Acute Severe Asthma (Status Asthmaticus)

Acute severe asthma (status asthmaticus) is a life-threatening emergency. Patients are severely dyspneic, cyanosed, and often moribund. At this stage, many of them are unresponsive to the ordinary bonchiodilators. Dehydration may be evident.

Laboratory findings
These are often non-specific and they help in identifying the coexisting disease. Some cases show moderate esosinophilia (10-15%). Examination of feces may reveal helminthes which may also contribute to the allergic reaction and increase in eosinophils. Sputum may reveal numerous eosinophils, mucus plugs and Curschmann's spirals (casts of distal airways). Purulent sputum is indicative of respiratory infection. Culture revels the infecting organisms.

Identification of the allergen
Several tests have been introduced to identify the precipitating allergen. Intradermal tests are performed using a battery of antigens prepared from the common allergens prevalent in the area. In many instances the causative agent can be detected by the positive skin tests. Respiratory function tests reveal marked airway obstruction, which is relieved by the administration of bronchodilators.

Skiagram taken during the acute attack may show hypertranslucency due to emphysema but there may be an abnormality in between the attacks. It should be remembered that the radiological appearances and clinical severity show wide disparity in bronchial asthma.

Complications
Mortality is uncommon in asthma but severe attack may result in respiratory failure and death. This is more so in status asthmaticus. Other complications include frequent respiratory infections, pulmonary collapse due to obstruction by viscid secretions, penumothorax, mediastinal emphyseama and cough fractures (fractures of ribs due to violent coughing). Children with asthma may show retardation of growth, especially if treated with corticosteroids on a long-term basis. Long standing bronchial asthma, punctuated with frequent respiratory infections may lead on to emphysema and chronic cor pulmonale.

Diagnosis
Diagnosis of bronchial asthma is clinical. The history of sudden attack of paroxysmal dyspnea, cough, and the auscultatory hallmark of expiratory wheeze heard all over the chest are diagnostic. Long duration of complaints, history of allergy, and positive family history are other helpful clinical points.

Differential diagnosis
Bronchial asthma has to be differentiated from other causes of paroxysmal dyspnea. These include chronic bronchitis emphysema syndrome (CBES), acute left-sided heart failure, acute bronchitis, tropical pulmonary eosinophilia, metabolic acidosis, and tracheal obstruction by foreign bodies. It is important to distinguish left-sided heart failure (cardiac asthma) from bronchial asthma. Left-sided heart failure complicates valvular heart disease, systemic hypertension or ischemic heart disease. It causes paroxysmal dyspnea in the first half of the night whereas bronchial asthma is more common in the early hours of the morning. In bronchial asthma, there is generalized wheeze all over the chest, whereas in cardiac failure, basal crepitations are more prominent, though generalized bronchospams may also be evident at times. In heart failure, gallop rhythm may be evident. Careful search for the underlying disease may reveal the etiology.

Allergy Relief Aids

An allergy is a disorder of the immune system that often causes unusual sensitivity to foreign environmental substances known as allergens. Examples include pollens, dust mites, molds, danders and foods. Allergies can be hard to deal with and it often seems incredibly irritating as though nothing is going to really help to lessen the symptoms that occur. Allergy relief is crucial because allergen exposures are cumulative and with each contact the symptoms severity gets worse.

Relief can be found in many different medications, over the counter or those prescribed by your physician. Some are in pill form, others in liquid, while some relief medications are now available in eye drops or as topical creams.

Natural remedies, which are also sometimes referred to as home remedies, are nice. They are almost always safe, effective and affordable. Natural relief is a far healthier and often a permanent solution. Natural relief is one thing that many people look to in order to overcome their allergy symptoms.

Vitamins and Minerals should also be included in your fight for relief. For example, Vitamin C, E and mineral bicarbonates are extensively used in allergy clinics and are well known and well tested to be the allergic asthma home remedies. Vitamins should be taken in conjunction with and not as a substitute for a healthy and balanced diet.

Herbs have proven to be extremely effective for promoting health in a number of scientific studies. Herbal allergy relief is an option worth exploring no matter what kind of allergy symptoms you may be suffering from.

Allergy shots are yet another aid in the fight for relief. They contain just enough allergens to stimulate your immune system, but not enough to cause a full-blown allergic reaction. This trains the immune system to tolerate specific stimuli. Most people get shots for three to five years, starting with weekly injections.

Before undertaking any course of allergy relief, you should always consult your physician.

Bipolar Disorder Causes

Bipolar disorder is a terrible mental disease that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by periods of severe depression, followed by periods of extreme euphoria. It can be rapid cycling, which means the person with the disease goes through many moods a day. It can also be slow to change, with periods of a certain mood lasting for weeks or months. Either way, it is difficult for the person who has it, and hard on those with whom they live. While there are some very good treatments for it, the bipolar polar causes are not as well known.

As far as bipolar causes go, this is what science knows so far. There is still much to be learned about this condition, but as far as we know thus far, this disorder can be caused by several factors, such as:

1. Chemical imbalances


2. Genetics


3. Side effects from medication


4. Environmental sensitivities, such as allergies

Each person is different, so the cause may be different in your neighbor than in you. This can make treatment a tricky proposition. Sometimes medications work wonders, while at other times, a change in diet or even allergy shots can do the trick. The point is that experimentation may be necessary to determine what is causing the disorder in a particular person, and to decide which type of treatment is best.

No matter what has caused bipolar disorder in a particular person, treatment will be needed. That treatment almost always consists of some kind of psychotropic medication. However, since doctors aren't exactly sure what causes this condition and are even less sure of how medications to fix it work, a patient may have to go through many different medicines and many different dosages before finding something effective. Cognitive and behavioral therapy can also help ease the symptoms in some people.

The most important thing to remember about bipolar disorder causes is that they are different in everyone, but that treatments can and do work, so help is available if you go out and get it.

Understanding The Various Treatments For Asthma

The purpose of asthma treatment is to prevent symptoms and to effectively control long-term asthma attacks. Treatment starts with educating the patient or the patient's parents if the patient is young, about the symptoms of asthma and those things that may trigger an asthma attack. Treatment may include oral medications, inhalers and avoidance of what triggers the asthma attacks. Triggers vary from patient to patient.

If you recognize what triggers your symptoms of asthma you can avoid those triggers or minimize your exposure to them which will then lessen or eliminate your asthma attacks. Many things trigger asthma including irritants, allergens, respiratory infections, exercise and weather. One irritant trigger is dust. If a person's asthma is triggered by dust they should have someone else dust the house and be sure to take measures to minimize dust especially in the bedroom.

Treatments for asthma include long-term control medications, inhaled corticosteroids, and rescue inhalers. There are many things that determine what medications will be right for your asthma symptoms including the age of the patient, the particular triggers that cause the asthma and your history of prior treatment and the success you had using those treatments.

There are various medications used to treat asthma. Rescue or quick-relief inhalers are used to quickly open airways during an asthma attack. Rescue inhalers may include one of the following medications:

Short-acting beta agonists such as Albuterol, Levalbuterol or Pirbuterol.

Ipratropium, which is a bronchodilator.

Oral and intravenous corticosteroids, which decrease inflammation in the airway.

If allergens are determined to cause asthma you will be prescribed allergy medications. Inhaled corticosteroids are medications that take several days to weeks to reach the full benefit level but have long-term success with low risk of side effects and are safe for patients to use over long periods of time. Oral medications such as leukotriene modifiers are used to prevent asthma symptoms for up to 24 hours after they are taken. Theophylline is a daily pill that is used to help keep airways open and relax the muscles around the airways so breathing is easier. This was a commonly used medication years ago but not used as much nowadays.

If allergies are determined to be a trigger for asthma it is important to take measure to control allergic reactions. Immunotherapy or allergy shots have been used successfully to reduce the allergic reaction experienced by exposure to certain allergens. A person will be tested to discover what the allergens are and then be given an allergy shot schedule; usually once a week for a few months, and then once a month for a period of one to five years depending on how severe the allergy has been determined to be.

Allergy medications can be oral or nasal spray and are usually a combination of antihistamines and decongestants. Corticosteroid, Cromolyn and Ipratropium nasal sprays are commonly used to control allergy symptoms.

Your doctor will discuss various treatment plans with you and your input will be important when deciding what treatment plan is best for you. Your treatment plan may change during the year especially if you have seasonal allergies, have asthma that is triggered by cold weather or participate in sports only part of the year.

Treatment typically is a combination of avoidance, lifestyle changes, medications and patient education about asthma. The treatment plan should be in writing with a way to measure success. Your doctor will want to have follow-up appointments in order to access how well your asthma is being controlled and to adjust your treatment plan to be sure that your asthma is well controlled.

If you would like to know more about Asthma and it's remedies then click on ASTHMA AND TREATMENT below.

Allergies in Dogs - Symptoms and Cures

Food allergy is one of the most common forms of allergy in dogs. Little research has been done on the exact nature of the allergies, but it is thought that proteins are the leading cause of the allergy. In most cases the allergy is exhibited as a rash and/or scratching by the dog. Only in rare cases does a food allergy in a dog cause gastric problems in any noticeable way. Most dogs with food allergy have normal stools and appetites.

Most cases of food allergy are first noticed in younger dogs. In fact, more than a third of all cases are of dogs less than one year old. There is no difference in the susceptibility of food allergies in male or female dogs. Both sexes are just as prone to them. There are a few breeds which do seem to be more likely to have a food allergy. They are, but not limited to: Terriers, Dalmatians, Collies, Labradors, Dachshunds and Boxers.

Most of the time the rash associated with food allergies is localized in the feet or ear areas, but it can occur in other places on the dog. Another interesting fact about food allergy is that it can cause the dog to be more sensitive to other types of allergies such as flea and parasitic allergy.What can be done about food allergies? Elimination of the cause needs to be determined of course.

The method most used to determine the offending protein is called the "Elimination Diet". During this diet only one type of protein and one starch is given at a time. Some of the commercial dog food companies make special food just for these diets. You will need to talk to your vet for help in doing the Elimination Diet. Basically, the different proteins and starches are switched every few weeks in order to determine the exact starch or protein which the dog is allergic to.

The most common things dogs are allergic to are beef,  corn, milk chicken eggs, wheat, and soy. Usually it is only one thing a dog is allergic to. Once the source of the dog allergy is found, food can be purchased which does not contain that item. Be aware that during the elimination diet the dog is not receiving all of its nutrients and its coat may become coarse and dry feeling.

Flea Allergy

Flea allergy is another common type of allergy in dogs. The allergy is caused by flea saliva, and total elimination of fleas must occur to stop the itching. It only takes one bite by a flea to cause the allergic reaction. Oftentimes you will not see any fleas on your dog even though they are scratching.

This can be because the few fleas which were on the dog had already been scratched off. And fleas can survive in small numbers year-round in warmer climates or indoors. Once again, the only way to eliminate flea allergy in dogs is to TOTALLY eliminate the fleas. In fact, since flea allergy is so common in dogs, fleas should be eliminated completely before it can be determined if the dog allergy is caused by food, chemical, or other environmental allergens.

Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic Dermatitis is a simple skin allergy in dogs caused by such things as pollen, smoke, grasses, mold, and dust mites. Yes, dogs and people share allergic reactions to many of the same things. And just like specific allergens in people can be determined by testing the skin with potential allergens, dog allergies to these things are determined the same way. A dog's skin is scratched with the various potential causes and then watched for reactions. When the offending substance is determined, allergy shots can be given to desensitize the dog to the substance.

Curing Allergy in Dogs

In the case of Atopic Dermatitis, the dog can actually be cured of the allergy. Most other allergies are not curable. In the cases of food and flea allergy, the dog must simply be kept out of contact with the allergen.

Revision Rhinoplasty - Non Surgical Options - A Shot For Bad Nose Jobs!

"I had a bad nose job! I'm scared to get another operation! Is there anything else that can be done?!"

Non Surgical Rhinoplasty (Injection Rhinoplasty, Non Surgical Nose Job) is an option that is safe, effective, inexpensive, relatively low risk and easy to undergo. It is not the right option for every rhinoplasty revision, but it certainly deserves consideration.

Most of the time, surgical rhinoplasty is performed well, by competent surgeons and the patient ends up with a cosmetic result that is satisfactory. This article is not about that kind of situation.

Many patients feel that the only way to correct an unsatisfactory surgical result is with more surgery. This is not necessarily the case. All surgery causes some degree of scarring, some of which is hard to anticipate, even by the best surgeon. There is always some element of risk that a surgical rhinoplasty will not turn out exactly the way it is planned. This risk is considerably greater in revision surgery. The surgeon is working with tissues and planes that have been altered and scarred. The procedure becomes much more complicated and risky each time it is revised. Sometimes, surgical revision is really the best option. Sometimes, however, a simple filler injection can solve the problem.

The FDA has approved several excellent fillers that can be used to correct post rhinoplasty cosmetic defects. These fillers are safe, relatively cheap and do not incur lengthy recovery time when they are injected. Juvederm or Restylane are the most commonly used hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers. These can be injected under the nasal skin to fill out minor asymmetries or indentations left over after surgery. The advantage of these fillers is that they can be easily reversed with hyaluronidase if the patient is not satisfied. HA fillers are soft and look and feel natural. The downside of using these fillers is that they are not firm enough to withstand much tension if injected into an area that is scarred. They should be used only if there is not much scarring and the correction needed is very minor. Correction with HA fillers lasts about 6 to 8 months.

Radiesse is a filler containing calcium hydroxyapatite particles. The material is fully biocompatible (no allergic reactions) because it is the same calcium that is in the teeth and bones. Radiesse is injected deep into the nasal skin and is strong enough to keep its shape even when injected into areas of scarred tissue. It is not reversible, but when used by an able and experienced physician, Radiesse gives great correction. It can be used in any area of the nose, from the radix at the top to the nostrils and tip. Correction should be done over several sessions, taking care not to over-inject skin that has already been weakened by surgery. The danger of over-injecting post-rhinoplasty skin, especially in the tip area, is that the filler will compromise the blood supply to the skin and damage it. The cosmetic results of Radiesse injection last for 10 to 14 months.

The other filler that is being used in the nose currently is called Artefill. It is currently the only FDA approved permanent injectable filler. Because it is permanent, it should only be used by the most experienced injectors of the nose. Artefill is injected similarly to Radiesse, but over more sessions. The best way to inject is in a gradual layering of the product over 4 or 5 months. Once the desired effect is achieved, results are permanent. Artefill is composed of methyl methacrylate in a bovine collagen carrier. Currently, skin testing is required prior to Artefill injection to make sure that the patient does not have a rare allergy to bovine collagen.

Non surgical revision rhinoplasty options are available and, with the right doctor, can be an outstanding solution. As always, make sure that the doctor is experienced, ask to see before and after photos of his or her work and be certain that you are communicating your concerns and aesthetic goals as clearly as possible. You should always feel comfortable that the doctor understands exactly what YOU want and do not want.

Food Allergies - Do You Know the REAL Cause?

What did your doctor or allergist tell you when they discovered that you had a food allergy? Were you told to simply abstain from your allergic foods, or put on a rotation diet? Do you think that you are forever condemned to avoid eating these foods, which often happen to be your favorites? Allow me to spill the beans on the REAL cause of food allergies, and what you can do to remove them for good!

Spoke With Your GI Tract Lately?
Your GI, or gastrointestinal, system, is where food allergies originate. These allergies manifest themselves in the form of an upset stomach, acid reflux, cramping, psoriasis, eczema, anaphylactic shock, and more. If you have food allergies, you already know your symptoms and how unpleasant they are. A poorly functioning GI system is the reason that these allergies exist.

Over time, the population of beneficial bacteria found within your GI system has been depleted. The most common causes of this are: poor diet, alcohol consumption, and the use of antibiotics and over-the-counter medications. Once the population of good bacteria is depleted severely enough, the stomach cannot do an efficient job of digestion. Then, foods that are commonly eaten begin being rejected by the GI system, for the body falsely accuses these foods for the poor digestion that is taking place. Then, when the foods are eaten, the walls of your intestines become inflamed. This is known as Leaky Gut Syndrome.

So What, Now I'm Leaking??
Well, your belly is. This often manifests itself as a burning in the stomach after eating. Sometimes, it can be a delayed reaction to foods that doesn't happen until 2 or 3 days later. When the walls of your intestines become inflamed, this creates tiny openings through which undigested foods leak out. When they do, they enter the bloodstream and circulate through the body. The immune system does not recognize foods that are not fully digested. Therefore, when it detects these food particles, they are labeled as foreign invaders. This triggers the release of histamine. Histamine is what causes your allergic symptoms. It is what ANTI-histamines attempt to suppress, yet this is merely putting a band-aid over your problem.

How to End Your Food Allergies
First of all, you must avoid the foods that you are allergic to. It is likely that you have already obtained a food allergy test, and know what those foods are. Temporarily abstaining from these foods is necessary to allow your GI tract some time to heal.

Secondly, begin restoring the population of beneficial bacteria within your GI tract. This involves taking a quality probiotic. Visit your local health food store and purchase a probiotic that requires refrigeration, to assure that you are consuming live cultures of bacteria.

Third, avoid the use of antibiotics, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications (such as Tylenol, Aleve, etc) as much as possible. These kill the good bacteria in your belly. I'm not saying to ignore your doctor's advice if you have an infection! But, if use of these products CAN be avoided, it is important to do so.

Lastly, give yourself a break for a while. Lay off the booze and heavy meals. Up your intake of fruits and vegetables significantly. Meat and cheese are tough on the digestive system. Dairy products are the biggest culprit in causing poor digestion and GI damage, and they should be avoided entirely if you want to heal much faster.

Remember that your food allergies are a chronic health condition. This means that it took quite a while for them to develop. Your GI system was able to take quite a beating, but now it is down for the count. It may take a while to heal. Accepting this isn't easy, but be grateful for the knowledge you have to heal yourself, and optimistic about your future as a much more healthy individual. This sucks, but it is good that you caught it before something more serious developed.

DISCLAIMER
I should add that I do not recommend that you jump right into eating foods that you were previously allergic to after taking some time to heal your GI system. It very well may work, but if you have a serious food allergy, such as one that causes anaphylactic shock, it is not safe to go out and eat shellfish simply because you are on a probiotic. Talk with your allergist about safe ways to test your allergic response and slowly incorporate these foods back into your diet.

Thanks so very much for reading, and please let me know what YOU think about food allergies!

To the BEST of health,

Brian

**credits go to the amazing holistic doctor, Dr. David Dahlman, for teaching me the information found within this article. Visit his website at drdahlman.com to learn the RIGHT way to heal yourself from numerous conditions, including IBS, acid reflux, and many more!