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Asthma - exercise induced asthma - wheezing
Signs or Symptoms
Excessive coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing following exposure to an allergen or physical or mental stress.
Description
When people who are sensitive breathe in an allergen, the immune system goes into high gear. The immune system produces a molecule called immunoglobulin E (IgE). The IgE antibody causes mast cells, a type of specialized defensive cell, to release chemical "weapons" into the airways. The airways then become inflamed and constricted,
Causes
In some people, asthma is an allergic reaction to substances commonly breathed in, such as animal dander, pollen, or dust mite and cockroach waste products. Some people have a genetic predisposition to react to certain allergens. In others, activities like physical exercise can induce the asthma symptoms.
Standard Treatment
Corticosteroids can be inhaled to stop an attack. Desensitization may reduce the attacks if the offending agents can be identified.
AK Approach
As with the standard medical treatment, holistic methods to increase your production of specific hormones to increase your breathing capacity are tested for. Other deficiencies that can be easily altered cause the fluid that normally keeps the lung tissues separated to cause sticking of these tissues. Other organ systems can have an adverse effect on your breathing capacity. These include your digestive, immune, cardiac and respiratory systems. Testing is done to determine if there are ways to help up regulate the functioning of these systems and organs. . Special tests are done to determine what specific offending agents are upsetting you. Then treatment options ranging from avoidance to desensitization are employed.
Strucutral problems that limit you breathing are tested for and corrected. These include testing for adequate diaphragm function and rib expansion. Spinal manipulation coupled with breathing exercises can dramatically increase your vital capacity, the amount of air you can breath in. Finally, a specific program for your needs is created that will ocver the gamut from nutritional support, structural corrections and exercises and home breathing exercises.