Pneumonia/ Bronchitis, Asthma/Allergy

Pneumonia/ Bronchitis, Asthma/Allergy

Bronchitis is an infection/inflammation that can be viral, bacterial, mycoplasmic, rickettsiae, parasitic or allergic in origin that affects the big, main air carrying tube systems of the lungs.

Pneumonia is the infective, inflammatory or obstructive process of the filling with anything such as fluid of pus or mucus, bacteria, or pollen of the millions of tiny microscopic air baggies (sacs.) The sacs, alveoli, are located at the tips of these tapering small tubes of the respiratory tube system. These tubes are used to transport air and sacs are used for the diffusion of oxygen into the blood stream and the diffusion and transfer of carbon dioxide back into the sacs out of the bloodstream.

Asthma is an over sensitive airway disease. Asthma is a response of inflammation/swelling, muscular constriction of the air carrying bronchial tubes. This stops transfer of gases in the alveolar sacs into the bloodstream. Asthma is the closure of the inside opening of the tube from swelling and constriction bronchial tubes. Asthma is the closure of the inside opening of the tube from swelling and constriction of the muscle in the tube wall. Excessive, very thick mucus production from the inside lining of the tube causes partial occlusion with wheezing sounds or total occlusion of the breathing passage way systems of the lungs. Asthma is caused by inflammation. You must fix the chronic problem instead of treating the acute symptoms.

You can stay indoors and miss the sunshine and the tulips. However, in order to enjoy the world, you can take medications that are available to let you comfortably exist in the real world with pollen and food allergies.

Allergy causes, development, and who can get them. Allergy profiles reveal many various types of seasonal allergies when and where they appear. Allergy can be sore throat, headache, fatigue, pneumonia and many other symptoms. A Mast Cell, Basophile and Eosinophil are the body’s natural responses to defend from the stimulus of allergen(s) or infection. These natural bodies produce chemical called histamine. When histamine is released it reacts like an acid to help fight infections and kill or defend the stimulus. Now in the 21st century with recent advantages with medical care you can do more of the things you need to do in your daily life. Enjoy living comfortable and mostly symptom free and ease of breathing.

Asthma is a 365-day serious and significantly increasing health problem. On flare up verses normal days, there is still more mucous production, constriction, and swelling of the bronchial tubes in the lungs that a normal person. You must learn what your triggers you asthma and how to avoid them. This is the best therapy. Prevention can involve anti-inflammatory medication and specific treatment of the problem and not just the apparent seen or felt symptoms. Eating oranges, fish, crab, shrimp, or exposure to grasses, and mold and animal dander can cause respiratory asthma/bronchitis symptoms.

A bronchodialator (inhaler) is a temporary medicine that works by relaxing the tubular muscle constriction and opens the air tubes or bronchioles. You feel better right now. It does not get rid of the mucus in the lungs or the stimulus causing the constriction. It is for immediate relief only. This is a great medication when used correctly. Again, this is a temporary relief medication. This should not be a used as long-term treatment. If you use your bronchodialator more than 10 times a day, it is a true sign of trouble. The Peak Flow Meter- this is your best at home indicator for you and your doctor to measure the air speed and flow from your lips. This tool is designed specifically to measure you’re respiratory/lung function. A spacer decreases the coordination necessary for medication delivery and effectiveness used for inhalers. It prevents the “wasting” of money and medicine at the back of your throat. It can avoid unnecessary side effects. The cold Freon effect often stops people inhaling the medicine; therefore, most of the medicine goes to the back of the throat. Eighty percent (80%) of the medication used from a regular inhaler are wasted. A spacer increases the effectiveness and use of the medications and decreases costs by en times. Asthma is the excessive mucus, selling, mucus plugging and tightly constricted airways. More than fifty percent (50%) of people have poor inhaler technique and fifty percent (50%) regress in technique within one (1) month of starting the use of medications.

Corticosteriods that are used for asthma control are not the same as anabolic steroids used by athletes for abuse. Many months of steroids can cause weight gain, upset stomach, stomach ulcers, and the thinning of the bones. Too few steroids can cause hospitalization, death, and mood changes. Corticosteroid inhalers are the strongest daily prevention therapy. Steroids appropriately used are essential for exacerbations and must be carefully, consistently, and closely monitored by a physician.

Asthma is and excessive inflammation (over-reactive and over-sensitivity) of the lungs to something with the production thick mucus and mucus plugging. Specific anti-inflammatory medications are a treatment. If left untreated, this will lead to permanent lung function loss. If silently you lose 2% of your lung function a year for 10 years, you have lost approximately 1/3 of your lung function. Asthma anti-inflammatory choices are: inhaled corticosteroids, leukotreine blockers, cromolyn, and nedocromil among others. Side effects of these medications must be carefully and consistently balanced with view to permanent lung damage and disability. Routine checkups are essential. All allergy patients should be seen at least every 2-3 months and immediately if severe reaction or more than a minimal problem arises.

Triggers: There must be careful attention to triggers; infections sinus infections can and do often cause poor control of asthma. Cigarette smoke even passive/2nd hand smoke, dust mite feces (a typical mattress has more than 200,000 living dust mites!). Animal dander (keep pets out of the bedroom), pollen and mold (humidifiers can increase mold), cockroach parts and feces (when it dries it turns into a powder), aspirin and ibuprofen (10% of people with asthma are sensitive to aspirin and ibuprofen compounds), sulfates on food (preservatives for fruit, grapes, cherries, wine and beer), cold air and exercise. Each year, about 5,000 people die of asthma. The majority of these people did not have severe asthma.

Patients are very poor judges of their own wheezing, coughing, or shortness of breath. Patient’s monitoring daily their peak flow is essential. The elements of combination therapy, physician monitoring, and understanding are important to patient care, lung damage, and the quality of life.

Inhalers vs. Nebulizers: Inhalers- you exhale all the air in your lungs, use a spacer, inhale the medicine, hold your breath for 10 seconds, breath out, and repeat. The Nebulizer machine delivers therapy for five to ten minutes and is much more powerful (1000x) as an immediate rescue inhaler. Prevention of flu and pneumococcal vaccines are essential. Allergy testing and/or injections, antibiotics and antiviral are very important aids in the maintenance of these complex problems, potential complication and the quality of life.

John Drew Laurusonis

Doctors Medical Center

www.doctorsmedicalctr.com