Tag: Respiratory Tract Infections

Asthma Types

You can never really tell the onset of asthma. However, if your family has a history of asthma, you need to be extra careful because you might develop the condition as well.

Asthma is of different types extrinsic and intrinsic.

Extrinsic Asthma

So far, most of the asthma patients in the different parts of the world belong to the extrinsic asthma type. Children are very susceptible to certain allergies and so it is much easier to develop extrinsic asthma. Kids with allergy histories, eczema, and hay fever are prone to develop extrinsic asthma. But as they grow older, the allergies and asthma attacks disappear. There are times when these allergies return because of some triggering factors but this usually happens when the child has reached his or her adult stage.

Intrinsic Asthma

Intrinsic asthma is different from the extrinsic because this usually occurs among women in the late 20s or early 30s. This type of asthma is perennial and chronic, therefore, it is not associated with the childhood allergies.

You need to consult a doctor to determine if you have intrinsic asthma. The doctor will try to look and check at the patients medical history, especially that of the respiratory tract infections.

Doctors also try to classify or categorize the diseases intensity. Some patients have moderate attacks while others have severe asthma attacks. Almost 30% of asthma patients have mild attacks. In the western societies, air quality is decreasing and so asthma is quite prevalent.

According to many scientists, asthma has something to do with the genetic makeup of the individual. For instance, if your parents and siblings have asthma, youre at risk of developing the disease as well. So if you have a history of asthma in your family, you must prevent this condition from occurring. There are lots of preventive measures to avoid the attacks. Try to gather as much information about asthma so that you can be well-informed. If you know a lot about asthma, you can effectively prevent it from developing.

For asthma patients, the doctor can give you relievers but this can only provide short-term speedy relief. It prevents the attacks from becoming worse. Some doctors prescribe medications for asthma especially if the attacks are allergy-induced. By taking the medications, the immune system and the body will not react to the allergens.

Now that you know the two types of asthma, which type do you belong? Keep in mind that only a doctor can properly diagnose your condition. Even if you find a lot of information about asthma, you should still rely on the doctors findings. Several tests are conducted to diagnose the condition properly. If youre experiencing asthma-like symptoms, visit the doctor immediately. That way, you can treat asthma right away and the doctor will also give you treatment options which you can afford.

Talk to your doctor about the asthma symptoms youre experiencing. Dont wait until you have a severe asthma attack. You must do this especially if youre at risk of developing the disease.

So why wait until things get out of hand? Many people die because of asthma every year. You can prevent this disease and/or you can effectively manage and control such condition. Dont hesitate to call your doctor next time you experience asthma symptoms. Health conditions are addressed effectively when identified and treated early.

What Is Chronic Sinus Infection

There are two types of sinus infection. It could be acute or chronic and among the two, more people get afflicted with the chronic sinus infection.

The difference between chronic and acute sinus infection is the fact that this can last for 12 weeks or longer and this can recur once you get better. An acute sinus infection is gone after a week.

Common causes for chronic sinus infection include allergies, airborne fungus, nasal or sinus obstructions, trauma to the face, certain medical conditions and respiratory tract infections.

As a result, some of the symptoms that most people feel include headaches, congestion, difficulty breathing, reduced sense of smell, ear pain, fatigue, cough, nausea, sore throat and aching in the upper jaw or teeth.

Since you probably tried already to self medicate yourself without any positive results, the doctor is your only hope to make it go away.

After reviewing your medical history, some test will need to be done such as an MRI, CT scan, nasal endoscopy, extracting nasal or sinus cultures and an allergy test.

An MRI or CT scan is similar to an X-ray machine because they can show details of your sinus and nasal area without inserting anything into your body.

If this is needed, the doctor will have to do a nasal endoscopy by putting a thin, flexible tube with fiber optic light up your nose to see what is happening inside.

Not many people like that because it is like putting a similar tube up your anus. If possible, they will give a nasal or sinus sample instead so this can be checked.

If your doctor has not yet determined the exact cause of the chronic sinus infection, you may be referred to another specialist especially if he or she suspects that this is caused by an allergy so they can conduct an allergy test.

Once the results come in, the doctor will probably prescribe some antibiotics until you are free of the symptoms. To deal with the inflammation and swelling in the nasal cavity, you will be prescribed a corticosteroid. If this doesnt work, then you will probably try antihistamines, decongestants and expectorants.

The doctor may also try moisture or humidification to help flush the nasal cavity and loosen the dried mucus. Should the chronic sinus infection be caused by an allergy, it can be treated with immunotherapy. A method designed to stimulate the antibodies that block the bodys reactions to a specific allergy.

Chronic sinus infection can be prevented and the steps that you take are not that different when you are suffering from an acute sinus infection. You just have got to practice proper hygiene, get flu shots once a year, stay away from people who have colds as it is a contagious illness, limit your drinking, keep yourself hydrated at all times, buy a humidifier and avoid being in polluted areas or around people who smoke.

Should you already have chronic sinus infection, just follow the instructions of the doctor and update him or her on any progress.

Chronic sinus infection is no joke. Just to give you an idea of how serious it is, over 30 to 40 million Americans get it every year. If you dont want to be another person added to the statistics, do what is needed so you are always healthy.