Asthma is on the increase every year, so we should be made more aware of the causes and what to do in order to prevent ourselves or children of the next generations from becoming asthmatics. As many as 15-20 million people in the USA alone have asthma, with a third of these teenagers and younger.

Most of us have heard of Asthma, but have no idea were it is from or why it is called that. The word asthma is a Greek word basically translating as the verb to pant. It can be contracted at any age, and is thought to be heredity. It is basically a lung disease, the leaves you short of breath due to the lungs inflaming, in turn causing breathing airways to narrow. Many sufferers can locate the problem and help prevent the asthmatic attacks from taking place, but sadly there is no guaranteed cure for asthma. Therefore asthma treatment may be the way forward for most sufferers.

Most common causes are thought to be dust, smoke or pollen. Even perfumes, chemicals, animal hair, and in some cases stress and nerves. Years ago many experts believed exercise help aggravate and cause asthma, although in more modern times and after more research, it is recommended on a daily basis, to help keep the body in a fit and healthy condition. If exercising with asthma, you should consult with your doctor what levels of exercise you can cope with and what you should do in order to exercise without having an attack. Often correct warm ups and warm downs should be sufficient.

Asthma is quite often frightening to either the sufferer or whoever is watching an asthmatic attack. During normal breathing, the muscles that surround the airways are relaxed, and air moves freely, where as asthmatics experience the muscles tightening around these airways, causing air not to move as freely. The slightest upset, stress, shock or anything can trigger an asthmatic attack due to asthmatics having very sensitive airways.

If you see anyone having an attack or experience one yourself you should sit leaning forward, and if possible place something warm on your chest to help relax your chest muscles. Take your inhaler or have a plastic bag to ease your breathing. If you are asthmatic you should definitely not be smoking. Reducing asthma can be helped by having ginkgo biloba, mullein, licorice root, marshmallow root or slippery elm in your weekly diet.