Thread: Help

umm this worked for me but i'm not sure that it would work for you. i use to get random ones. i asked a friend of mines mom and she sayed that willow bark might work and so i took off so old bark boiled it in some water and some how i got less even though willow bark is used to relief pain. so just grab some bark from a weeping willow tree and put it in some boiling water take it out and drink it. but it might not work.

A paper bag? Same effect for hyperventilating maybe

I'd like to know this too, as my three-year-old nephew has really bad asthma.

A high humidity level helps.

Originally Posted by Spartiate

A high humidity level helps.

I think you mean low levels of humidity.

Originally Posted by Howie

I think you mean low levels of humidity.

No, I mean high levels of humidity. I don't know if this is recommended, but I had asthma when I was younger and I used to sleep with a humidifier. My room felt like a rainforest but I could breathe much better. However there are some bad sides, high levels of humidity favor the growth of stuff like molds and bacteria, so it's a give and take thing , but it helped me a lot.

I've been diagnosed with "Seasonal Asthma" and I usually get Asthma attacks depending on the weather, especially cold weather if I'm running around. The best thing that ever put a lid on the attacks was a "Nebulizer" (not sure if that's the correct spelling) Seriously, all you do if put a chemical into a little container, put on the mouth piece, connect a hose, and flip a switch. Breath in the "Albuterol" (almost probably the wrong spelling) in it's gas form and...phew, I could breathe better than normal.

Since I was diagnosed, I haven't had an attack in...a couple years, really.

Yeah. but I dont' have a nebulizer anymore. I have an inhaler, and a nebulizer uses the same chemicals as the inhaler I have uses- Intahl and Albuterol. I wasn't talking about medicines, just temporary fixes to calm down the attack enough for me to be able to get to a hospital. But I"m ok now. The steam one seemed to work really well. I just took a really long shower.

That kind of reminds me when I was younger. Whenever I used to have really bad colds, the mucus would build up in my throat as I slept, and some nights I'd wake up coughing and unable to breathe because my airway was clogged. I think it was called 'croop'; once it got so bad I had to go to the hospital and get tied up to one of those oxygen masks.

Anyways, then I learned of a trick. Everytime it happened after that I'd go to the bathroom, fill the sink up with extremely hot water, put my mouth right up against the water and cover my head (and the sink) with a towel. It made it so all the steam would clear out the shit stuck in my throat.

Originally Posted by Spartiate

No, I mean high levels of humidity. I don't know if this is recommended, but I had asthma when I was younger and I used to sleep with a humidifier. My room felt like a rainforest but I could breathe much better. However there are some bad sides, high levels of humidity favor the growth of stuff like molds and bacteria, so it's a give and take thing , but it helped me a lot.

I am quite certain that high levels of humidity would aggrovate the condition. Humidity means that there is more moisture in the air, making it harder to breath for anyone, let alone an individual suffering from asthma.
You should use a DEhumidiphier.

I found this:

Managing asthmatic attacks

A severe asthma attack should be treated as quickly as possible. It is most important for a patient suffering an acute attack to be given extra oxygen. Rarely, it may be necessary to use a mechanical ventilator to help the patient breathe. A beta-receptor agonist is inhaled repeatedly or continuously. If the patient does not respond promptly and completely, a steroid is given. A course of steroid therapy, given after the attack is over, will make a recurrence less likely.
Long-term allopathic treatment for asthma is based on inhaling a beta-receptor agonist using a special inhaler that meters the dose. Patients must be instructed in proper use of an inhaler to be sure that it will deliver the right amount of drug. Once asthma has been controlled for several weeks or months, it is worth trying to cut down on drug treatment, but this tapering must be done gradually. The last drug added should be the first to be reduced. Patients should be seen every one to six months, depending on the frequency of attacks. Starting treatment at home, rather than in a hospital, makes for minimal delay and helps the patient to gain a sense of control over the disease. All patients should be taught how to monitor their symptoms so that they will know when an attack is starting. Those with moderate or severe asthma should know how to use a flow meter. They also should have a written plan to follow if symptoms suddenly become worse, including how to adjust their medication and when to seek medical help. If more intense treatment is necessary, it should be continued for several days. When deciding whether a patient should be hospitalized, the physician must take into account the patient's past history of acute attacks, severity of symptoms, current medication, and the availability of good support at home.
A severe asthma attack should be treated as quickly as possible. It is most important for a patient suffering an acute attack to be given extra oxygen. Rarely, it may be necessary to use a mechanical ventilator to help the patient breathe. A beta-receptor agonist is inhaled repeatedly or continuously. If the patient does not respond promptly and completely, a steroid is given. A course of steroid therapy, given after the attack is over, will make a recurrence less likely.
Long-term allopathic treatment for asthma is based on inhaling a beta-receptor agonist using a special inhaler that meters the dose. Patients must be instructed in proper use of an inhaler to be sure that it will deliver the right amount of drug. Once asthma has been controlled for several weeks or months, it is worth trying to cut down on drug treatment, but this tapering must be done gradually. The last drug added should be the first to be reduced. Patients should be seen every one to six months, depending on the frequency of attacks. Starting treatment at home, rather than in a hospital, makes for minimal delay and helps the patient to gain a sense of control over the disease. All patients should be taught how to monitor their symptoms so that they will know when an attack is starting. Those with moderate or severe asthma should know how to use a flow meter. They also should have a written plan to follow if symptoms suddenly become worse, including how to adjust their medication and when to seek medical help. If more intense treatment is necessary, it should be continued for several days. When deciding whether a patient should be hospitalized, the physician must take into account the patient's past history of acute attacks, severity of symptoms, current medication, and the availability of good support at home.

Originally Posted by Howie

I am quite certain that high levels of humidity would aggrovate the condition. Humidity means that there is more moisture in the air, making it harder to breath for anyone, let alone an individual suffering from asthma.
You should use a DEhumidiphier.[/I]

Well, I think what I meant works on the same principle of everyone who said to cover their head and breathe in steamy water. I think that very dry air irritates the lungs and augments the swealing of the nasal passages and the bronchi, making it harder to breathe. Also, in dry air, the airway poduces more mucus (and it is denser and more sticky) to protect itself, which also aggravates the situation. I remember going to the canadian prairies (which is known to be very dry) and having an awful time breathing (and also having a ton of nosebleeds). I know that it seems harder to breath in humid air, but that's just because of the lack of oxygen inherent in a wet atmosphere (humid air is less dense then dry air), rather than the constriction of the airways. Anyways, I don't know why we are going on about this... The only true remedy to asthma is a doctor prescribed inhaler, anything else is asking for the inevitable .

("humid air is less dense then dry air") Meaning Less air/oxygen. (gasp gasp)

▪ Try to keep humidity levels in the home between 30 and 50 percent. High humidity can promote growth of biological agents that may trigger asthma episodes. Use exhaust fans or open windows in the kitchen or bathroom areas when cooking, using the dishwasher, or taking showers. Make sure clothes dryers are vented to the outdoors, and use a dehumidifier in the basement if necessary.


▪ Avoid using humidifiers. If it cannot be avoided, clean it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Refill it daily with fresh water to prevent the growth of harmful microbes.

At any rate, I agree it is really in the hands of a professional.

Wow...well that helps. Thanks. But I guess I mean do you know anythign you could eat, or drink or take that could help? My doctor told me that chugging a coke would ease the effects of the attack temporarily, but I didn't have coke last time I had an attack.

Hmmm, I have no idea why your doctor recommended that... Asthma effects the respiratory system, so I doubt that anything ingested in the digestive system would make a difference. And on any note, during a real asthma attack, it is rather impossible to eat or drink anything (I mean you are choking!), and if it is not a serious asthma attack, then you can just relax your way out of it. If I may ask, what is the problem with using an inhalor when you get an attack? They are handy, fast, easy to use and, most of all, it is their job .

Sometimes inhalers do not work. My last major attack, I used my inhaler as I normally would and it had absolutely no effect whatsoever. Also, it highly depends what you call an attack. They are different for everyone, and mine are more passive. They are still very scary, it's still extremely hard to breathe, but it's not like I can't eat or drink.

Maybe you should adjust the dosage/type of medication for your inhaler, or look into preventive medicine. Asthma is not really an illness that can be cured with home remedies. What is it that triggers your asthma attacks? Try reducing whatever it is to a minimum. Also, the human mind is very powerful, if you are able to convince yourself that you can breathe normally or that your inhaler works fine, you will probably get a good placebo effect. I have managed to get through severe food allergy attacks purely through willpower (definately NOT recommended, I was in a secluded place with no help close by, if you can, get an ambulance).

Originally Posted by Rainman

Wow...well that helps. Thanks. But I guess I mean do you know anythign you could eat, or drink or take that could help? My doctor told me that chugging a coke would ease the effects of the attack temporarily, but I didn't have coke last time I had an attack.

Well, I used to have quite a severe problem with choking (on food), in that it would happen to me quite regularly (less of a problem now). One time I got a really bad one, it didn't block my airway though (thankfully). I was taken to the hospital and they were going to perform surgery on me to get it out but the doctor gave me a coke. He said the bubbles help loosen the throat or something like that. Long story short, the blockage went. I went home without surgery.