Medications for the Treatment of Asthma - Are They Safe and Effective?

A number of products that block the histamine receptor (anti-histamines) have been developed to treat the allergies that trigger attacks in those suffering from atopic asthma attacks. These include hydroxyzine (Atarax, Vistaril) and its breakdown product cetirizine (Zyrtec). These medications cause sleepiness. Other side effects include dry mouth and urinary retention, and more rarely, confusion, nightmares, nervousness, and irritability. Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-trimeton), cyproheptadine (Periactin), and diphenhydramine (Benadryl) are other older antihistamines. They can be associated with anti-cholinergic side effects (dry mouth, confusion, urinary retention), in addition to the side effects of Atarax.

The so-called second-generation antihistamines supposedly cause less drowsiness than the older products, but this is more hype than hope. They claim to specifically block the H-1 antihistamine receptor, and include fexofenadine (Allegra), loratadine (Claratin), and azelastine (Astelin). Side effects are similar to the older antihistamines. Drowsiness with all of the antihistamines is dose dependent. It is best to start with a low dose and work up.

One of the best selling allergy medications on the market is desloratadine (Clarinex). Clarinex is a newer generation anti-histamine medication that is marketed as a magic bullet for allergies. However what most people don't know is that Clarinex is merely an old drug, loratadine (Claritin), marketed by the drug company as new and improved. However Clarinex doesn't add anything to Claritin (other than more money for the coffers of its manufacturer, since Clarinex is still on patent). Clarinex is merely a metabolite (breakdown product) of its precursor, Claritin. That means that 20 minutes after you take Claritin, you will be getting Clarinex, but you'll be paying much less for it than if you took Clarinex. Folks have been getting Clarinex for years, even though they didn't know it, every time they took Claritin. The company patented the metabolite of their original product, and then did a misleading study where they compared differing doses of the two medications, coming to the erroneous conclusion that Clarinex was less sedating than the old drug. This was misleading because if a drug causes sedation, then higher doses of the drug will cause more sedation, so if you are not comparing the same doses of the drug, you are not making a fair comparison. This allowed them to promote Clarinex, which costs much more than the old drug that went off patent, and which in 2004 was bringing in close to a billion dollars a year in sales. Claritin and Clarinex as far as you are concerned are the same drug; so take Claritin and save some money.

Over the counter (OTC) epinephrine inhalers such as Primatene Mist are commonly used for the treatment of mild asthma. Over 115 million Primatene Mist inhalers have been sold over the past 20 years. These inhalers, however, are not as benign as they appear. About 20% of patients using OTC inhalers have severe asthma that needs medical care. Unfortunately, many asthma patients delay professional medical treatment while they use their OTC inhalers, often due to a lack of health insurance, to the point where it may be too late. OTC inhalers can also increase heart rate, and should not be used in patients with heart or thyroid disease. Thirteen deaths, mostly cardiovascular, have been reported to be associated with the use of OTC inhalers over the last 20 years. If you have a history of chronic asthma or a history of hospitalization for asthma you should not use OTC inhalers. If asthma symptoms do not resolve in 20 minutes after using an OTC inhaler, you should seek emergency treatment. Delaying medical treatment when you are using OTC inhalers may contribute to the overall severity and chronic nature of the disease over the lifetime.

Prescription short acting bronchodilators (²-2 agonists) are inhaled and promote dilation of airways. The most commonly prescribed inhalers are albuterol (Proventil) and levalbuterol (Xopenex). Side effects include tremors, jitters, and nervousness. There are no known long-term side effects. These medications are designed for temporary relief. If you find yourself using them often or with increasing frequency that means your asthma is getting worse and you need further evaluation by a doctor.

Asthma patients can also be treated with steroids in pill form for a short period of time. Corticosteroids can inhibit growth in children and decrease bone mineral density, although growth inhibition is reversible. Steroids suppress the immune response, increasing risk of infection, and decrease bone mineral density. Other side effects of steroids include low blood sugar, changes in consciousness, nauseas, seizures, or in rare cases death. You can also develop symptoms like Cushing's Disease (an excess production of cortisol in the body). These include deposits of fat on the upper back and face, high blood pressure, diabetes, slow wound healing, osteoporosis, cataracts, acne, muscle weakness, ulcers, thinning of the skin, and mood changes. When patients are treated for a long period of time, deaths from adrenal insufficiency have occurred with transfer from oral to inhalation steroids, especially during stressors like surgery. You should not be on steroids for long periods of time.

Non-allergic asthma is a chronic problem, and needs to be treated somewhat differently than allergic asthma, which may come and go with avoidable triggers and seasonal changes. Chronic asthma sufferers are more at risk for fatalities if they are not treated.

Corticosteroids

Patients with chronic asthma should be treated with inhaled corticosteroids. These include fluticasone (Flonase, Flovent), beclomethasone (Qvar, Beconase, Vancenase), flunisolide (Aerobid), budesonide (Rhinocort, Pulmicort), and triamcinolone (Azmacort, Nasacort). Inhaled corticosteroids have the same side effects of systemic steroids, but to a much lesser degree. Corticosteroids can inhibit growth in children and decrease bone mineral density, although growth inhibition is reversible. Steroids suppress the immune response, increasing risk of infection, and decrease bone mineral density. Other side effects of steroids include low blood sugar, changes in consciousness, nauseas, seizures, or in rare cases death. You can also develop symptoms like Cushing's Disease (an excess production of cortisol in the body). These include deposits of fat on the upper back and face, high blood pressure, diabetes, slow wound healing, osteoporosis, cataracts, acne, muscle weakness, ulcers, thinning of the skin, and mood changes. Studies have shown that inhaled corticosteroids (budesonide) can be used intermittently; there is no advantage to regular use of these medications.

Theophylline (theodur, slophyllin) and the related aminophylline drugs are xanthine derivatives related to caffeine that act to dilate the bronchi. Aminophylline can cause rash in some people. They can be given either orally or intravenously for asthma emergencies. Toxicity results in seizures, irregular heartbeats, and pounding heartbeat. It interacts with ciprofloxacine and the other fluoroquinolone antibiotics (i.e. those ending with -xacine) as well as caffeine. They are not used much any more due to safety concerns and side effects.

Long acting beta-2 agonists have been promoted as reducing the need for inhaled quick relief medication. Drugs on the market include salmeterol (Serevent) and formoterol (Foradil). Serevent, approved in 1994, dilates breathing passages by stimulating the beta-2 adrenergic receptor. At least 300,000 children take this drug.

Serevent was isolated as one of five dangerous drugs still on the market by Dr. David Graham of the FDA in testimony to congress in November of 2004. In that testimony he described Serevent users "dying while clutching their inhalers."

In 1996, based on reports of paradoxical bronchospasm (a contraction of the breathing airway or bronchus that impairs breathing and can be fatal) with Serevent, the manufacturer undertook a large multi site randomized placebo controlled trial, the Salmeterol Multi-center Asthma Research Trial (SMART). This was a 28-week safety study comparing salmeterol (Serevent) and placebo in the treatment of asthma.115 In addition to their usual asthma therapy, patients received either Serevent or a placebo. The study was stopped in 2002 by the study's Data Safety Monitoring Board because of an increase in asthma related deaths. Analysis of 26,355 patients showed statistically significantly higher rates of asthma related deaths (13 versus 3, relative risk greater than four fold) in patients on Serevent.

In African Americans, who made up 17% of the study population, the study showed a statistically significant greater number of respiratory related deaths and life threatening events. Many had to get intubated, or have a tube put down their throat to let them breath related to respiratory causes (20 versus 5 for placebo, a four fold increase). In addition, there was a more than four fold increase in asthma-related deaths and life threatening respiratory events in patients taking salmeterol compared to those taking placebo. Overall the risk of death from any cause or having a life-threatening event was doubled in African Americans, another finding that was statistically significant. The data suggested that the risks of Serevent were greater in African Americans than in whites. About half of the patients were also taking an inhaled corticosteroid. In those patients not taking an inhaled corticosteroid, there were significantly more asthma-related deaths in all patients taking salmeterol compared to those taking placebo.

The manufacturers of Serevent initially showed data to the FDA that included the results from the 28-week trial plus a 6 month follow up period. The results for this time period were better than the initial 28 weeks alone. However the initial study protocol was for a 28 week trial, and the FDA appropriately requested the 28 week outcomes, which they posted on their web site in 2005. However the potential risks of long-acting beta agonists have long been known.116 A long acting beta agonist drug marketed in New Zealand was associated with an increase in asthma related deaths and was pulled from the market there in 1976. A recent meta analysis (where data from all published studies were combined) looking at trials from the past 20 years involving a total of 33,826 asthma patients treated with long acting beta agonists showed that all drugs in this class are dangerous.116 Overall there was a statistically significant increase in a number of parameters, including an increase in asthma exacerbations requiring hospitalizations by 2.6 fold, increased life threatening exacerbations of asthma by 1.8, and increased risk of asthma related death by 3.5 fold.

Based on these findings, I do not recommend use of a long-acting beta-2-agonist.

Advair, which contains Serevent and a steroid, also carries the same black box warning about increased asthma related deaths. This hasn't stopped it from running up 2 billion dollars in sales per year. Based on the SMART study we cannot conclude that long acting beta agonists when administered with steroids are safe; in studies where 75% of patients were taking a steroid there was still a 2-fold increased risk of asthma related death.

Montelukast (Singulair) and zafirlukast (Accolate) are part of a new generation of asthma medications that are leukotriene antagonists. These medications work by inhibiting the cysteinyl leukotriene CysLT-1 receptor, which is involved in the inflammatory response. In rare cases they may be associated with Churg-Strauss syndrome, which involves inflammation of the blood vessels. Zileuton (Zyflo) can cause lupus and liver toxicity and requires blood to be checked every six months. They are expensive and have not been shown to be more effective than steroids and antihistamines.

Other new drugs are the mast cell stabilizers like nedocromil (Tilade) and omalizumab (Xolair). Xolair is given by injection every 2-4 weeks. These meds have only recently been approved by the FDA, and so we have to adopt a wait and see attitude.

Learn more about hidden risks of prescription medications in 'Before You Take That Pill: Why the Drug Industry May be Bad for Your Health: Risks and Side Effects You Won't Find on the Label of Commonly Prescribed Drugs, Vitamins and Supplements', by researcher and physician J. Douglas Bremner, MD.

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The Different Types of Asthma

Early Onset Asthma or Atopic or Extrinsic Asthma: Its onset is in early childhood and generally occurs in atopic individuals who form IgE antibodies to commonly encountered allergens. These allergens can be easily identified by skin hypersensitivity tests which produce positive reactions to a wide range of common allergens. Other allergic diseases, like allergic rhinitis and eczema, are generally present. There is also a family history of asthma.

In this type of atopic asthma allergens are inhaled (inspired) through air and are derived from animal dander, feathers, house dust, mites and fungal spores etc. These allergens provoke bronchial constriction and an inflammatory reaction of allergic type in the bronchial wall. If a patient is already allergic to such allergens, his asthmatic symptoms will aggravate as soon as he again comes into contact with them. Similar effects may be created by ingested allergens derived from food items like eggs, fish, wheat, milk, yeast which are said to enter the bronchi by means of blood stream.

Late Onset of Asthma : Majority of asthma patients develop asthma in later years of life and they are called, Non-atopic individuals. There is not much evidence to prove that this type of asthma is triggered by extrinsic factors, hence it is rightly called 'intrinsic' asthma.

Chronic Asthma: Wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, along with spontaneous cough, labored breathing or breathlessness on exertion are symptoms of chronic asthma. Recurrent episodes of frank respiratory infection is common in this variety of asthma.

Episodic Asthma : Here the patient has no respiratory symptoms between two episodes of asthma but paroxysms of wheeze and dyspnoea (shortness of breath) may occur at any time and may be of sudden onset. Episodes of asthma can be caused by exercise, viral infections, allergens, common cold or else may be apparently spontaneous. Attack could be either severe or mild and may last for hours, days, or even weeks/months.

BLOCKBUSTER ISO 9002 ACCREDITED HERBAL FORMULATION TO HEAL ASTHMA

Episodes of asthma can be triggered in atopic patients but asthma is often aggravated by non-specific factors such as respiratory viral infection, emotional stress, acrid fumes, dust, cold air, tobacco smoke. Drugs, such as aspirin, NSAIDS (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), beta-antagonists, may also cause asthma.

BUILD STRONG IMMUNITY TO ALLERGIC TRIGGERS

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A New Revolutionary Natural Method To Help Your Asthma

Salt Pipe

So what does the Salt Pipe actually do?

The Salt Pipe - You can breathe more easily with this natural respiratory aid.

The Salt Pipe - A natural option for asthma, allergies or other respiratory disorder sufferers. It's similar to having your very own at home, salt mine therapy.

After a few minutes of use every day, you will start to notice relief from these symptoms:

· Mucus becomes thinner and is easier to cough up.

· Night suffocation and coughing is reduced or prevented completely.

· You may alleviate your sneezing/coughing fits.

· It aids shortness of breath, and you will experience an ease in your breathing.

· You will receive relief from allergies that are often associated with pollen & hay fever.

· Bronchitis and chronic sore throat relief can also be expected.

Where did it originate?

It has been documented that for over a hundred years, hundreds of thousands of people suffering from allergies, asthma, and other respiratory disorders have encountered relief by breathing the negative ion rich salt air in the salt mines in Poland, Austria, Romania and at the Dead Sea. It was Felix Botchkowski, an 18th century Polish health professional, who first noticed that salt mine workers did not suffer from lung diseases. In 1843, a book about the benefits and effects of salt dust was penned by him. While they are rather common in Europe, salt pipes are often utilized by people all over the world, as well.

For sufferers of asthma, allergies, hay fever, bronchitis, chronic coughing, sleeping problems, snoring, respiratory disorders, etc. the salt pipe is proving to be a fantastic new development. There are no documented adverse effects from utilizing the all-natural Salt Pipe.
I would especially encourage those suffering from asthma or other breathing problems to try it. The benefits are felt by users almost immediately, after just a few puffs daily.

Why should you purchase a salt pipe?

Consider this list of benefits :

· The Salt Pipe will starting working almost immediately

· It offers alternative health invention which has already worked for many users

· It's very simple to use

· The Salt Pipe will lasts up to 5 years with approx 15-20 minutes daily use

The Salt pipe is the innovative way to apply salt therapy and carries no acknowledged side effects.

Many cultures worldwide have long used various salts as natural remedies. Wieliczka in Poland, Hallein in Austria and Praid in Romania are all places with salt mines, and they are popular destinations for people with respiratory disorders looking for relief. Alternatively many will visit the coast for the high humidity, salty air that can be found there. You can utilize salt to help your respiratory problems by inhaling salt brine vapor, gargling with brine, or inhaling rock salt combined with essential oils. As an aid to easing respiratory problems, rock salt is available from health food stores.

You can now realize the benefits of salt therapy in the comfort of your home.

Tested by doctors, the salt pipe is made of porcelain and filled with salt crystals originating from a mine in Praid, Romania. The salty interior clears and relaxes the cells in your respiratory passages. As you use this pipe, tiny salt particles are absorbed by the moving air and then are carried inside your respiratory system with very positive healthful results. Natural flushing away of contaminants on your individual cells occurs due to the salt content that passes through your system. The air passages are also cleaned by these same mechanisms.
Just a few minutes a day with regular use, can clear up your asthma, allergies, snoring, stuffieness, coughing, shortness of breath and wheeziness. The salt pipe also neutralizes the daily damaging effects of air polution, dust, smog and fog, as well as second hand tobacco smoke.

The active substance in the salt pipe is miocene halit salt crystals, drawn from the Praid salt mine.

Breathing Through Your Mouth

Salt air can be used to cure the body through the use of a salt pipe. It must be used on a regular basis to systematically cleanse your breathing system, while helping to prevent breathing problems and alleviating existing breathing illnesses. There is no need for pumping or pressing any button, and unlike with a spray inhaler the breath need not be held; just use the mouth for inhaling and nose for exhaling. For people trying the salt pipe for the first time, please do not take a deep forced breath because the salt air in the salt pipe will cause a choking sensation. After using the salt pipe to clean the breathing system a couple times, it is normal to experience coughing or the need to spit. Please don't let this deter you from trying this product. The impurities that have built up over time in your respiratory system will be cleaned and cleared as the natural antiseptic properties of the salt crystal begin to work. Impurities are ridden off by the body by the way of coughing or feeling of wanting to split. It's how this process works. With regular use of the Salt pipe, you will experience easier breathing, less coughing, less soreness in the throat and less phlegm in the lung

It's as simple as pulling air into your mouth and lungs through the salt pipe, and then exhaling the air through your nose. Breathe normally; do not force or strain to breathe. Take care to avoid exhaling back into the pipe. It may taste salty when you first start to use it, but this goes away in time as the salt crystals inside the pipe vaporize. You should use your Salt Pipe at least 15-25 minutes each day, but you can use it more often as needed. Best results are achieved by using the device regularly. Your lips may become dry and chapped while using the Salt pipe. If you experience this issue, it can be solved by putting on some lip balm before the pipe is used.
The pipe contains 50-60 grams of salt and if used for 15-25 minutes daily, will last for 5 years. According to tests, the amount of salt inhaled into the body with normal 15-25 minute per day usage is less than one microgram.

Note: If you suffer from severe nasal congestion, such as sinusitis or rhinitis, you can try inhaling with the salt pipe through each side of your nose. You should use the Salt pipe 25 times on each side by inhaling and exhaling through your nose, if you must, you can exhale through your mouth while taking care not to breathe back into the pipe.

To avoid damage to the Salt pipe by humidity, store in a dry place.

Breathing problems can be alleviated by inhaling salty air (Wormer, 1999). The antiseptic properties of salt are what makes natural salt therapy so effective. It will get the microbial cells dehydrated and thereby impair their albumious structure. Salt crystals will enter the nasal cavity as you exhale through the nose. The respiratory tract can be cleaned and the inflammation can also be reduced by using it.

Product disclaimer : The salt pipe is a natural device and it can be used to supplement current medication without side effects. Of course, no product or advice is intended to replace any current medication. To find out how this will affect your condition, talk to your doctor.

To read more about Salt Pipes visit: more information about the Salt Pipe

Richard is the webmaster of:http://www.aloeveraexpress.com/www.crystalrocksaltlamp.com

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Asthma Medications

One of the common lung diseases is the most debilitating Asthma. In the present world scenario, the number of people affected by asthma is steadily growing and threatening the human world. Mostly Asthma is caused by the allergy of the human body. Allergy can be towards any thing, dust, smoke, foods, atmosphere, household items, pets and many such common things. The polluted atmosphere is the major factor for the growth in the number of cases. As of now, this is a non-curable disease. Medications can be used to control the asthmatic symptoms. Asthma medications are aimed at helping the patients to counter the asthmatic attacks and also to make them to lead a healthy life.

Asthmatic symptoms include cough, breathing trouble, wheezing and tiredness. The inflammations in the lungs and bronchioles cause the breathing trouble. The airways will be blocked and the body will not receive necessary oxygen. This makes the patient to breath heavily to gasp air and in turn wheezing and tiredness occurs. Severe asthmatic attacks, if not treated immediately and properly, can become life threatening. There are many modern medicines available in the market, which can contain the effects of Asthmatic attacks.

Anti-inflammatory drugs are being used to counter the inflammation in the lungs and bronchial airways. These drugs are very effective in reducing the inflammations and for smooth passage of air through the airways to lungs. Usually these are given as preventive medicine in many patients to make sure that Asthmatic attacks do not occur. Steroids are one types of drugs which is highly effective in making the airways less sensitive to allergies and hence reducing the chances of inflammatory swelling of airways.

Once Asthma attack occurred, bronchodilators are used to reduce the discomfort and breathing troubles. These drugs relax the muscle bands circumventing the bronchial airways. These effectively contain the constriction of airways and make it open, so that breathing problems can be immediately reduced. Once Asthma symptoms occur, it is necessary to take bronchodilators.

Many anti histamine medicines are proved to be very effective in reducing the allergic asthma attacks. Anti allergy medication will prevent the allergic effect on the body and hence the Asthmatic attacks or its severe nature will reduce.

Presently there are many inhaler therapies. This techniques puts the medicine powder directly in to the airways and lungs. This will have immediate effect and the patient gets immediate relief. Bronchodilators, cortisone steroids, anti allergic medicine and all other types of medicines are now available in inhaler form. This reduces the side effects on other organs of the body.

It is necessary for an asthmatic patient to have a medication plan with him always. He should be aware of modern therapies available, its advantages and disadvantages.

Robert Grazian is an accomplished niche website developer and author.
To learn more about asthma medications visit My Asthma Attack Relief for current articles and discussions.

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Breathing Tools To Help Control Asthma and Sleep Apnea And Other Breathing Conditions

The Russians do quite well in Olympic swimming, and if one notices, it is apparent that while some others are huffing and puffing through their mouths, many Russian athletes appear to practice exercises similar to Buteyko exercises before sports performances. Just as eating a bowl of spaghetti 15 minutes before an event would be detrimental, so is increasing the breathing. The Russian Natalia Molchanova has broken almost all categories of freediving records, and it is interesting to watch her breathing before a dive, as well as after a dive. Static Apnea training also includes minimizing breath.

To put it simply, Buteyko exercises are a set of tools, which allow asthmatics and others who are prone to hypocapnia (deficiency of carbon dioxide in the blood resulting from hyperventilation) caused by overbreathing, to return to stasis without (or with fewer) drugs, under medical supervision. Buteyko breathing exercises recalibrate the baroreceptors and parasympathetic nervous system, allowing for a lower breathing rate, and more normalized CO2, carbonate and pH levels in the blood, allowing the tissues to utilize oxygen better. Remember doctors using paper bags to stabilize asthmatics? (Do not breathe into a bag without medical supervision!)

Years ago I took a confined space training class, and we took turns blowing into an O2 detector after holding our breaths. Most trainees yielded 16-18% O2. I blew a 14% since I held my breath much longer. Assuming that the office had ~19% O2, this taught me that normal breathing is not very efficient, and perhaps has to be inefficient to allow for sufficient tensile strength of lung and vascular tissue, and delicate balance of blood chemicals. It occurred to me that more volume of air passing through the lungs does not necessarily mean that more oxygen is being passed to the bloodstream.

Two days after diving in the Pacific ocean, I was hiking in the snow up Cotopaxi at about 16,000' (+4800m) above sea level. My extremely fit, but asthma-prone girlfriend began having shortness of breath. I also became light headed, and began experimenting with my breath as I trekked up the volcano. Several such times I inhaled deeply and compressed my chest with my intercostal (rib) muscles for a long moment. This seemed to help increase my consciousness even after I released the breath, and I realized that I had the power to change my physiologic state quite simply. It became clear to me how the mechanics of overbreathing/ heavy breathing and the partial pressure dynamics (elaborated by Buteyko doctors and scientists) may have much to do with the asthmatic response.

Many doctors now agree that overconsumption of nutrients (overeating) does not guarantee more nutrients to the tissues, but not many seem to consider respiration rate in the respiration equation, that overbreathing may play a key role in respiratory "disease." In fact, some doctors no longer check respiration rate during an exam. It is commonly known that increased obesity results in metabolism dysfunction, large meals cause blood sugar spikes and metabolism accelerators (dieting drugs and supplements) due not increase stasis in tissues, making loss of fat more difficult in the long term. Similarly, overbreathing causes a spiraling of processes which decrease alvioli efficiency, disrupting breathing rate "calibration" and oxygenation of other tissues, decreasing health and oxygenation. Despite more oxygen entering the lungs, because of the low CO2 level, less oxygen actually makes it to the cells that need it. This overbreathing could be triggered by stress, anxiety, nasal congestion, allergies and other triggers and factors which cause people to breathe more frequently and deeply than their body would otherwise. One problem of low CO2 levels is a scientific hypothesis proposed by Artour Rakhimov, PhD, that chronic hyperventilation promotes disease and cancer. Previous research has suggested that chronic hyperventilation washes out CO2 from each cell of the human organism. Since CO2 is a dilator of small blood vessels, low CO2 concentrations lead to the constrictions of arterioles causing problems with blood and oxygen delivery.

In addition, low CO2 values cause inability of red blood cells to efficiently release whatever little oxygen they bring (the suppressed Bohr effect). The final outcome is hypoxia in the tissues, including the vital organs.

Some argue that "We are under constant stress because we don't breathe enough," without really measuring the actual volume of gases inhaled. Typically respiratory rate and volume increase when stress increases. Even the Johnson & Johnson Company sponsored research by University of Miami School of Medicine (Director Tiffany Field, Ph.D.) shows that massage increased pulmonary function in asthma patients. Once I was at the doctor, and a nurse assistant checked my pulse, bp and respiratory rate: the assistant reported that I had 18 breaths per minute, however I measured 6-7 breaths. I asked how she measured it, and she stated simply that "everyone has 18-20 breaths." Such inaccuracy may lead to wrong conclusions by medical staff.

In 2005, the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine reported that "Hypocapnic but Not Metabolic Alkalosis Impairs Alveolar Fluid Reabsorption." What this means is that a low CO2 level causes blood pH to change, and more fluid build up in the lungs. Thus the more a person breathes, the more CO2escapes, and more fluid may build up in the lungs. Buteyko theory includes the facts of the body's attempts to regulate carbonates and alkalinity.

Although Buteyko Therapy originated in the Ukraine Forty years ago, and has gained medical acceptance in Russia, Australia, Asia and England, it remains a seldom used "alternative" treatment in the USA. My mentor, John Harris, brought the first Buteyko Therapy Practitioner to the USA in the 1980's: Rosalba Courtney, ND, DO, DipAc, CA, an Australian osteopath, naturopath, California-certified acupuncturist, and chairperson of the Australasian Buteyko Association. The practice has been taught to many practitioners and countless patients who, under medical supervision, have overcome much or all of their dependence on asthma medications. John is said to breathe 3/min at rest, and 1/min during meditation.

Most meditation practices promote slowed breathing, and can accomplish these effects, when breathing is slowed more in ratio to the metabolic rate. Vocalizing the typical "oum" slowly while breathing through the nose only, will slow the breathing, and CO2 levels can stabilize toward a normal level. It is the respiratory rate and partial pressures that mainly control how much O2 in the lungs will pass into the blood. Proper singing and playing wind instruments may have similar effects, partly due to the increased partial pressure inside the lungs.

Most Pilates trainers, Yoga instructors and even physicians speak of shallow and deep breathing, but frequently don't specify breathing rate, or encourage increased rate. Some yoga classes sound like an aerospace wind tunnel. However experienced yogis are rarely seen panting, and even with Ujjayi Pranayama, they breathe s-l-o-w-l-y, which along with the resistance of Ujjayi, causes partial pressure inside the lungs to absorb more of the oxygen while keeping enough carbon dioxide to maintain balance. Have you ever seen a Buddhist monk panting? Have you noticed that healthy older people do not breathe noticeably?

By slowing breathing to more fully utilize O2 efficiency and not depleting CO2 levels necessary for proper muscle and lung physiology, Buteyko breathing is said to enhance performance. Traditional Pilates and certain specific yoga practices that encourage faster breathing rates thus may cause an opposite effect. After I began to master these techniques, my breathing slowed during my workouts, and my efficiency increased. I learned that if my mouth would open during a run, it was time to back off, slow the exhale, until my efficiency increased again. Once you open the mouth, the breathing efficiency goes down the toilet. Now if a sprint is required, forget the rules, and when activity slows, then immediately slow the breath. Watch a video of Natalia Molchanova, world record freediver, and see how slowly she breathes after swimming under water for several minutes. I have also found that "catching" the breath only throws the balance off.

Since this also affects blood pressure, a US Patent has been issued for use to control hypertension. The American Lung Association has informed me that since most research has been in Russia and Australia, they are waiting for more USA trials on Buteyko before they comment or promote it for asthma.

One day I was examining the lungs of a cadaver and noticed that significantly diseased lungs with a fraction of their original available surface area still kept the person alive. Later that day as I was swimming (controlled breathing exercise, right?) I experimented with different breathing depths and rates, and thought of Buteyko's theory, and that wide ranges of breathing patterns may have strong effects on what the lungs pass to and from the bloodstream, and resultant physiological responses. Apparently humans are overdesigned in many ways, thus improper function may occur for long periods before symptoms become apparent, and finally nudge a person to submit to crisis-control allopathy.

About ten months after NPR, and eight months after Oprah Winfrey started a neti bowl craze, I noticed that neti bowls were more popular on the net, but at a drugstore I asked two pharmacists for "nasal irrigation such as neti bowl or neti pot" and they did not know what it was. I was promptly shown the medications section, and then I found and showed the pharmacist a plastic irrigation bottle which the store carried.

One day I was swimming in the ocean with a tight wetsuit for about 45 minutes, I then swam to the beach and all of a sudden, I noticed that my breathing was still rapid although my effort was decreasing as I rode some waves in. I began to overventilate, and experienced my first taste of pre-asthmatic behavior.

I was in a yoga class, and the instructor was discussing Pranic Breathing. He said that he would demonstrate, but that it may cause him to start coughing. I wondered why anyone would practice a breathing type that would cause coughing?

At the 2007 IDEA Conference, I began a test for O2/ CO2 output, but the test was suspended because the machine kept turning off due to my breathing rate of 6-7 breaths per minute. The tester stated that I had to breathe at least 10 breaths per minute to keep the machine on! I decided to abandon the test.

Manual Bodywork can also help stabilize body systems by assisting the parasympathetic system to resume control. Nevertheless, always consult a medical doctor before beginning or changing an exercise or treatment program, or when you have new symptoms.

Paul Svacina, BS, PE, LMT, has a BS in aerospace engineering from Texas A&M University and learned bodywork and health sciences in Europe and the United States, most recently at the Santa Barbara Body Therapy Institute, and with John Harris, Olympic therapist and coauthor of Fix Pain - Bodywork Protocols for Myofascial Pain Syndromes, explaining treatments for trigger points and sports injuries. Paul specializes in trigger point therapy, barefoot deep tissue massage, and myofascial release. For more information and resources about trigger point therapy, visit Paul Svacina's websites at http://trisoma.com or http://santabarbarabodytherapy.com where you can buy the new book "101 Great Ways to Improve Your Health".

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Herbal Remedies - Alternative Medicine For Asthma

Bronchodilators are among the fastest selling drugs in the global healthcare market. Now that won't come as a surprise considering the rate of prevalence for asthma. Today, over 300 million people worldwide suffer from this chronic respiratory disease and in the United States alone, expenses for asthma medications reached more than $6 million in 2007. Meanwhile, clinical studies have confirmed the risks pertinent to the extended use of long-acting bronchodilators, which include increased hospitalization and asthma-related deaths among asthma patients. Despite FDA mandate for adequate black box warnings in their packages, the risks of negative reactions prevail. If only an alternative medicine for asthma and respiratory conditions is available, then we wouldn't have to contend with these severe side effects.

But then there are in fact a number of herbs and natural remedies recognized in the practice of alternative medicine for their therapeutic effects on the lungs and the bronchioles, as well as for their tonic benefits on the respiratory tract and the immune system. The volatile oils, flavonoids and glycoside compounds occurring in the medicinal extracts of the Matricaria Recutita provide excellent support to the routine functions of the lungs and the entire respiratory system. The herb is typically used as a component of herbal remedies formulated for the treatment of respiratory conditions.

Meanwhile, biochemic tissue salts are popularly administered in homeopathic medicine to restore easy breathing and ease the airways, among other medicinal purposes. Tissue salts such as the Kali Phos or the nerve nutrient facilitates breathing while Mag Phos or the nerve relaxant sustains the upkeep of open chests and bronchioles. Other homeopathic ingredients employed for respiratory ailments include the Arsen Alb which is administered for asthmatic conditions and Phosphorous that boosts the healthy intake of oxygen with the airways and the lungs.

It would be rather easy to get confused with the extensive lineup of herbal and homeopathic substances used in the treatment of asthma and related illnesses. Nonetheless, if the intent is to obtain holistic asthma relief that is deemed free from the severe side effects of bronchodilators and even controller drugs, alternative medicine for asthma and other respiratory conditions is now available in the market for this purpose. Also called herbal remedies or herbal supplements, alternative treatments such as the BioVent Drops are formulated from a combination of select herbal and homeopathic ingredients designed to enhance lung and respiratory tract health. Tissue salts on the other hand ease the bronchi and the respiratory tract to promote easy breathing. These are medicinal properties that are now easily available in respiratory herbal supplements such as the Triple Complex Bronchosoothe.

Use respiratory herbal supplements in combination with prescription drugs or as an alternative medicine for asthma to naturally treat asthmatic conditions and restore regular breathing as well.

Bruce Maul is a partner in Gold Flax Seed, Inc. which provides only top quality Flax Seed, Herbal Remedies and other health related products. Learn more about Herbal Remedies by visiting http://www.myherbalremedystore.com

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