Dr Ankur Gupta
Asthma is a disease affecting the airways that carry air to and from your lungs. People who suffer from this chronic condition are said to be asthmatic.
The inside walls of an asthmatic’s airways are swollen or inflamed. This swelling or inflammation makes the airways extremely sensitive to irritations and increases your susceptibility to an allergic reaction.
As inflammation causes the airways to become narrower, less air can pass through them, both to and from the lungs. Symptoms of the narrowing include wheezing (a hissing sound while breathing), chest tightness, breathing problems, and coughing. Asthmatics usually experience these symptoms most frequently during the night and the early morning.
For information on the different causes of asthma (allergy, colds, stress, exercise, etc) Asthma is an incurable illness. However, with good treatment and management there is no reason why a person with asthma cannot live a normal and active life.
An asthma episode, or an asthma attack, is when symptoms are worse than usual. They can come on suddenly and can be mild, moderate or severe.
What happens during an asthma attack?
* The muscles around your airways tighten up, narrowing the airway.
* Less air is able to flow through the airway.
* Inflammation of the airways increases, further narrowing the airway.
* More mucus is produced in the airways, undermining the flow of air even more.
Asthma Attacks Vary
In some asthma attacks, the airways are blocked such that oxygen fails to enter the lungs. This also prevents oxygen from entering the blood stream and traveling to the body’s vital organs. Asthma attacks of this type can be fatal, and the patient may require urgent hospitalization.
Asthma attacks can be mild, moderate, severe and very severe. At onset, an asthma attack does allow enough air to get into the lungs, but it does not let the carbon dioxide leave the lungs at a fast enough rate. Carbon dioxide – poisonous if not expelled – can build up in the lungs during a prolonged attack, lowering the amount of oxygen getting into your bloodstream.
See Your Doctor
If you suffer from asthma you should see your doctor. He/she will help you find out what triggers your asthma symptoms and how to avoid them. You will also be prescribed medications which will help you manage your asthma.
With experience you will learn to keep away from things that irritate your airways, know when to take your medication, and better control your asthma. Effective asthma control allows you to take part in normal everyday activities.
If you don’t control your asthma you will miss school or work more often and you will be less likely to be able to take part in some activities you enjoy. In the USA and Western Europe, asthma is one of the leading causes of school absenteeism.
Acupressure treatment:-
Acupressure is an alternative treatment for asthma that offers a very beneficial way to get relief from the common complications of the condition. Rather than conventional medicine that poses great risks of side effects, acupressure is a harmless and natural way of getting relief from the symptoms of asthma. You just need to know the right acupressure points for asthma.
Acupressure Points for Relieving Asthma
* One of the points is located towards the outer part of the chest, close to the shoulders. The width of three fingers together below the collarbone is its exact location. This point can be found on both sides of your chest. The benefits of applying pressure on this point are relief from difficulties in breathing, chest tension, congestion, coughing and even tension caused by emotional problems.
* The hollow found below the collarbone located next to the breastbone is an acupressure point for asthma. The benefits of pressing on these points are relief from chest congestion, coughing, breathing problems, anxiety and other asthma symptoms.
* A very effective acupressure point for asthma is on the back. It is between the upper part of shoulder blades and the upper spine. You can feel for knots on both sides in this area of the upper back. A good way of applying pressure on these points once you locate them is to place two tennis balls while you lay on your back with the knees bent. Let your feet rest on the floor or the bed. Take deep breaths in this position as you allow your body to apply pressure through these balls, keeping the eyes closed. Deep relaxation for 5 to 10 minutes helps you get full benefits.
* On your palm pad’s centre, there is the base of the thumb. It is one of the points for acupressure. It is one of the more convenient points and you can press it anytime in the course of the day. It gives you benefit from shallow breathing, swollen throat and coughing.
* Another convenient acupressure point for asthma on your hand is where your wrist ends and below the base of the thumb. You can press this point throughout the day to get relief from lung problems, coughing and other asthma symptoms.
Other than acupressure, acupuncture is also a viable alternative treatment for asthma. You can find many professional experts who are adept at acupuncture for asthma treatment. But the acupressure points mentioned above are quite effective and you may not need professional assistance if you press these points regularly.
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