ASTHMA FORUM

Symptoms: sporadic attacks of shortness of breath wheezing coughing tight feeling over chest. In severe cases the skin can turn blue, the patient may gasp for breath, find it impossible to talk and become restless and confused. 
Cause: Asthma appears to be a genetic disease (passed on from parents); in many cases the relevant genes lie dormant in the parents and become active in offspring.
Triggers: no 2 asthmatics are identical and the triggers vary from patient to patient; physical exersion, smoke, air pollution, cold temperatures, pollens, anxiety, smoking, dustmite, chemical fumes, different types of food, medicinal drugs,
Orthodox treatment: 
Relievers,
-Beta-2 agonists, such as Ventolin and Bricanylwhich which act for a short period of time, and Serevent used for longer time periods, which are inhaled and generally act quickly to relax the bronchial muscles around the bronchioles, 
-Anticholinergics, such as Atrovent, are drugs which reduce the nerve stimulation to the bronchiole muscles, and thus decreasing the effects of an asthma attack,
-Theophyllines, such as Sio-phyllin, 
Preventers, 
-Corticosteroids, such as Filxotide and Prednisolone, are usually inhaled and have a rapid anti inflammatory effect on the bronchioles,
-Cromones, such as Intal and Tilade, are inhaled and have a strong anti-inflammatory effect and are particularly effective in children,
-Leukotriene receptor antagonists, such as Accolate, which help block the release of leukotienes ( substances released by the lungs in asthmatics which cause inflammation and brocho-spasm). 
Other drugs,
-Omalizumab (Xolair) is often used as an extra form of medication when allergens trigger attacks, it acts to block the excessive activity of the body’s antibodies when stimulated by an external substance.
Bronchial Thermoplasty, where a wire probe is inserted into the lungs to heat the tissues lining the lungs to 65 degrees Celsius using bursts of radio waves destroying some of the muscle tissue which over reacts during an asthma attack. This is a new procedure being pioneered by Dr Rob Niven at the University Hospital of South manchester.
Natural Therapies: In the case of asthma, natural remedies are used to help patients function at an optimum and to reduce the amount of orthodox medication used. Basically it becomes a partnership between complementary and orthodox approaches. 
The Buteyko Breathing Technique: a specialised breathing technique which has been shown to help sufferers (A Randomised Controlled Trial of the Buteyko Technique for Asthma Management Respiratory Medicine May 2008 (Vol. 102, Issue 5, Pages 726-732). For more information, please click HERE.
Positive Input Ventillation systems: a fan system is placed in the loft which transmits filtered air with positive pressure into the house. This in turn forces air containing moisture and pollutants out of the house.
Acupuncture: has been proven to be effective in reducing inflammation. There is a great deal of evidence relating to the positive effects of acupuncture in the treatment of asthma: eg. Hu J. Clinical observation on 25 cases of hormone dependent bronchial asthma treated by acupuncture reported in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 1998; 18: 27-30; another interesting article in the U.S. National library of Medicine about the effects of heat-sensitive moxibustion and medication by Liang C, Zhang TF, and Yang K, April 2010. Another study at the Ching Kuo Institute of Management and Health in Taiwan demonstrated the positive effects of acupuncture-like transcutaneous nerve stimulation on children with asthma. For more information click HERE.
Homeopathy: is often used in a support role in the treatment of asthma. Positive outcomes have been found in a number of clinical trials:eg. "Homeopathic Treatment for Chronic Disease: A 6-Year, University-Hospital Outpatient Observational Study" in 2005 at Bristol Homeopathic Hospital; Dutch researchers, none of whom were homeopaths, published a review of 107 studies in the British Medical Journal (February 9, 1991), 81 of which showed that the homeopathic medicines worked; a randomized trial in Cuba in the treatment of bronchial asthma showed a 97% improvement with homeopathic remedies. More about homeopathy: click HERE.
Herbalism:There are many different types of herbalism such as Chinese, traditional European, Ayurverda, etc. and there is more and more research showing the positive effects. The results of a series of trials for Chinese herbs "Li X-M, Brown LV. Efficacy and mechanisms of action of traditional Chinese medicines for treating asthma and allergy" in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology in 2009. In Japan 6 kinds of herbal complexes are recommneded in the Japanese National Guidelines for the Management of Asthma. Click HERE for more information.
Chiropractic: Although chiropractic is mostly associated with the treatment of musculo-skeletal conditions, there is considerable evidence to suggest it can help in the treatment of asthma, eg. Chronic pediatric asthma and chiropractic spinal manipulation: a prospective clinical series and randomized clinical pilot study Gert Bronfort, DC, PhD, Roni L. Evans, DC, Paul Kubic, MD, PhD, Patty Filkin J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2001 (July); 24 (6): 369–377, and "Chiropractic care for patients with asthma: A systematic review of the literature", published in the Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association in March 2010. Click HERE for more information.
Osteopathy: is often used to help patients optimise the spinal function which in turn can help chest expansion and nerve supply to the lungs. Click HERE for more information. 
The Alexander Technique: basically encourages patients to improve their posture and literally how to use the different parts of their body in the most efficient way. There is much emphsis on correct breathing and patients have found this to be beneficial with helping control asthma. Click HERE for more information.
Aromatherapy: is often used to alleviate the symptoms of asthma; essential oils can be rubbed into the skin or inhaled with a steam bath. For more about aromatherapy click HERE. 
Biofeedback: there are a number of trials which report positive results in the treatment of asthma: "Biofeedback Treatment for Asthma" Paul M. Lehrer, PhD; Evgeny Vaschillo, PhD; Bronya Vaschillo, MD; Shou-En Lu, PhD; Anthony Scardella, MD, FCCP; Mahmood Siddique, DO, FCCP; Robert H. Habib, PhD; another positive trial was reported in a journal called CHEST in August 2004 by the The American College of Chest Physicians. Click HERE to learn more a bout Biofeedback.
Nutrition: can play an important part in helping control asthma. Caffeine containing drinks have a positive brocho-dilating effect. The following foods have also found to be beneficial: garlic, chili, hot mustard,onions, fatty fish (due to Omega 3 fatty acid content), Vitamin C, turmeric, flax seeds, ginger, citrus fruits, broccoli, spinach, brussel sprouts, wheat germ for Vitamin E. There are some foods which may increase mucus production such as dairy foods, white bread, processed foods, foods with artificial additves, colourings, preservatives, ice cream, sugar, sweets, bananas and should be avoided. 
Tragerwork: combines gentle mobilisation by a therapist with specialised home exercise routines. For more in formation click HERE. 
Yoga: trials have shown improvement in patients using yoga: eg. "Sahaja yoga in the management of moderate to severe asthma: a randomised controlled trial" reported in Thorax 2002 57:110-115; there is an interesting online article by Barbara Benagh in www.yogajournal.com about a series of daily exercises which she has devised for her own asthmatic condition.For more about yoga click HERE.
Bowen Technique: this is another approach found to be effective by a number of asthmatics. There is a specific manoeuvre called the Bowen RElease Move which can be used to relieve symptoms. For more information click HERE

LATEST NEWS: Trials are taking place at Southampton University under Dr Anthony Frew in collaboration with an American pharmaceutical company to develop a vaccine using a synthetic DNA sequence which will counteract the over reaction of asthma sufferers to external stimuli..

Let's talk asthma

we are keen to get as much input as possible from therapists, and asthma suffferers: share your experiences with us. Maybe you have some tips which may help others, or maybe just comment on the information above.