Allergy to insects is quite common, particularly in the monsoon season when different species of insects breed and multiply. Insects have very short life and when they die, their wings and bodies become part of the ground dust. After drying and disintegration, when such dust is inhaled, it can cause allergic asthma. Asthma due to cockroach remnants is very common and present throughout the year.
Insect stings that most commonly cause allergic asthma reactions:
Some people with asthma are allergic to insects at home. The degree of reaction produced depends upon the type and quantity of venom introduced.
But in some people the venom acts as an antigen and, with the antibodies already present, causes an allergic reaction. Kill these insects before they can make you suffer with severe asthmatic attacks.
Insects that most commonly trigger asthmatic reactions on stinging include:
* bees
* wasps
* butterflies
* dragonfly
* hornets
* housefly
* grasshoppers
* ants
* cockroaches
What symptoms usually occur on an allergic reaction to insect stings?
Allergic reactions to insect stings can bring in a sudden asthmatic attack which can also be life threatening. This severe reaction at times becomes a medical emergency. Symptoms include:
* swelling of the throat and tongue
* difficulty in breathing
* dizziness
* wheezing
* headache
* cough
* rapid fall in blood pressure
* chest tightness
* loss of consciousness
What causes insect induced asthma?
Although the actual cause of such type of asthma is not known, studies have shown that several factors can lead to the outbreak of asthma. These factors include hereditary, development and growth of a persons lungs and immune system, infections, allergies and his response to the environment.
It is difficult to conclude as to what causes asthma. We can generally say that a person is prone to asthma if-
* there is a family history of insect related asthma, or allergy to insects.
* many aspects of modern lifestyles such as changes diet(if including shrimps, lobsters etc in diet), surrounding environment, pets staying in the same house (who may be carriers of insects on their coats)
* sudden influx of a horde of insects in residential areas can make asthma symptoms worse
* Irritants are found at home or workplace leading to a person developing asthma .
Treatment for asthma causing insect stings:
Immediate medical aid for highly-allergic people include:
* If possible, immediately remove the stinger. Be careful not to squeeze the area, which may force the venom into the body and worsen the situation.
* Use an inhaler immediately after an insect bite as a precautionary method.
* Seek emergency medical care as soon as possible.
A visit to an allergist or your asthma doctor becomes must on the start of symptoms to manage the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of allergies and asthma.
He might suggest allergy shots, also known as immunotherapy treatment. Venom immunotherapy shots are effective in curing allergic reactions.
Medical treatment will be based on:
* extent of the reaction
* the tolerance towards specific medications, or therapies
Since you are prone to asthma caused by insects, keep prescribed medications handy at all times and follow the attached instructions if you are stung. These medications are for immediate emergency use while going to a hospital.
What can be done to prevent these triggers?
Avoidance of insects is the best preventive measure. To control these allergens, one can do the following:
* Use cockroach or insect baits/traps.
* When outdoors, be careful of eating or drinking uncovered foods or beverages, which can attract insects.
* Be well covered when outdoors keep exposure minimum.
* Avoid walking barefoot, and wear closed shoes when walking in grassy areas.
* When gardening, watch for insect nests in trees, and flower beds.
* Other areas in which to be careful: swimming pools, under leaves, trash containers.
* Have your home sprayed with insecticide - but not when you're present there. Be sure that the repellent is aired out for a couple of hours before you come home.
* Never swat at a flying insect. If need be, gently brush it aside or wait for it to leave.
* Garbage cans stored outside should be covered with tight-fitting lids.
* Avoid sweet-smelling perfumes, hair sprays, colognes and deodorants.
Avoid wearing bright-colored clothing so that you do not attract insects.
2007年12月15日星期六
2007年11月23日星期五
Did This Drug Cause Your Asthma?
Did you know the number of people using inhalers for asthma has gone up significantly in the last 35 years? Between 1970 and 2000, the number of people suffering from asthma has nearly doubled!
Doctors have been baffled by the dramatic increase. But now, it appears researchers have figured out what is causing all the new cases of asthma.
Before 1970, parents typically gave their children aspirin when they had a fever. However, the aspirin was causing the children to come down with an even worse disease ... the sometimes fatal Reyes Syndrome.
Around 1970, doctors began telling the parents to switch to acetaminophen, the common ingredient in Tylenol. That solved the Reyes Syndrome problem, but now researchers have discovered that the acetaminophen is causing asthma.
A huge study, called the Nurses Health Study, followed 122,000 women for several decades. Each woman was to keep a record of all the drugs she used, as well as the development of any new health problems. The study showed that those women who used acetaminophen regularly have a significantly higher risk of developing asthma than those who never used it.
In fact, those who used the painkiller more than two weeks out of the month were 63% more likely to acquire the respiratory disease.
Acetaminophen is causing a dramatically increasing number of asthma cases. The good news, though, is that there's an easy way to prevent and reverse the damage done by acetaminophen.
Acetaminophen's toxicity occurs because the drug lowers blood levels of a natural compound called glutathione. Glutathione has an antioxidant effect in the body, particularly in the lungs. When your glutathione levels plummet, your risk of developing a chronic lung disease, such as asthma, goes up significantly.
Unfortunately, you can't just go out and buy an effective glutathione supplement. You see, glutathione is destroyed by stomach acid, so your body won't absorb any of it. So what's the best way to increase your body's levels of glutathione and beat asthma?
The antidote for acetaminophen poisoning is NAC (N-acetyl cysteine), a supplement that raises glutathione levels. For those who have asthma, NAC is a good choice because in addition to protecting the lungs by raising glutathione, it also thins the mucous in the bronchial passages.
I would suggest 400-1,200 mg daily of NAC for anyone who has a long history of using Tylenol or other painkillers with acetaminophen. I also recommend it for anyone who has breathing difficulties. You can find NAC in most health food stores.
By the way, when it comes to painkillers and asthma, there really are no good drug choices. Other pain relievers, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as Celebrex and Vioxx), increase asthmatic symptoms, too.
The bottom line is simple. Don't make a habit of using painkillers or any other drug. All drugs have toxic effects on the body when used regularly. If you're in pain, you must work on finding the cause and treating that cause rather than covering up the symptom with drugs.
Doctors have been baffled by the dramatic increase. But now, it appears researchers have figured out what is causing all the new cases of asthma.
Before 1970, parents typically gave their children aspirin when they had a fever. However, the aspirin was causing the children to come down with an even worse disease ... the sometimes fatal Reyes Syndrome.
Around 1970, doctors began telling the parents to switch to acetaminophen, the common ingredient in Tylenol. That solved the Reyes Syndrome problem, but now researchers have discovered that the acetaminophen is causing asthma.
A huge study, called the Nurses Health Study, followed 122,000 women for several decades. Each woman was to keep a record of all the drugs she used, as well as the development of any new health problems. The study showed that those women who used acetaminophen regularly have a significantly higher risk of developing asthma than those who never used it.
In fact, those who used the painkiller more than two weeks out of the month were 63% more likely to acquire the respiratory disease.
Acetaminophen is causing a dramatically increasing number of asthma cases. The good news, though, is that there's an easy way to prevent and reverse the damage done by acetaminophen.
Acetaminophen's toxicity occurs because the drug lowers blood levels of a natural compound called glutathione. Glutathione has an antioxidant effect in the body, particularly in the lungs. When your glutathione levels plummet, your risk of developing a chronic lung disease, such as asthma, goes up significantly.
Unfortunately, you can't just go out and buy an effective glutathione supplement. You see, glutathione is destroyed by stomach acid, so your body won't absorb any of it. So what's the best way to increase your body's levels of glutathione and beat asthma?
The antidote for acetaminophen poisoning is NAC (N-acetyl cysteine), a supplement that raises glutathione levels. For those who have asthma, NAC is a good choice because in addition to protecting the lungs by raising glutathione, it also thins the mucous in the bronchial passages.
I would suggest 400-1,200 mg daily of NAC for anyone who has a long history of using Tylenol or other painkillers with acetaminophen. I also recommend it for anyone who has breathing difficulties. You can find NAC in most health food stores.
By the way, when it comes to painkillers and asthma, there really are no good drug choices. Other pain relievers, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as Celebrex and Vioxx), increase asthmatic symptoms, too.
The bottom line is simple. Don't make a habit of using painkillers or any other drug. All drugs have toxic effects on the body when used regularly. If you're in pain, you must work on finding the cause and treating that cause rather than covering up the symptom with drugs.
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