Herbal Health
Herbal Remedies Blog
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PREVENTING ASTHMA: SOME NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS – EXERCISE
Many children get attacks after some form of exercise. This tends to lead to a lifestyle without regular physical activity. However, such children should be encouraged to participate in regular sports starting off at a comfortable level and progressively working towards more difficult sports which require higher levels of strength and endurance. There is no reason why such children should avoid sports or physical activity so long as they understand their limitations and take proper medication. Several Olympic athletes have had asthma and yet gone on to win world class competitions.
Asthma
An excellent physical exercise for children with asthma is swimming. As emphasised earlier, children should learn to recognize their own physical limitations through experience. There may be episodes of wheezing or tightness during such activity but these should be taken as a part of the learning experience. Parents and teachers should help these children manage these episodes. This will help these children become more confident about their activities.
Exercise: Some Important Tips
• Physical exercise is a must.
• Consult the physician about:
a. What exercise is best and convenient for the child.
b. Whether a bronchodilator pre-medication is required.
• The child should be motivated to take regular exercise.
• The child should know his or her limitations.
• If one kind of exercise induces asthma the child should be encouraged to try another one under the guidance of a physical instructor.
• The child should warm up with a light exercise.
• After exercise the child should cool down with a light exercise.
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COMBATTING ASTHMA IN CHILDREN: ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS – STEROIDS: BRONCHODILATORY DRUGS – BETA-AGONIST DRUGS
These drugs are offsprings of adrenelin, the major hormone produced by the adrenal gland, and act directly on particular sites called receptors or nerve cells of sympathetic nervous system. There are three main types of receptor sites called alpha, beta-1 and beta-2. These receptor sites are located in the airways, but they are also found in other parts of the body such as the inside of heart muscles, and muscles in the arms and legs. Some of these drugs act on all three types of receptor sites, but others are more selective.
Asthma
The most effective adrenergic bronchodilator drugs are called beta-2 agonists, or simply beta agonists. They primarily influence the beta-2 receptors which are present only in the bronchial airways. These drugs are preferred because of their property to selectively relax bronchial muscles only, without stimulating muscles in the heart or other body areas. They cause fewer side effects. Examples of these drugs are salbutamol and terbutaline. They are available in tablet form as well as in aerosols in metered-dose inhalers and nebulizers. However care should be taken not to overuse these drugs during an attack. If their use does not provide adequate relief, it is an indication that some other group of drugs should also be added.
Beta-2 agonists also provide more rapid action with inhalers rather than with oral intake. While salbutamol or terbutaline may provide more or less immediate relief through inhalation, it may take upto three hours to obtain similar relief through the oral route.
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