The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Asthma

  • Asthma

    Asthma is a disease condition in which the air passages in the lungs (called bronchioles) become sensitive to simulation by a variety of agents, leading to contraction of the muscular wall, with narrowing of the bone to a degree that seriously obstructs the entry and exit of air in the lungs.

    In an attack of asthma¸ the breathing becomes difficult, expiration often being more affected than inspiration. The patient is short of breath and breathing may become audibly “wheezy”, with coughing. The effort to draw breath increases, but despite this, the movement of the chest is diminished. The patient may become agitated or confused. He feels he is going to choke to death. It is a frightening condition.

    There are numerous causes of asthmatic attack. In some cases, a frank allergy exists to a particular material, grass and tree pollens, molds and fungi, animal hair and even some types of food may all provoke an asthmatic attack. In other cases, a physical or chemical irritant such as a smoky atmosphere, exhaust fumes or acid fumes may bring on an attack. Even, the inhalation of dust (particularly when sweeping an enclosure), of smoke, particularly from frying food or burning of dried or wet grass, and others can cause attack.

    Infections of the lungs, particularly those caused by viruses, may precipitate an attack in those who are susceptible. It has also been noted that asthmatic patients suffer more under cold conditions. It should be noted that just like in most cases of ill-health, the causes of asthma include much waste matter and mucus in the system.

    From all these explanations, it becomes clear that the signs that one can easily observe in an asthmatic patient are difficult breathing and wheezing. It is mainly in the night that severe attacks take place. The patient longs to be in a wide-open place with sufficient fresh air.

    Prevention

    Asthmatic attacks can be prevented if the causes are removed and the body’s resistance is built up. The first of such causes would be anything that is harmful to the lungs and bronchial tubes; such as smoking.

    Treatment and Control

    In Holistic Lifecare. It is strongly advocated that the best way to control asthmatic attack is by going back to NATURE. If the attack takes place after a meal, it is advisable to induce vomiting. It is good to give hot fomentations over the areas of the stomach, liver, lungs and spleen.

    On wet days, and at night, the patient should be kept very warm. The windows should be left open to allow in sufficient air. Fans and air-conditioners should not be used in the sleeping room. The Holistic natural remedy being suggested for asthma is a combination of natural extracts of Allium cepa, Allium sativum, Tetrapleura tetraptera and Zingiber officinale.

     

    For further information and consultation on Holistic Lifecare research and services, especially on Blood Infections, Infertility, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Chronic Debilitating Conditions as well as mental and social problems, please call  on: 0803-330-3897 or visit: Mosebolatan Holistic Lifecare Centre, Adeyalo Layout, Ogbere-Tioya, Off Olorunsogo Express Bridge, Ibadan. Website: www.holisticlifecare.com. Distance is no barrier, we can send remedies by courier if need be.

  • Allergies and asthma: connection, prevention

    Allergies and asthma: They often occur together. You may wonder what allergies and asthma have in common besides making you miserable. A lot, as it turns out. Allergies and asthma often occur together.

    The same substances that trigger your hay fever symptoms may also cause asthma signs and symptoms, such as shortness of breath, wheezing and chest tightness. This is called allergic asthma or allergy-induced asthma. Certain substances, such as pollen, dust mites and pet dander, are common triggers. In some people, skin or food allergies can cause asthma symptoms.

    How does an allergic reaction cause asthma symptoms?

    An allergic response occurs when immune system proteins (antibodies) mistakenly identify a harmless substance, such as tree pollen, as an invader. In an attempt to protect your body from the substance, antibodies bind to the allergen. The chemicals released by your immune system lead to allergy signs and symptoms, such as nasal congestion, runny nose, itchy eyes or skin reactions. For some people, this same reaction also affects the lungs and airways, leading to asthma symptoms.

    Are allergies and asthma treated differently?

    Most treatments are designed to treat either asthma or allergies. But a few treatments help with both conditions, for example:

    Leukotriene modifier Montelukast (Singulair) is a medication that eases both allergy and asthma symptoms. Called a leukotriene modifier, this taken-daily pill helps control immune system chemicals released during an allergic reaction. In rare cases, this and other leukotriene modifiers have been linked to psychological reactions, including suicidal thinking. Seek medical advice right away for any unusual psychological reaction to one of these medications.

    Allergy shots (immunotherapy) Allergy shots can help treat asthma by gradually reducing your immune system response to certain allergy triggers. Immunotherapy involves getting regular injections of a tiny amount of the allergens that trigger your symptoms. Your immune system builds up a tolerance to the allergens over time, and your allergic reactions diminish. In turn, asthma symptoms decrease as well. This treatment generally requires regular injections over a period of three to five years.

    Anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE) therapy

    When you have an allergy, your immune system mistakenly identifies a specific substance as something harmful and releases antibodies, known as IgE, against the culprit allergen.

    The next time you encounter that allergen, the IgE antibodies sense it and signal your immune system to release a chemical called histamine, as well as other chemicals, into your bloodstream. The medication omalizumab (Xolair) interferes with IgE in the body and helps prevent the allergic reaction that triggers asthma symptoms.

    You may need other medications to treat allergies or asthma, especially if your symptoms become severe at times. However, recognizing and avoiding the allergic substances that trigger your symptoms is the most important step you can take.

    ·Who’s at risk of allergic asthma?

    A family history of allergies is a major risk factor for allergic asthma. Having hay fever or other allergies yourself also increases your risk of getting asthma.

     

    •Source: www.mayoclinic.org

  • Asthma

    Asthma is a disease condition in which the air passages in the lungs (called bronchioles) become sensitive to simulation by a variety of agents, leading to contraction of the muscular wall, with narrowing of the bone to a degree that seriously obstructs the entry and exit of air in the lungs.

    In an attack of asthma¸ the breathing becomes difficult, expiration often being more affected than inspiration. The patient is short of breath and breathing may become audibly “wheezy”, with coughing. The effort to draw breath increases, but despite this, the movement of the chest is diminished. The patient may become agitated or confused. He feels he is going to choke to death. It is a frightening condition.

    There are numerous causes of asthmatic attack. In some cases, a frank allergy exists to a particular material, grass and tree pollens, molds and fungi, animal hair and even some types of food may all provoke an asthmatic attack. In other cases, a physical or chemical irritant such as a smoky atmosphere, exhaust fumes or acid fumes may bring on an attack. Even, the inhalation of dust (particularly when sweeping an enclosure), of smoke, particularly from frying food or burning of dried or wet grass, and others can cause attack.

    Infections of the lungs, particularly those caused by viruses, may precipitate an attack in those who are susceptible. It has also been noted that asthmatic patients suffer more under cold conditions. It should be noted that just like in most cases of ill-health, the causes of asthma include much waste matter and mucus in the system.

    From all these explanations, it becomes clear that the signs that one can easily observe in an asthmatic patient are difficult breathing and wheezing. It is mainly in the night that severe attacks take place. The patient longs to be in a wide-open place with sufficient fresh air.

    Prevention

    Asthmatic attacks can be prevented if the causes are removed and the body’s resistance is built up. The first of such causes would be anything that is harmful to the lungs and bronchial tubes; such as smoking.

    Treatment and Control

    In Holistic Lifecare. It is strongly advocated that the best way to control asthmatic attack is by going back to NATURE. If the attack takes place after a meal, it is advisable to induce vomiting. It is good to give hot fomentations over the areas of the stomach, liver, lungs and spleen.

    On wet days, and at night, the patient should be kept very warm. The windows should be left open to allow in sufficient air. Fans and air-conditioners should not be used in the sleeping room. The Holistic natural remedy being suggested for asthma is a combination of natural extracts of Allium cepa, Allium sativum, Tetrapleura tetraptera and Zingiber officinale.

    For further information and consultation on Holistic Lifecare research and services, especially on Blood Infections, Infertility, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Chronic Debilitating Conditions as well as mental and social problems, please call on: 0803-330-3897 or visit: Mosebolatan Holistic Lifecare Centre, Adeyalo Layout, Ogbere-Tioya, Off Olorunsogo Express Bridge, Ibadan. Website: www.holisticlifecare.com. Distance is no barrier, we can send remedies by courier if need be. We also have facilities for accommodation, admission and hospitalization in a serene and homely environment.

  • A glimpse into the role of calcium ion in the bio mechanisms of asthma

    Drug treatment of asthma in its various forms has also not changed much in the past decade , prob

    ably from the same reason of inadequate research and the fact that not many people are willing to make themselves available for research as human subjects even with the best of ethical standards.

    Also, the issue of funding has not been adequately addressed with the result that large scale population studies or surveys are absent, the only few having been done on pulmonary tuberculosis. It has therefore become necessary to reawaken interest in an area where there are more questions than have been answered and the challenges are mounting with climate change and worsening environmental pollution from rapid industrialization.

    Structural changes usually precede airway narrowing .Some of these are ; influx of inflammatory cells particularly Neutrophils and Eosinophils, hypertrophy of smooth muscles

    damage to epithelium, the more prolonged, the greater the damage ,increased secretions into the lumen, thickening of the basement membrane, edema or swelling of the mucosa.

    All these will reduce the shape and caliber of the airway, and because resistance is inversely proportional to the fourth power of the radius, the reduction in airway radius will in 80% of cases lead to changes in airway resistance, depending on race and gender, stretch and other receptors in the lumen of these airways are also specie specific, which explains why a twin can be asthmatic while the brother doesn’t.

    In asthmatics, the smooth muscle of the airway is hypertrophic and of the multiunit type ; each cell is innervated and cell to cell communication is defective.

    It is strongly believed that the calcium ion(Ca2+) is at the centre stage in the pathophysiology of asthma and an improvement in the understanding of it’s role in tension generation , as well as relaxation will provide an avenue for gentle manipulation of the osmolarity of the periciliary fluid to wards achieving a stable balance between influx and efflux of calcium ion.

    Tracheo bronchial tension is enhanced in the following setting; increased entry of calcium ion,

    increased release of calcium from intracellular compartment, reduced sequestration of calcium by intracellular organelles , and reduced calcium efflux from the cell .

    There is evidence of similarities between hyper responsiveness of bronchial smooth muscle and the reactive structural changes that occur in long standing hypertension. These changes are believed to be consistent with defects in the calcium ion regulatory processes.

    The problem of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) requires emphasis. PAH is a condition affecting all ages for which like asthma there is presently no cure. This condition can be misdiagnosed as bronchial asthma in situations of emergency and while the wrong therapeutic outline is being addressed, the patient dies of right sided heart failure. Detailed studies including autopsy or studies in anatomical pathology are needed to ascertain whether this indeed can explain some of the lost cases that have been recorded where attending Doctors or responders watched helplessly as patients stopped breathing. It remains to be investigated if specific calcium channel blockers can be found that will prevent further entry and reduce tension in smooth muscle irrespective of whether it is of cardiac or tracheobronchial origin.

    Other conditions favoring sustained trachea bronchial smooth muscle tension and conversion from multi unit to single –unit contractile state include the following; decreased calcium efflux from the cells, altered sensitivity to calcium channel blockers, increased permeability to sodium and potassium ions, decreased rates of smooth muscle relaxation even when spasmogens have been removed

    It has been recognized that in many instances, the tracheobronchial smooth muscle behaves much like that in the intestine: Ca2+ is related to the Na+_Ca2+ exchange mechanism such that one Ca2+ is extruded for every 3Na+ that enters the cell . Decreased intracellularCa2+ leads to relaxation of bronchial smooth muscle ; this does not occur in isolation, but rather depends on the Na2+-K+ATPase exchange mechanism ,much like the Na+- k+ Glucose /ATPase permease exchange mechanism in the intestine

    Dr. Okhe . Okhiai, a molecular biologist with the College of Medicine ,Ambrose Ali University Edo state, suggests that prominent among events leading to severe acute asthma(previously status asthmaticus) is a major derailment in the Na+- Ca2+ ATPase exchange mechanism as a result of which Ca2+ is not transported out of the Cytosol, and accumulates to cause sustained contraction that is characteristic of the condition. Levels of Ca2+ just above the physiological threshold can maintain tonic contraction to variable extents throughout days, months and years without being detected unless patients present with symptoms

    Two separate calcium channels have been identified, voltage dependent calcium channels(VDC) and receptor operated calcium channels(ROC) .The former is more related to calcium entry blocking drugs such as are currently employed in the treatment of hypertension. The problem is the lack of specificity and getting the right dosage that will yield gratifying results with minimal toxicity

    Since Products of mast cell degradation rely on availability of Ca2+ to maintain sustained single unit smooth muscle contraction for long periods, further interest in this area will perhaps open new frontiers for preventing or aborting potentially deadly attacks of asthma

     

    Recommendations

    Government should have a policy to provide funds for research and provide data on prevalence of childhood asthma, adult type and occupational asthma.

    Facilitate health education guidance and counseling including marriage counseling for intending couples affected by co morbidities like asthma and HBAC or HBAS

    Asthmatics of school age can be taught how to avoid trigger factors and when to stop excessive play or exercise, when to head for the Sickbay or the emergency unit. They can also form advocacy groups with interested volunteer agencies to bring attention of government to their problems

    The relevant authorities could establish asthma research units in Colleges of Health Sciences in collaboration with Teaching Hospitals, and existing National research centers

    The public, schools, churches, organizations should encourage health education in and about the benefits of participating voluntarily in research involving human subjects

  • ‘Asthma kills 10,000 yearly’

    Managing Director, HealthPlus Limited Mrs Bukky George said asthma killed over 10,000 Nigerians last year, according to World Health Organisation’s (WHO’s) statistic.

    This, she said, was far more than the number of deaths recorded from HIV/AIDS .

    According to her, the new medications such as nebuliser, spacer, steroid tablets, preventers inhaler among others are now available, in the country.

    Mrs George spoke during a fundraiser for Elias Nelson Oyedokun foundation to create awareness on asthma in Lagos.

    She claimed Nelson Ilaka Oyedokun died of Asthma in 2010 at 13 while visiting his friend in Lekki, Lagos State.

    Mrs. George attributed the popular awareness of HIV/AIDS to the stigma involved because people find it difficult to say even when they are infected.

    She said another reason for the serious awareness of AIDS is the means of contracting it which could be via sexual intercourse, sharp objects and other means.

    She said: “Ability to take control when they have attack is very important, when they know how to take control of the situation, the problem is already solved. Asthma victims should inform all the people around them on the conditions of their health and how to use the medication available in case they have attack.”

    Mrs. Goerge said asthmatics need to inform all the people who are close to them of the medication they take so as to rescue them whenever they are under attack and lack of ability to apply the medications.

    She advised parents of asthmatics to inform their teachers, friends, drivers, of the way to use the new medications so as to use it effectively whenever they are attacked.

    While talking on the need for setting up a foundation for the deceased, the organiser of the event and the father of Nelson Oyedokun, Hon. Bisi Ilaka, said there is a need for people to know how deadly asthma is, and that is why they embarked on the programme to collaborate with the major stakeholders and organisations like schools, non-governmental organisations (NGO) and government organisations like Federal Ministry of Health.

    Ilaka said the aim of the foundation is to reduce the number of the people dying of asthma in Nigeria by sensitising them of what to do when they have attack.

  • ‘15 million Nigerians suffer from asthma’

    ‘15 million Nigerians suffer from asthma’

     

    The National President of Nigerian Thoracic Society, Prof. Greg Erhosa, said no fewer than 15 million Nigerians are suffering from asthma, tuberculosis and other chest-related diseases.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Erhosa announced this while addressing journalists at an annual national conference of the society in Ilorin on Saturday.

    Erhosa, who works with the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, attributed the high number of Nigerians suffering from asthma and other chest diseases to lack of preventive measures.

    According to him, asthma is chronic disease which has claimed lives of several eminent Nigerians and the downtrodden.

    He called for establishment of thoracic health centres in each of the six geo-political zones to address the disease and other chest related ailments.

    Erhosa urged the three tiers of government in the country to set aside fund for the prevention and care of chest-related problem among Nigerians.

    He also canvassed for the recruitment of more experts in chest-related problem who would be in charge of preventive and cure of the diseases.

    According to him, preventing the disease is not as expensive as treating it.

    He said that the society would collaborate with American Thoracic Society and Africa Thoracic Society to eliminate tuberculosis, asthma and other chest-related problems.

    The annual conference was attended by several medical doctors, pharmacists, nurses and other medical personnel from various teaching hospitals in the country.