| The number of newly diagnosed asthma cases in | | | | foods can bring on an asthma attack, |
| the United States has risen dramatically over | | | | especially nuts, eggs, and shellfish, |
| the past ten to fifteen years. Part of the | | | | although others are likewise culprits. See |
| reason may be due to the availability of | | | | your doctor promptly if you develop a |
| better medical care and early diagnostic | | | | breathing disorder, and if you experience |
| methods used by many doctors today. More | | | | difficulty catching your breath, seek |
| people may be willing to visit their doctors | | | | emergency assistance.Other possible signs and |
| for breathing-related difficulties than in | | | | symptoms of asthma include a dry cough, |
| previous generations. But it is also likely | | | | chronic allergy symptoms like sneezing or |
| that more people are afflicted with asthma | | | | watery eyes, wheezing, and other related |
| than ever before due to a number of | | | | breathing changes. Asthma causes the airway |
| environmental factors like pollution, | | | | to become congested, which tightens the |
| pesticides, and even building insulation.With | | | | throat and lungs, making it harder for air to |
| increased industrialization, more factories | | | | pass through. This is what leads to breathing |
| are burning more fuel and releasing greater | | | | difficulties.No matter how probable it may be |
| amounts of waste products into the air. Since | | | | that you or a loved one is showing signs of |
| a significant percentage of the population | | | | asthma, you will need to see the doctor for |
| now lives in urban areas, they are | | | | an accurate diagnosis and a prescription for |
| undoubtedly feeling the effects of chronic | | | | treatment. You may need to use a |
| exposure to airborne toxins. Conversely, even | | | | bronchodilator, which blows a special medical |
| in rural areas improved technology is | | | | vapor into your throat and lungs to ease |
| impacting the way that farmers grow crops and | | | | constriction. Prescription medications can |
| control pests. Pesticides, herbicides, and | | | | help, as can avoiding obvious or suspected |
| fertilizers may help to ensure better crops, | | | | triggers. Controlling allergic symptoms by |
| but runoff from fields where these substances | | | | removing household or job-related allergens |
| are used can get into the water system or | | | | also can help to reduce the frequency of |
| food products and lead to the development as | | | | asthma attacks. Some doctors supplement |
| asthmatic-type symptoms.Although many people | | | | conventional treatment with herbal remedies, |
| do not know if they have asthma, there are | | | | but check with your physician before taking |
| some symptoms to look for that may indicate | | | | over-the-counter medications or |
| the presence or development of this chronic | | | | formulas.Asthma can be a serious condition |
| condition. The most obvious clue, and one | | | | and may even become life threatening for |
| that should be checked promptly by a doctor, | | | | some. Work with your doctor to get the best |
| is shortness of breath. This may come and go | | | | care and improve your condition, or that of a |
| or show up only when a person is exposed to | | | | loved one, to avoid serious complications |
| certain triggers, often allergens like dust, | | | | from this chronic condition.Do you need more |
| pet dander, or household chemicals. Some | | | | information on treatments for asthma? |