rattling sound of breathing. The discharge is usually white, stained with bacterial infection and yellow to greenish. The onset is acute, often accompanied by fever.
The duration for an uncomplicated course extends over two to three weeks. Under unfavorable external conditions (cold weather, exposure to inhaled toxicants such as tobacco smoke, dust exposure in the workplace), the bronchitis may last for six to eight weeks. Acute bronchitis occurs more frequently in winter than in summer months.
Even in childhood the virus infection is the most common cause of acute bronchitis. Acute bronchitis is often in young children with airway obstruction (spastic bronchitis) are included. In the first three years of life, the "spastic bronchitis" at about 20 percent of all children observed, making it one of the most frequent diseases in this age group.
The symptoms resemble that of bronchial asthma, so is in the first years of life, the separation between asthma and bronchitis often not to make clear. The pathology is characterized mainly by dry cough, difficulty of breathing out and often visible even at a distance audible wheezing breath sounds. Considers these symptoms in more than four to six weeks and / or the repetition of such episodes of acute illness two to three times per year, so this speaks more for one than for asthma, bronchitis.
Warning: Children of smoking parents are twice as likely to suffer from respiratory illnesses such as children who grow up in a Non smoking household.
Because of the short spontaneous course (remission within three weeks), intensive therapy is usually not necessary. However, you should always consult a doctor to relieve the acute symptoms.
The treatment depends primarily on the cause of bronchitis. Bronchitis caused by bacteria must be treated with antibiotics is sufficient, the virally induced bronchitis in the treatment of symptoms.

    Create a smoke-free environment.
    Provide adequate physical condition during the rest.
    Drink plenty of water, fruit juice spritzers, herbal and fruit teas.
    Use drugs or inhalation solutions that facilitate the expectoration of mucus.
    Avoid any respiratory irritation due to cold air or exercise.
    In a spasm of Bronchialmuskelatur (for example, in spastic bronchitis) can help with the inhalation of bronchodilator drugs.
    Avoid respiratory infections, and go regularly to the flu vaccine. Especially the elderly, vulnerable and chronically ill should take the vaccine to complete.
    Provide plenty of exercise and a balanced diet viraminreiche
    Avoid dry air and regularly check the humidity. They should not be below 50 percent.

Breathing Exercises

With breathing exercises can succeed in controlling one's breathing as to use that they'll give relief during an acute asthma attack.
Real, conscious breathing and body supplies the brain cells of oxygen and leads the body into a state of relaxation. In an acute asthma attack, the bronchi constrict so strong that the person can not breathe properly and only after an asthma inhaler sprays can breathe again. In addition, the natural fear comes during an asthma attack suffocate, resulting in a faster breathing and a poorer supply of the cells with oxygen. Through the correct posture with special breathing exercises and controlled breathing can be tried to alleviate the breathing difficulties.
It is important that in carrying out the exercises, certain rules are respected:

    Inhaling through the nose should be made slowly, with the mouth remains closed.
    Breathe out through your mouth is then and in such slow and as long as possible. Breathe it "heard" from the "sss", "sh", "pff" or "ch" sounds. So the breathing is easier to control.
The following breathing exercises in a relaxed posture in the state, lying or sitting done. Especially when standing exercises is to ensure correct posture. Stand upright with no hollow back, the feet are parallel to the floor and your knees are relaxed.
Exercise 1: The pursed lip
This exercise is particularly acute respiratory distress or under stress is important and forms the basis of all breathing exercises. Here, the air inhaled through the nose and slowly through the Spitsbergen, only slightly open mouth and checked (against the pursed lips) exhaled. The air is as described above, in "sss" - sounds exhaled - or "pff". By this method, the airways remain far, the lung is deflated and can be supplied with a new, oxygen-rich air.
Exercise 2: The driver seat
For the exercise, you sit upright on the front of a chair seat. You sink slowly together and breathe it. Forearms resting on your thighs while his hands hanging down and loose. The back is in the position of a cat hump, slightly rounded and not cramped. While you are back in the upright position, exhale, the air should be breathed far away from you.
Exercise 3: Variant of the driver's seat
As a variation, you can take a table to help that one can remove his head. The hands in this exercise are not on the thighs, but also on the table and support the head. With the help of a pursed lip and exhaled.
Exercise 4: Goalkeeper position
This exercise is performed while standing, with knees slightly bent. The hand is placed about an inch above the knee down to the thighs and begins with the pursed lip breathing out and off.
Through conscious breathing during the various exercises, the body relaxes and helps the muscles around the bronchial tubes around to loosen up and solve. Asthmatics can also learn to breathe easy.

The peak-flow measurement

Peak flow meters are an important tool to control the progression of asthma and they allow an assessment of therapeutic success. These are handy devices with a mouthpiece into which you blow hard into it after inhaling or exhaling.

The efficiency of the respiratory tract can be determined and regularly reviewed at home or while traveling on the degree of constriction of the bronchi. The measurement is easy to perform. Within an asthma education can learn to use a peak flow meter in detail. The results can be entered in a daily diary. This regular monitoring allows the patient to give the doctor a good overview of the development of asthma. The diary should be brought to every doctor visit, so that treatment can be optimized.

Protocol run and enter values

First established in consultation with the physician's personal peak flow best value. This happens, as measured by a period of two to three weeks of peak flow and the values ​​are listed. If the entered values ​​are connected to each other, the degree of airway constriction expressed in curves. The curves in asthma patients, the typical fluctuations in airway resistance.

In COPD patients are usually not as strong fluctuations in the peak flow measured here, the course of measurement used to determine the achieved extent of broncho constriction and acute exacerbation quickly perceive. The peak-flow protocol suffice says something about whether your medications in order to protect you from pain.
  To measure the peak flow properly

Use the peak flow meter for the first time under the guidance of the best (doctor, asthma coach, trained personnel).

     Preparing: Place the gauge all the way down (to 0), set down or, if you set up straight and hold the device straight, horizontally in front of the mouth.
     Measure: Inhale as deeply as possible, enclose the mouthpiece firmly with your lips and breathe as hard and as fast as possible with a strong puff of breath into the device. Imagine, you have to blow out a candle. The gauge must not be obstructed by the fingers. The achieved value is displayed in liters of air per minute. Repeat the test 2-3x in a row.
     Read and submit: Enter the highest value of the measurements in the diary. The readings can be connected together in the log, so that gives a better overview of fluctuations of the measured values​​. For better clarity, asthmatics can highlight the three areas of the traffic light in color scheme. For COPD patients, the statements of the peak-flow curve and additional protocol to assess the complaint of a stable-unstable lung very important.

asthma control

The diagnosis of bronchial asthma for many people is alarming at first. But today it is possible for most children and adults with asthma to lead a normal life (with activities and sports, even competitive sports), when the disease is well controlled and shows a stable performance.
Asthma can be well controlled today by a continuous therapy in collaboration with the physician and by a targeted self-management.
The doctors periodically check the patient in a controlled, a partially controlled or uncontrolled asthma has.
With a well-controlled asthma, the symptoms during the day should not or only very rarely occur at night should definitely insist on freedom from symptoms (eg, no shortness of breath). Bronchodilator medications (eg asthma sprays) are ideally not be used. With good asthma control activities are not restricted, and the lung function showed normal values. Increase in symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, decreased lung function values ​​always show a worsening of the disease, to a partial or uncontrolled asthma.
Therefore learn in training asthma patients to recognize these warning signs and respond accordingly. The control of asthma is through the regular use of drugs that relieve specific inflammatory responses in the bronchi (long-term medications such as inhaled cortisone) and by drugs that are used to bronchodilator as needed (emergency or need medications such as bronchial asthma sprays).
The drugs and their dosages may vary during the course of the disease, since they may need to be adapted to the disease status of the patient. Thus, for example - limited - to change the medication if the patient's asthma, acute cold exists.
The goal of drug treatment is to keep the complaints to a minimum and achieve at least ideally, a well-controlled asthma with the least possible amount of medication.
Self-control
A tool for self-control of asthma is the measurement of peak flows. The peak flow is the peak flow during exhalation. This means that the peak-flow measurement, the highest current strength of the exhalation breath is measured.
A peak flow meter is a simple lung function device whose values ​​(entered in an asthma diary) are used for self-control and provide the physician with important information that you receive the correct medication and proper dosage. Especially with drug or dosage change of this makes sense, since the effect or non-action can be documented and an optimal setting is possible.
In bronchial asthma, the disease can be very volatile. For this reason, the asthma patient should be used daily (two to three times) to perform a peak-flow measurement and record the results in an asthma diary.
If the peak flow value measured at 80-100 percent of your best value is all right.
The value is only 60 - 80 percent of the best value you have to be active. Arrange for example, a short-term appointment with your doctor to clarify why have your asthma worse values. Increase the dose of your medication, in the example you three times a day to take your inhaled steroids.
If your peak flow value less than 60 percent of your personal best is Red Alert! Find a doctor quickly. Their peak flow measured over the best value you as symptom-free period. They measure the duration of two weeks to four times daily until your peak flow value and hold the highest value of this phase as a personal best value. At this value, aligns your further asthma management. Your doctor will work together with you, which peak flow value, an increase or change in your medication does.

Warning signs of asthma patients

Asthma patients need to be a fit not to smithereens. Rather, you can meet him active. Prerequisite: Active Learn your body and learn to pay attention to warning signs.
The following signs may herald an asthma attack:
Decrease in exercise capacity
This warning signal you notice when you increasingly more difficulty (eg climb stairs) everyday activities at work, at home or at a sporting good deal.
Peak flow values ​​fall off
Through the regular peak flow measurements, you can perceive deterioration in advance. Decreasing values ​​indicate a deterioration. Also increasing day fluctuations in peak flow values ​​and an increase in the difference in value before and after inhalation of a bronchial expanding drug to show a deterioration.
Increase in breathlessness
Increased breathlessness is a very important warning. You may increase, especially at night and after exercise. Of course, also suitable for allergic asthma (inhaled) allergens such as pollen, dust mites or animals and cause hypersensitivity of the airways and irritants such as tobacco smoke or perfume acute respiratory symptoms.
Increased cough with sputum
If more coughing occurs during exercise, contact with irritants and allergic asthma also in contact with specific allergens, this is also a warning signal. The cough can occur with increased ejection, as propagated by a progressive inflammatory reaction, mucus is produced.
Nocturnal cough
The incidence and severity of symptoms are subject to a circadian rhythm. Coughing fits occur especially at night, because the widening of the bronchi decreases during the night. This rhythm occurs in all people with asthma, this may intensify the symptoms. In addition, it is the respiratory current (peak flow) decreased. In addition, increases the production of inflammation of the bronchial mucosa in during the night.
Increasing consumption of emergency sprays
Will you care when you need the drug bronchodilators more often and in shorter time intervals. This is a sign of the increase in inflammatory reaction in the bronchi, the airways constrict.
Signs of infection
Infections can cause asthma exacerbations. Bacteria or viruses can cause inflammation of the bronchi (bronchitis) or lung inflammation (pneumonia). Bacterial infections must be treated with antibiotics. By an ordinary cold or infection of teeth or sinuses, an asthma are adversely affected.

Childhood asthma

Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in childhood. In Germany, about one in ten children is affected. By an early, consistent treatment and closely monitored by the doctor, the disease can be treated well.
Bronchial asthma is characterized by a persistent inflammation of the bronchial mucosa. This inflammation leads to a hypersensitivity of the airways. The result is the swelling of the mucosa and excessive mucus production, resulting in a narrowing of the bronchi with the result. In acute bronchial asthma attack, the tense (bronchospasm) and exhaling becomes difficult. Symptoms such as constant coughing, wheezing, tightness in the chest, thick mucus and a paroxysmal dyspnea are typical features of an asthma sufferer.
Among the asthma triggers:

    Allergens
    Pollen, dust mites, animal dander, mold spores, food

    Infections
    Viruses, bacteria and other pathogens

    Irritants
    Tobacco smoke, sprays, cooking and Bratdünste, cold air, strong smells, etc.

    Drug
    Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin intolerance) e.g.

    Other
    Substances in the environment (dust), mental events, stress, strain, gastro-esophageal reflux (backflow of stomach juices into the esophagus).
Forms and their asthma triggers
Generally there are two different forms asthma. In allergic (extrinsic) asthma is based on an allergy, which is regarded as a cause of asthma. The non-allergic asthma (intrinsic) - which often is present in infancy - is often triggered by infections and / or enhanced. In addition, factors such as weather, chemical irritants, perfumes, air pollutants adversely affect (especially cigarette smoke) and also the emotional stress asthma.
Asthma is treatable
For the treatment of bronchial asthma, careful monitoring is important. First is the avoidance of possible asthma triggers. In parallel, appropriate asthma medications are individually selected by the specialist and trained to handle them. In addition, there are many accompanying measures. Sport asthma, breathing and relaxation exercises, self-monitoring by the peak-flow meters and the acceptance of the disease play an important role. The medication depends on the severity of inflammation and asthma is determined by one-step plan.

Treatment of asthma

For the treatment of bronchial asthma, careful monitoring is important. First is the avoidance of possible asthma triggers. In parallel, appropriate asthma medications are individually selected by the specialist and trained to handle them.
In addition, there are many accompanying measures. Sport asthma, breathing and relaxation exercises, self-monitoring by the peak-flow meters and the acceptance of the disease play an important role. The medication is aimed individually according to the severity of inflammation and asthma is determined by one-step plan. These are the two groups of active pulmonary specialist available: the broncho dilator (symptomatic acting) and the anti-inflammatory (preventive action) drugs.
The goals of treatment are:

    Reduce inflammation of the bronchial
    Reduction of bronchial hypersensitivity
    Reduction of airway narrowing
The drug groups
Bronchodilator medications (reliever)These drugs relax the bronchial muscles spasmed and act immediately, but only symptomatic, contrary to the shortness of breath. They are short-acting form when needed, or used as an effective long-term medication (in conjunction with cortisone) in severe asthma:

    Short-acting beta-2 antagonists (beta-2-agonists) should not occur more than three to four times a day needed. A higher requirement indicates either a worsening of asthma or inadequate anti-inflammatory therapy. Their duration is about four hours.
    Long-acting beta 2-agonists, long-term open the bronchial tubes and can be applied, if not the sole treatment with inhaled cortisone sufficient. Their duration is approximately twelve hours.
Anti-inflammatory medicines (controllers)Controller counteract the chronic bronchial mucosa inflammation. They must be taken regularly as a maintenance therapy. The most important ingredient is the cortisone, which is used mainly by inhalation.
Inhaled corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory therapy based dar. They are available as metered dose inhaler or powder in various versions, eg Disks, Turbulent or Maimonides. The effect takes place after several days to two weeks.
Equestrienne antagonist (Montezuma) has anti-inflammatory, bronchial hyper reactivity put down and have a preventative effect against exercise-induced asthma. Meanwhile they are also approved for the sole treatment of allergic rhinitis (hay fever). Infants with asthma may be treated from the sixth month with Montezuma (as disjunctive therapy) and as a single therapy in exercise induced asthma, it can from the second Age are used.
As an initial therapy is usually a short-acting, drug and an inhaled broncho dilator selected cortisone. No longer uses this therapy, often is a combination product of a broncho dilator drug and cortisone elected. Combination products are available in various combinations and dosages.
Asthma management through self-monitoring
The patient can significantly contribute to better asthma management by measuring regularly at home with the peak flow meter, the Ausatmungsgeschwindigkeit. Measurements should be done two to three times daily and are registered in an asthma diary. Thus, the disease can be controlled and timely response to any deterioration. Using the traffic light schemes can be identified by the peak flow of the current disease state protocol and acted accordingly. The traffic light system should always be prepared with a specialist, which also determines the personal best value.

What is asthma?

A characteristic feature of asthma is cramping of the muscles in the bronchial wall, the swelling of the bronchial mucosa and the production of mucus. The consequences are the same symptoms, including coughing, wheezing, tightness in the airways to an asthma attack.

Asthmatics have a lasting inflammation of the bronchial mucosa, which leads to a hypersensitivity of the airways. The result is a swelling of the mucous membrane and excessive secretion production, which constricts the bronchial tubes. In acute asthma attack is still a tension to the bronchial (bronchospasm), which leads mainly to a decrease in exhalation.

symptoms such as

     constant cough
     wheezing
     tightness in the chest
     thick mucus and
     a paroxysmal dyspnea

are typical features of an asthma sufferer.
forms of asthma

There are generally two different asthma types: the extrinsic or allergic asthma and non-allergic or intrinsic asthma. Mixed forms are possible.

The former is based on an allergy, which is regarded as a cause of asthma. Triggers are here especially dust mites, animal dander, pollen and molds. In adults, can also be occupational allergens (such as baker's asthma) are more important.

The non-allergic asthma is often reinforced by infections. Also occur frequently in parallel with a sinus inflammation, nasal polyps, an aspirin-intolerance (ASA-intolerance) or intolerance against similar drugs. In addition, factors such as weather, chemical irritants, perfumes, air pollutants adversely affect (especially cigarette smoke) and also the emotional stress asthma.

A special form of the Cough Variant Asthma (CVA) as well as a cough-equivalent asthma dar. These patients characteristically have a chronic dry cough, normal lung function and nonspecific bronchial hypersensitivity. Other typical asthma symptoms such as breathlessness and bronchial constriction are missing. The therapy is similar to that of a classic asthma, with the evolution and 16 percent to 30 percent of patients in the course of bronchial asthma.

diagnosis

An important building block for the diagnosis "asthma" is a careful history, so the doctor-patient dialogue. This is made because of the requested observations of the patient's symptoms and the first suspected diagnosis, which is in the course of physical examinations, measurement of lung function and bronchial hypersensitivity, and in rare cases, confirmed by radiographs or revised.
Our recommendations in asthma

     A chronic disease such as asthma requires continuous therapy.
     Smoking and asthma do not mix, you also avoid environments where people smoke.
     Avoid being overweight.
     Asthma and sports are not mutually exclusive.
     Against a sauna with asthma usually nothing wrong with that. Make sure if you an "infusion" is doing well. Omit if it leads to coughing and wheezing.
     Try to attend an outpatient or inpatient asthma education. It easier for you to deal with this disease (www.asthmaschulung.de; addresses only training for children).
     Join in the disease management program of your health insurance!