Asthma is a medical condition in which a person’s airways become inflamed, narrow and swell and produce extra mucus which makes it difficult to breathe. This condition is also known as bronchial asthma. It is a chronic condition, does not go away and needs ongoing medical management. Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs.
What is an asthma attack?
When you breathe normally, muscles around your airways are relaxed, letting the air move easily and quietly. During asthma attack, three things can happen-
- Bronchospasm – muscles around the airways constrict .when they tighten, it makes your airways narrow. Air cannot flow freely through constricted airways.
- Inflammation- lining of your airways becomes swollen.The Swollen airways don’t let as much air in or out of your lungs.
- Mucus production- during the attack, your body creates more mucus, this thick mucus clogs airways.
Causes of Asthma
Asthma has multiple causes-
- Allergic – in some people allergies can cause an asthma attack.
- Non allergic- outside factors can cause asthma. stress, exercise and weather may cause asthma
Asthma triggers – Exposure to various irritants and substances that trigger allergies can trigger signs and symptoms of asthma, Asthma triggers are different from person to person and can include:
- Respiratory infections such as common cold
- Airborne allergens such as pollen, dust mites, mold spores
- Cold air
- Physical activity
- Air pollutants and irritants such as smoke
- Intense emotion and stress
- Environmental irritants
- Certain medications including aspirin, and non-steroidal, anti- inflammatory drugs
- Children and adults who are overweight or obese are at a greater risk of asthma.
- Gastro esophageal reflux disease
- Asthma is more likely in people who have other allergic conditions, such as eczema and rhinitis.
Symptoms
Symptoms of asthma can vary from one person to another person. Symptoms sometimes get significantly worse, this known as an asthma attack.
Common symptoms of asthma includes
- Shortness of breath
- Coughing or wheezing attacks that are worsened by a respiratory virus such as cold or the flu
- Trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing
- Chest tightness or pain
- dark blacks in front of eyes
- fatigue
- rapid breathing
- frequent infections
- trouble sleeping
- anxiousness or panic
- dizziness
- confusion
Risk factors of Asthma
A number of factors are thought to increase your chances of developing asthma includes-
- Having a blood relative with asthma, such as a parent or sibling
- Having another allergic condition, such as atopic dermatitis which causes red, itchy skin or hay fever which causes a runny nose, congestion, and itchy eyes
- Being overweight
- Being a smoker
- Exposure to exhaust fumes or other types of pollution
- Exposure to occupational triggers, such as chemicals used in farming, hairdressing and manufacturing
Complications-
The complications of asthma includes-
- Signs and symptoms that interfere with sleep, work and other activities
- Emergency room visits and hospitalizations for severe asthma attacks
- Side effects from long term use of some medications used to stabilize severe asthma
Diagnosis
The doctor will ask about the signs and symptoms of the disease to the patient. Doctor will listen your breathing with a stethoscope. He will ask you about the family history. He will take his past medical history. He suggest some of the following tests to the patient-
- Lung function test
- Blood test
- Chest X-ray
Prevention
- Follow your asthma action plan
- Get vaccinated for influenza and pneumonia
- Identify and avoid asthma triggers
- Monitor your breathing
- Pay attention to increasing quick relief inhaler use- if you find yourself relying on your quick – relief inhaler, such as albuterol, your asthma is not under control
Management of Asthma according to ayurveda-
In ayurveda asthma is termed as Pranavaha Sroto Vikara. Increase in kapha dosha, strotas avarodha in pranvaha strotas leads to Vata Dosha obstruction, this blocked Vata dosha moves in reverse direction called Pratilom vayu.
Herbs useful in asthma-
- Sunthi
- Vasa
- Kantakari
- Rasna
- Pippli
- Tulsi
- Vanaschlochan
ASTHMA CURE KIT
ALL PRODUCTS DESCRIPTION IN DETAIL:
1. Kapha Sachet
The powder contains a mixture of herbal ingredients which are mainly made for the treatment of asthma. Their properties generally balance the vata and kapha dosha. The sachet contains ingredients like – Sitopladi churna, Laxmi vilas ras, Godanti bhasma, etc. It is used mainly in chronic cough, whooping cough and trouble breathing. It also relieves congestion of chest, sore throat. The ingredients loosen the mucus accumulated in the chest thus making it easy to cough it out. Its main therapeutic effects appear on lungs, pleura, and airways.
Recommended Dosage – Take 1 Sachet twice a day with normal water.
2. Swas Kas Chintamani Ras:
Swas Kas Chintamani Ras is an Ayurvedic medicine in tablet form, used in the treatment of respiratory diseases. This medicine should be used under medical supervision. This medicine is most commonly used in north Indian Ayurvedic practice. These tablets are pure Ayurvedic preparatipon which contains pure herbal ingredients like swarna bhasma, shuddha parad, shuddha gandhak, suwaranmakshik bhasma, loha bhasma, yashtimadhu, kantakari, etc. It is used in the treatment of cough, cold, bronchitis, asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergic bronchitis.
Recommended dosage: Take 1 tablet twice daily.
3. Anu Tailam
Anu tailam is herbal and ayurvedic oil used for the nasal instillation for curing the various diseases. It is administrated through the nasal passage to lubricate, protect and calm the mind. It includes – Sesame oil, Bael tree root, Solanum root, Cinnamon stem bark, Holostemma tuber, cardamom fruit, etc. It mainly balances the Kapha dosha and is beneficial in diseases of head, brain, face, nose, and eyes. Its use is generally recommended in chronic headache, problem of migraine, sinusitis, improves the voice, and vocal cords. Anu tailam gives effective results to asthma patients.
Recommended Dosage – Put 2-3 drops of Anu tailam in each nostril.
4. Broncho care syrup:
Broncho care is ayurvedic syrup containing ingredients such as Vasa patra (Adhatoda vasica), Kantkari (Solanum surattense), Mulethi (Glycyrrhiza glabra), Bharangi (Clerodendrum serratum), Chitrakmool (Plumbago zeylanica), Sonth (Zingiber officinale), Pippali (Piper longum), etc. It is mainly used in chronic cough, bronchitis, whooping cough, common cold, etc.
Recommended Dosage – Take 2 teaspoonful twice a day.
5. Cough Go Tablets:
These herbal tablets are beneficial in cough, cold, bronchitis, & other respiratory disorders. Cough Go Tablets are ayurvedic formulation containing Sonth (Zingiber officinale), Mulethi (Glycyrrhiza glabra), Pippali (Piper longum), Kali mirch (Piper nigrum), etc. All these ingredients show antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, bronchodilator, & expectorant properties.
Recommended Dosage – Take 1 tablet twice a day with normal water.
6. Kantha Sudharak Vati:
The ingredients used for the preparation of the Kantha sudharak vati are Mulethi (Glycyrrhiza glabra), Karpura (Cinnamomum camphora), Ela (Elettaria cardamomum), Lavang (Syzygium aromaticum), Javitri (Myristica fragrans), Ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi).This is prepared from soothing and expectorant herbs thus relief all throat problems. It gives very effective results in chronic laryngitis, bronchitis and asthma.
Recommended Dosage– Take 2 tablets thrice a day.
