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WHAT IS ASTHMA?

Doctors are not exactly certain how you get Asthma. But they do know that once you have it, your lungs react to things that can start an Asthma attack.

For instance, when you have Asthma, you might get an Asthma attack when you have a cold ( or some other kind of respiratory infection ). Or, you might get an attack when you breathe something that bothers your lungs ( such as cigarette smoke, dust or feathers ).

When this happens, three changes take place in your lungs:

Cells in your air tubes make more mucus than normal. This mucus is very thick and sticky. It tends to clog up the tubes.
The air tubes tend to swell, just as skin swells when you get a scrape.
The muscles in your air tubes tighten.

These changes cause the air tubes to narrow. This obviously makes it hard to breathe. Asthma attacks may start suddenly. Or they may take a long time, even days, to develop. Attacks can be severe, moderate, or mild.

KNOW YOUR ASTHMA SYMPTOMS

"I cough a lot while I exercise or even when I rest after exercising."
"I have a shortness of breath."
"I make a wheezing sound when I breathe."
"I feel a tightness in my chest."

WHAT STARTS YOUR ASTHMA SYMPTOMS

Usually symptoms get started or "triggered" by something that bothers your lungs. These are called Asthma Triggers.

There are many kinds of triggers. They can range from Viruses ( such as colds ) to Allergies, to Gases and Particles in the air.

Given this range, you may find it hard to figure out what starts your Asthma attacks. You may even think your attacks "just happen." But this is generally not true. Something usually triggers an attack.

There are other Asthma triggers that you can get rid of or avoid. Good examples of these triggers are cold air, dust, feathers or molds.

* If you are not diagnosed and you think you have the symptoms we recommend that you visit you GP, Doctor or allergy specialist as soon as possible.

AIR PARTICLES WE BREATHE

Many particles of different types and sizes are carried in the air we breathe. Some large particles may settle on the walls and furniture in your home. Other large particles are removed by your nose and mouth when you inhale. Smaller particles are breathed deep into the lungs.

Asthma may be triggered by both the large and small particles. Some air particles come from the indoors. Others are carried in the outdoor air.

Other particles come into your home through windows, doors, and heating systems. For most people, the indoor air particles cause no problems. But people with allergic symptoms including Asthma can have problems, right in their own home.

The air at home is easier to control. Some people with Asthma and Allergies notice their symptoms get worse at night. Trigger controls in the bedroom or wherever you sleep need the most care.

Source: American Lung Association: Asthma Information 8/2000.

SO WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

The next thing to do is to read our information on INDOOR AIR QUALITY.

We have been assembling information on indoor air quality and the reasons why the Environmental Protection Agency consider indoor air quality to be a much higher risk to your health than outdoor air. Now there are so many national and international bodies worried about IAQ that you have to ask yourself why the western world has such alarming increases in Asthma, Allergies, And Chemical Sensitivity in recent years while the developing countries have had insignificant increases.

One of the contributing factors is poor Indoor Air Quality. The reason for this is we have been making ourselves so comfortable in our homes and offices that we have created a perfect environment for germs, bugs , bacteria, and viruses to breed.

With double glazing, central heating, high insulation, and poor air flows we create the environment. Into that we bring all types of furnishings and fittings that have numerous chemicals used in their manufacture. Next we bring every type of cleaning chemicals, detergents, and sprays until the press under our sink has no more room. They sit happily there off gassing when there not being used. And that's just for starters.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO ?

If you think you or any member of you family has any of the symptoms we identified earlier you should consult you doctor or GP as soon as possible.

If you want to improve you and your family's indoor air quality. You should talk to an advisor in Pure Air Technologies now and get some protection going as soon as possible.