With proper diagnosis, prevention and treatments, there are no restrictions on what people with asthma and allergies can do in life. With proper management and education, people dealing with Asthma and Allergies can control the diseases and can live healthy, productive and normal active lives!

Asthma is a disease of the lungs where the airways become blocked or narrowed causing difficulties in breathing. These effects are usually temporary, but they cause shortness of breath, breathing trouble, and other symptoms. Asthma is a chronic disease affecting nearly 20 million Americans. Worldwide, asthma prevalence ranges from 1.9 percent to 36.7 percent in various countries, according to the International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Children.

Asthma is commonly divided into two types: allergic or extrinsic asthma and non-allergic or intrinsic asthma. Although asthma can cause severe health problems, treatment can control it and allow a person to live a normal and active life.

Allergic and non-allergic asthma are mainly chronic inflammatory diseases of the airways. This means that people with asthma have inflamed airways which causes two secondary symptoms: (1) The bronchi, the airway branches leading to the lungs, become overly reactive and more sensitive to all kinds of asthma triggers such as allergens, cold and dry air, smoke and viruses. Also, (2) the lungs have difficulty moving air in and out, which is called airflow obstruction. Together, these symptoms cause the tertiary symptoms the coughing, wheezing, tight chest and worse.

Asthma occurs when airways become temporarily blocked or narrowed due to exposure to allergens (”allergic asthma”), irritants, strenuous exercise, anxiety or other triggers. Symptoms include:

* Sudden shortness of breath
* Difficulty breathing
* Tight chest
* Wheezing or coughing

People with asthma have inflamed airways which are super-sensitive to things which do not bother other people and are called “triggers.” Asthma triggers vary from person to person based on whether one has allergic asthma or non-allergic asthma, but some of the most common triggers include:

* Allergens
* Irritants in the air
* Respiratory Infections
* Exercise
* Weather
* Strong Emotions such as fear, anger or excitement
* Certain medications

Asthma episodes do not always occur right after a person is exposed to a trigger. Depending on the type of trigger and how sensitive a person is to it, asthma episodes may be delayed. Each case of asthma is unique just like you.

Asthma doesn’t have to impose any big limits on quality of life. An asthma management plan is important and something developed by you and your physician to help you control your asthma, instead of your asthma controlling you.

There are many things that can be done, including natural treatments, to take control of asthma and its symptoms to minimize any impact on life and activities. Asthma medications may be either inhaled or in pill form and are divided into two types-quick-relief and long-term control such as Native Remedies’ BioVent (long-term control) and BronchoSoothe (quick-relief) which are 100% natural, safe and effective remedies for natural asthma relief and to assist with the management, control and prevention of asthma and can be a part of your asthma management plan.

Parts of this article provided by Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) 2005 and 4 freshAAIR - Spring 2005 edition.