Cough, Cough, Cough

You know it is not just a bad cough when you keep on coughing to the extent that you are wheezing for air. You might have asthma.

Now, asthma is a disorder that affects the airways or the bronchial tubes in your lungs. The name itself hails from the Greek “to breathe hard”. And indeed, for people who have asthma, they know how difficult they have to breathe just to get enough air into them.

To pinpoint asthma causes, one has to look at the different types of asthma: allergic asthma, intrinsic asthma, asthma caused by exercise, nocturnal asthma, work-induced/occupational asthma and steroid-resistant asthma.

Let’s focus at the more common asthma causes: allergies, exercise and stress.

It’s Not Just Itch!

One of the most common asthma causes is triggered by allergies. Allergies frequently affect children and it causes asthma that causes parents to worry (and send their young children immediately to the doctor’s or the pediatrician). Allergens are the frequent asthma causes for childhood asthma.

Dust mites, pollen, cat fur and smoke are some allergens that would trigger asthma in sufferers. Normally, the only prevention for asthma sufferer is to avoid these allergens at all causes.

Cat fur is the most common allergen, as it is very fine and extremely potent for people with allergies or sensitivities. It is bad news for people who love cats and might already have one or two felines at home. It is either you give the cat away to another family who are not allergic or that you have to keep the house very clean with constant cleaning.

Dust mites are microscope creatures that feed on dead skin flakes and they thrive on areas like your bed, your bed-sheets, pillows and fabrics. Often as such, asthma sufferers end up wheezing, because of the dust mites present in the very clothes they are wearing or the beds they are sleeping on. To prevent further asthma attacks, change the pillows and fabrics to anti-dust mite ones.

Pollen is given forth by flowers and it is most prevalent during springtime. For some, it might be hay fever. For others, it might just trigger a bout of allergic asthma.

Because these allergens are so minute, it is often difficult to stop these tiny asthma causes, other than removing the sources all together.

Puffing, Puffing

For some, exercise or even stress can trigger off an asthma attack. Exercise, though positive and even invigorating, can contribute to a loss of heat and loss of moisture in the lungs, causing the individual to cough. Stress also has similar effects on the lungs.

Interestingly enough, a lot of the people suffering from asthma caused by exercise have family histories of allergies and are allergic themselves. You might say that they are already predisposed or more susceptible to asthma causes.

Stress or emotional upheaval can cause an individual to end up having asthma as well. We cannot stop stress and emotional upheavals from happening  - the best thing for the sufferer is to be able to remain calm and breathe normally. Breathing quickly would just worsen the symptoms and turn the asthma into a full-blown attack. It is also likely that people who are prone to allergies might also be triggered off by stress or emotional upheaval.

These asthma causes can be maintained by medication and a fair bit of common sense. Know your body well and if your asthma is made worse by cold and dry conditions (when you exercise), it is wise therefore to make the decision not to exercise in such conditions. For stress, remain calm and remember to breathe normally.

Know Your Body

It is important to understand your body and how it works, especially if you are an asthma sufferer or are prone to allergens. If you are unsure about seeking treatment, go and talk to your family doctor. Or, if you are more inclined towards natural or herbal remedies, talk to your herbalist or natural medicine practitioners for helpful tips and pointers.

It is also crucial to do more research and reading-up on asthma. Most importantly, look for asthma support groups who might have just the right blend of help and cures for you.