Ten Ways to Cure Colds on People With Asthma
Posted on 03. Feb, 2011 by Matthew Hallett in Health
Asthma is essentially a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the airways due to reactions to irritants and allergens. When triggers come into contact with our airways we may have a cascade of changes leading to constricted airways, bronchial tissue swelling and an increase in thick mucus production. This results in coughing, chest tightness and breathing trouble.
A wide range of drugs can help keep your airways open, reduce inflammation and prevent more serious asthma attacks. However, those with inflamed airways or asthma are especially vulnerable to full impacts of respiratory infections. If you have asthma, you’ll never have “just a little cold”, asthmatic airways are more vulnerable to common cold virus found in the environment.
Complications such as pneumonia and bronchitis are usually more common on people with asthma and even a single respiratory infection are usually rather severe and prolonged, which can induce an acute episode of asthma. Eventually, the combination of prolonged cold and asthma attacks can lead to obstruction of the airways that can not be easily reversed with drugs.
To avoid these problems, colds and any respiratory infection on people with asthma should be taken seriously in the first onset of cold. You should call the doctor if you start to feel early cold symptoms. If your asthma is getting worse then additional treatment of the airways may be necessary.
People with asthma should avoid aspirin. About ten percent of asthmatics find that aspirin is an allergen and a single dose may cause difficulty in breathing. In some cases, asthma can cause allergy to all types of drugs that is classified as NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), including Anaprox and ibuprofen. To reduce the discomfort caused by influenza and colds, people with asthma should use acetaminophen (Tylenol).
Antihistamines. Because asthma is frequently triggered by allergens, antihistamines are good in reducing the histamine level and sputum production. They are particularly useful in children, in which 90 percent of asthma cases are caused by allergies.
Decongestants. They are used to keep the airway open and make patients feel comfortable. Since decongestants may cause higher blood pressure and heart rate, it would be appropriate to limit its use.
Vaccines. Studies affirm that influenza vaccination is effective and safe for those with asthma. Immunization against pneumonia is also useful.
Antiviral drugs. Tamiflu can be extremely useful for asthmatics that catch a cold. Overall, vaccine is only 70 to 80 percent effective and flu can still develop, despite the injection. Maybe your vaccination is too late and you don’t develop enough antibodies before flu fully strikes, or you may have caught a random mutated virus that is not covered by the vaccine. It is important to note that some antiviral drugs, like Relenza, can cause wheezing and difficulty breathing, as the result their uses in people with asthma should be avoided.
Cough control. People with asthma often have violent coughing, and further infection can make any situation goes from bad to worse. Doctors usually prescribe cough suppressants (codeine or dextromethorphan) and bronchodilators. Sometimes it is necessary to use corticosteroids for a few weeks to disrupt asthma and the cough cycle.
Supplements. Asthmatics can use zinc tablets and vitamin C (500 mg each day) to treat the symptoms of influenza.
Antibiotics. Inflamed and damaged airways of asthmatics cause higher vulnerability to secondary bacterial infections. Therefore, patients with asthma should be prescribed with antibiotics before a full outbreak. Although antibiotics have no effect on viruses that cause colds and flu, it can prevent complication such as sinusitis and bronchitis from developing.
Nutrition. Major researches have shown that those whose diets are rich in vegetables and fruits have lower possibility of developing asthma. It is assumed that antioxidants-rich foods reduce the effects of free radicals that are created in the lungs of asthmatics. If you do not feel up to stir-fried broccoli or a big plate of salad, you should get enough antioxidants from many tasty vegetable soup recipes. Hot tea with lemon juice, orange, concentrated spice oils and even a bar of low-fat dark chocolate are proven to combat free radicals.
Hydrotherapy. Regularly taking hot showers in the morning can give enough moisture for troubled asthmatic airways, which allow it to be easily dehydrated when the respiratory tract is infected.
Herbs. It is a treatment that can help control colds and maintain a healthy and balanced life. A couple of widely recommended herbal therapies for colds on asthmatics are the following.
• Honey is among the most commonly used home remedies for treating colds. Take a jar full of honey and keep it under your nose. Breathing in the air that comes out from the jar may allow you to breathe easily.
• Mix the juice of a lemon with a glass of water and some honey, drink it after a meal.
Those with asthma should avoid the use of certain herbs, including echinacea. It may contain pollen, chemicals and other allergens which can contribute to asthma symptoms. A major advantage of using herbal therapy is that you can combine them with conventional medicines. If you can get your situation slowly under control, ask the doctor if you can reduce the dose gradually and continue using herbal remedies. Your doctor may also prescribe medicines made from herbal plants to replace common prescription drugs if your situation has improved considerably. Your doctor may also advise on having a positive and stress-free lifestyle. You can do yoga and meditation to relax the mind, which may relax the muscles and calm the nerves.
