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Young World
WORLD OF SCIENCE
Understanding asthma
T.V. PADMA
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Whatever the method chosen, remember asthma is treatable.
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One important step in the treatment of asthma is to gain a better understanding of the severity of each patient’s problem. There are various techniques to evaluate breathing. Allopathic doctors may recommend chest and sinus x-rays. There are also special spirometry breathing tests.
In the case of allergies, the particular allergen a person is sensitive to is identified. Then shots with solutions containing the allergen may be given. Alternatively, homeopathic pills may be available that expose the body to small doses of allergens.
Annual flu vaccines are recommended for asthmatics. Pneumococcal vaccines are sometimes prescribed because asthma can lead to pneumonia.
Medication
Asthma treatment may include medication. Some medications are inhaled. These are usually long-term remedies. Inhaled medications are deposited directly in the breathing passages, and they prevent swelling. There are various types of inhalers — metered dose, breath-activated metered dose, and dry powder inhalers. Inhalers usually contain steroids. However, inhaled steroids tend to have very few side-effects, even long-term, compared to orally ingested steroids. Steroid pills are effective in the treatment of severe attacks. Such steroids are not anabolic steroids. Oral steroids are avoided in long-term treatments because of side-effects which may be severe – such as the weakening of the immune system.
Tablets, syrups or capsules containing theophylline may also relax breathing passages. This is another long-term remedy. Some possible side-effects are stomach-upsets, headaches, and, in rare cases, seizure and heart arrhythmia.
Whatever the treatment chosen, it’s important to remember that asthma is treatable, can be held in check to a large degree by controlling one’s immediate environment, and one’s inner calm.
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