05.15.08

Enduring Asthma

Posted in Health Issues at 8:29 am by jaques

I was diagnosed with asthma in year 2004. It was not a typical asthma and I coughed non-productively for one month. No wheezing can even be detected which is typical of asthma attacks. This has been the reason why I had growing concern especially now that I’ve got three kids to attend to. There is more to asthma than meets the eyes.

Of all the recent health issues which affect populations around the globe, asthma is one of the most serious; this increase in cases is of concern because it is also affected rising numbers of children and even young adults. Asthma is a chronic, treatable disease that causes airway constriction in response to certain allergens, making it difficult to breathe. Respiratory conditions greatly affect the daily life of everyone who suffers with them and severe attacks can lead to incapacitation and even lead to death.

There are ways to reduce the risks of attacks by carefully monitoring the condition which is the responsibility of the asthma sufferer on a daily basis. Depending on the condition, there are steps for treatment and they are:

1-           Instigating preventive measures

2-            Recognition of signs of attack

3-            Ensuring relief medication is available when minor attacks occur

4-            Emergency treatment for serious attacks

Bronchodilators are recommended for short-term relief for all patients but those with mild occasional attacks need no other medication; fortunately, for a large number of asthmatics no other medication other than this will be required.

For patients with frequent but still mild attacks then a low-dose glucocorticoid or a leukotriene modifier should be all that is required as well as a standard Bronchodilator. Inhalers then became popular.  Oral glucocorticoids are the usual treatment for asthma patients who require strong medication when they experience serious attacks. Whatever the level of severity they experience; all sufferers have a reliever to aid them. After a period of time most asthmatics will have learned to recognize what events trigger the attacks. They will then be able to avoid these triggers and this should lessen if not completely stop the attacks. Medical science has now confirmed that the poorer the air quality the greater the chance that this and other respiratory problems will occur.

The medications used to help prevent and treat attacks are very effective but should only be used sparingly; prescription drugs may also cause serious side effects and may be considered harmful.

Some tips on handling asthma stated here may be of some use for those who have the illness but personally, I haven’t tried them myself as I am dependent with inhalers and modern medications.

Tip 1:     Patients with respiratory conditions are now moving towards natural remedies which do not have these awful side-effects. The task is to strengthen the weak body system then soothe and calm the hyperactive ones; this is done by substances called catalysts. Natural medications provide natural organic catalysts to the body that restore balance in the system and thereby eliminate all the symptoms without any side effects.

Tip 2:    Other asthma sufferers are finding that breathing techniques taught by certain yoga disciples can also help their situation and promote good health.

The best way to deal with asthma for sufferers is to eat balanced nutritional diet that will help restore the immune system functioning. The main focus however, should be on the asthma patient learning to control their own condition.  There is no cure, only prevention of the progression of the disease.

05.14.08

Mad Scribbles Of A Self-confessed Mind

Posted in On Birthing and Delivery at 8:32 am by jaques

I just endured a Caesarian delivery. My third time and the most painful. I had BTL [which stands for Bilateral Tubal Ligation], to make it simple, I cannot bear another child anymore. I had to endure a blood transfusion because I lost blood during the operation.

So what am I trying to say? It is not easy birthing. Whether it is Normal Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery[NSVD] or Caesarian delivery, all I can say is ‘0_0′. The pain is unimaginable. However, hearing the cry of the neonate is the ultimate joy of a mother.

While I was prepped for operation, my anesthesiologist told me to just relax and pray that everything goes well, however, my thoughts were on the forthcoming baby. ‘It is alright,’ I said. ‘Just let her cry (because that time I already knew she is a ’she’) and breath and even if I lose everything I got, just let her live.’ Well, it is every newborn’s right to see the world and experience its beauty no matter how degraded our world now is.  They should not be deprived just because we don’t want them to see and experience pain like we did.

With that delivery, I learned almost everything or should I add ‘I think of.’ Flashback of memories from my own childhood to the moment I heard the cry of my baby went clashing before me. I began to imagine what kind of life it must be for my parents to raise a child as ‘hmmm’ as naughty as me. :-) I also began to think how on earth they have endured years of toil just to raise us, their kids. I knew the answer was simple: Not easy.

The pain I felt during that delivery was really an excruciating one but as I think about the life ahead and the future pain I will encounter, I knew then that that pain is just the little finger of the hand.