What is Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic disease that makes it hard to breathe. People with asthma have airways which are extra sensitive. When an asthmatic is around certain things their airways:

• Become red and swollen, filling up with mucus. The swelling and mucus make the airways narrower, making it difficult for air to pass through.
• Can spasm. The muscles around the airways squeeze together and tighten. This makes the airways narrower, leaving less room for air to pass through.
  

The more swollen the airways are, the more spasms occur.

What causes Asthma?

Certain things make a person more likely to become asthmatic:
Air pollution: people who live near major highways and other polluted places are more likely to get asthma. Children who grow up in a home with mould or dust may also be more likely to become asthmatic.
Family history: if a family member has an allergic disease like asthma, hay fever, or eczema, there is a higher chance of becoming asthmatic.
Second-hand smoke: Children whose mothers smoked while pregnant, who grow up in a smoky house, or whose grandmothers smoked, are all more likely to get asthma.
Work-related asthma: People who work in certain types of jobs can get asthma from things they work with. For example:

• Laboratory workers can get asthma from lab animals: rats, mice, guinea-pigs
• Spray painters can get asthma from isocyanates
• Grain handlers can get asthma from grain dust

Each person with asthma has their own set of asthma inducers and asthma triggers.
Asthma inducers: When an allergen such as dust or pollen is breathed in, or if they have a viral infection such as a cold or flu their airways can become inflamed.
Asthma triggers: If an asthma trigger like cold air or smoke is inhaled, the muscles around the airways can go into spasm and squeeze together tightly, leaving less room for air to pass through.

What are the signs and symptoms of Asthma?

Different people have different signs and symptoms of asthma, which can change over time or depending on the situation. People with asthma often have one or more of following symptoms:

• Chest tightness
• Coughing
• Feeling short of breath
• Wheezing

Signs and symptoms of a serious asthma emergency:

• Blue lips or nail beds
• Difficulty speaking
• Inhaler doesn't help
• Nostrils flaring out
• Pale, grey, sweating
• Really tired, lethargic
• Struggling for breath
• Sucking in skin above breastbone and between ribs
• Unconscious (fainted)
  

How common is Asthma?

According to the Canadian Lung Association asthma affects almost 3 million Canadians.

What health problems are caused by Asthma?

If asthma triggers as not avoided, an asthmatic will experience constant breathing problems, risking a severe asthma attack requiring a hospital visit. According to the Canadian Lung Association about 300 Canadians die each year from asthma.

What can be done to help with Asthma?

1. Total Lung Cleanse is formulated to cleanse the respiratory tract and provide total support for the respiratory system. It is a powerful healing and therapeutic formula to aid people with chronic lung ailments such as Asthma.
2. Ultimate Flora Critical Care is a 50 billion culture, 10 strain probiotic formula. Research has shown that probiotics may be useful for preventing respiratory infections.