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About Asthma

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Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world. Perhaps the most commonly discussed respiratory disease after the common cold. The word asthma is derived from a Greek work meaning 'breathlessness or panting' both of which accurately describe an attack of asthma.

An asthma attack leads to lung infection, tiredness and cough and it is not surprising that asthma is a leading medical cause of absenteeism of children from school and adults from work The attack can be seasonal when the pollen count is high in the atmosphere. An attack of asthma leads to breathing difficulties and the attack can be acute when it lasts for a short period or chronic when it lasts for days. The attack can also be mild or severe and a life threatening one.


The conservative estimates are that about 300 million people are suffering from the condition worldwide. In India, there are approx.40 million who have the disease and the number is rising everyday. In recent decade there has been a global increase in the burden of the disease among both children and adults. This maybe due to westernization of lifestyles and increasing atmospheric pollution. By 2025 there are likely to be 400 million asthma sufferers worldwide. The more worrying aspect of the disease is that it accounts for about 1 in every 250 deaths worldwide and 90% of these deaths are preventable. Most deaths are due to delay in seeking help and sub-optimal long-term treatment strategies due to the lack of education and awareness about the disease.

Asthma Slideshow Quiz on Asthma

"Among the Diseases whereby the Region of the breath is wont to be infested, if you regard their tyranny and cruelty, an Asthma (which is sometimes by reason of a peculiar symptom denominated likewise an Orthopnoea) doth not deserve the last place; for there is scarce any thing more sharp and terrible than the fits there of Breathing, whereby we chiefly live, is very much hindered by the assault of this disease, and is in danger, or runs the risk of being quite taken away."
-Thomas Willis, 1674
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If you have a question about health related issues, you can now post it in our Ask An Expert section on our community website Medwonders.com and get answers from our panel of experts.
Posted by:  azzie(Guest)  Posted on: 10/29/2012
I have heard that linseed oil paint in the home is something that will help in preventing asthma attacks as it contains no chemicals,does anyone know if this is true



Posted by:  redmike(Guest)  Posted on: 10/05/2012
hi i have asthma it was thought to be copd i dont smoke i get emotional at times it has be playing up with chest infection i get stessed too im glad its not copd for that could be worse i died came back doctors fought to save me in laganvalley hospital in lisburn ty to them there work was great i feel better than i was a blessing



Posted by:  AlmazTaylor(Guest)  Posted on: 11/13/2011
Another consideration is the humidity level in the home, which can be measured using a hygrometer. A dry atmosphere has health concerns and it is a humidifier that is used to add moisture to the air in the home. A humidifier can be either for the whole house or a small humidifier ideal for a room.



Posted by:  s.akhter1006gmail.com  Posted on: 07/24/2011
My belief is asthma is alelergy of lungs. Same allergies in other parts of the body are named differently. eg. allergic conjunctivitis, rhinitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, tracheitis. I also belief that the allergies in muscles causes myalgia, in joints causes arthralgias and arthritis. Skin eczzema is also somehow related to it. All of these can, should happen in the same person, may be at different times, usually unpredictable for time of onset and severity. Genetic factors are definitly related, but sometimes no family history is found. May be its incidence is increasing Shahida, Bangladesh



Posted by:  ennairam_23  Posted on: 02/03/2011
Asthma runs in my husband's family. Unfortunately, my children have it. They take preventive meds such as Seretide.



Posted by:  vshms(Guest)  Posted on: 12/29/2010
Free Distant Healing session available for Asthma Patients, Great improvement can be measured in 24 hrs after first given session… You can request your free healing sessions at my facebook group GROUP NAME "Free Distant Healing" Group ID "18894468317" Do follow the rules and regulations available at the groups info page before requesting healing. Thanks!



Posted by:  Rema.iyer  Posted on: 12/09/2009
If there are any alternate therapists who can cure Cardiac Asthma. Please answer this query. I am suffering from dialated heart and allopathy i have been trying for the past 6 months and i dont find any change in my health conditions.



Posted by:  kvthkar(Guest)  Posted on: 11/27/2008
I am sufferinf from cough and asthma .



Posted by:  guest  Posted on: 07/05/2008
In early 2009 KarmelSonix Pty Ltd an Australian company of which I am a Director will be releasing the Personal Wheezometer - a hand held device the size of a mobile phone. The Wheezometer will revolutionise the home monitoring and management of asthma by providing a device for use at home, or at the workplace, or at the sporting club to accurately and personally assess the state of the asthma by measuring the wheeze rate - number of wheezes per minute - using very highly sensitive sensors embedded in the unit.




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