THIS CAN BE AS MINOR AS A
COLD, OR AS LIFE THRENTENING AS A HEART
ATTACK.
ASTHMA; ASTHMA IS
THE GREEK WORD FOR PANTING. A PERSON HAVING AN ASTHMA
ATTACK IS LITERALLY PANTING
FOR BREATHING. ASTHMA IS A CONDITION
THAT CAUSES INFLAMMATION AND OBSTRUCTION OF THE AIRWAYS. THE MUSCLES
SURROUNDING THE AIR TUBES OF THE LUNGS GO INTO
SPASM, THE MUCOUS LINING SWELLS AND SECRETIONS BUILD UP, MAKING
BREATHING DIFFICULT.
ASTHMA USUALLY OCCURS IN ATTACKS OR EPISODES. DURING AN
ATTACK, THE PERSON MAY MAKE A WHEEZING OR WHISTLING SOUND WHILE BREATHING,
COUGH A GREAT DEAL, OR SPIT UP MUCUS. A
CHRONIC DRY COUGH MAY BE THE ONLY SYMPTOM OF MILD ASTHMA.
MANY THINGS CAN TRIGGER ASTHMA INCLUDING DUST. IN
GENERAL, INFECTIONS ARE THE
MOST COMMON TRIGGERS OF ASTHMA. OTHER
TRIGGERS INCLUDE EXERCISE, COLD AIR, CHANGES IN WHEATHER ETC. ASTHMA USUALLY DEVELOPS IN CHILDHOOD BUT MAY
ALSO BEGIN LATER IN LIFE. THE FIRST EPISODE OFTEN FOLLOWS A COLD OR A FLU. IT IS MORE
COMMON IN CHILDREN WHO ARE EXPOSED TO CIGARRETE SMOKE AT HOME. MANY CHILDREN
OUTGROW ASTHMA AS THEY GET OLDER BUT
WILL BE AT RISK FOR IT IN ADULTHOOD. ASTHMA
CAN BE CONTROLLED BY AVOIDING TRIGGERS THAT CAUSE ATTACKS AND USING MEDICATIONS
TO MANAGE SYMPTOMS. SEVERE ATTACKS CAN USUALLY BE TREATED WITH INHALED OR
INJECTED MEDICATIONS. ATTACKS ARE RARELY
FATAL IF THEY ARE TREATED PROMPTLY AND APPROPRIATELY.
PREVENTION
*AVOID SMOKE OF ALL KINDS. STOP SMOKING AND AVOID SECOND
HAND SMOKE. EAT, WORK, TRAVEL AND RELAX IN SMOKE FREE AREAS.
*AVOID AIR POLLUTION. STAY INDOORS WHEN THE AIR POLLUTION IS
HIGH.
* AVOID BREATHING COLD AIR.
* STRONG SMELLS
LIKE FUMES AND PERFUMES SHOULD BE
AVOIDED.
* AVOID INDOOR PETS WITH FUR OR FEATHERS.
*WASH YOUR HANDS
OFTEN TO REDUCE THE RISK OF CATCHING A COLD AND FLU.
* GET REGULAR EXERCISE. SWIMMING OR WATER AEROBICS MAY BE
GOOD CHOICES BECAUSE THE MOIST AIR IS LESS LIKELY TO TRIGGER AN ATTACK.
BRONCHITIS
THIS IS AN INFLAMMATION AND IRRITATION OF THE BRONCHIAL
TUBES IN THE LUNGS. IT IS CAUSED MOST OFTEN BY VIRUSES OR BACTERIA BUT MAY ALSO
BE CAUSED BY CIGARETTE OR AIR POLLUTION. IT OFTEN OCCURS AFTER A COLD OR AN
UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTION THAT DOES NOT HEAL COMPLETELY.
THE INFLAMMED BRONCHIAL TUBES SECRETE A STICKY MUCUS WHICH IS DIFFICULT FOR
THE HAIRS ON THE BRONCHI TO CLEAR OUT OF
THE LUNGS. THE COUGHING THAT COMES WITH
BRONCHITIS IS THE BODY’S ATTEMPT TO GET RIDE OF THE MUCUS. OTHER SYMPTOMS INCLUDE
DISCOMFORT OR TIGHTNESS IN THE CHEST, FATIGUE, LOW FEVER, SORE THROAT,
RUNNY NOSE AND SOMETIMES WHEEZING. SEVERE CASES MAY LEAD TO PNEUMONIA.
PREVENTION
·
GET
PROPER TREATMENT FOR MINOR RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS SUCH AS COLDS.
·
STOP SMOKING
·
AVOID POLLUTED AIR.
·
INCREASE YOUR FLUID INTAKE. LIQUIDS HELP THIN THE MUCUS IN THE LUNGS.
·
GET EXTRA REST.
·
MASSAGE YOUR CHEST AND BACK MUSCLES. THIS HELPS RELAX SORE CHEST
MUSCLES.
CHEST PAIN
CHEST PAIN IS A KEY WARNING SIGN
OF A HEART ATTACK, BUT IT MAY ALSO BE CAUSED BY OTHER PROBLEMS. A HEART ATTACK
IS CAUSED BY BLOCKED BLOOD FLOW TO THE HEART MUSCLE. A HEART ATTACK OCCURS WITH OTHER SYMPTOMS SUCH AS
SWEATING, NAUSEA OR SHORTNESS OF BREATH.
FACTORS THAT MAY INCREASE YOUR
RISK OF A HEART ATTACK
*SMOKING
*HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
*HIGH CHOLESTROL
*INACTIVE LIFESTYLE
* HIGH STRESS LEVEL
No comments:
Post a Comment