Asthma’s attack there’s been a dramatic increase worldwide in this sometimes-fatal respiratory disease. Although it’s a familiar ailment, researchers know surprisingly little about it – or why it’s on the rise.
Asthma, a disease once treated as a minor irritant, is now a global medical problem that has reached epidemic proportions. The number of cases in the United States grew more than 150 percent between 1990 and 2008 – from 10 million to 25 million – according to the most recent numbers available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Asthma is the most common chronic problem among children. In fact, the American Lung Association says children make up about one-third of the nation’s 20 million asthma sufferers.The statistics are even more dramatic in some areas. Like in St. Louis, MO around 15 to 20 percent of children suffer from asthma, more than double the national average of 6.3 percent, according to studies by the St. Louis Regional Asthma Consortium.

Asthma, an insidious, suffocating disease, is spreading across New York City in epidemic proportions, overwhelming the public health system as it steals the breath from ever more people. An estimated One million New Yorkers, from the tiniest infants to the frail elderly, now suffer from this chronic, incurable illness more than 9% of the population. With numbers that large, the city has to be termed as the Asthma Capital.

Asthma can be a hard condition to manage for some people. So if an individual has questions regarding their condition or medication and their doctor isn’t readily available, they now have another option. Asthma patients and their caregivers can visit asthma-friendly pharmacies and speak to a specially-trained pharmacist who will address concerns and answer questions about the asthma.

Asthma tops childhood illnesses, New England study examines environment, poverty as contributing factors.
Asthma affects one in eight children in New England, eclipsing all other chronic illnesses of childhood and flooding emergency rooms and clinics with hacking, wheezing youngsters, according to a report scheduled to be released this week. The study from a coalition of federal and state public health agencies provides the most comprehensive assessment ever of asthma in the six-state region. It found that more than 400,000 children have been diagnosed with the condition.

Contamination spurs recall of inhalation drug A Massachusetts generic drug company said Wednesday that it is recalling millions of vials of an inhalation solution widely used by asthma patients and others with breathing problems. Copley Pharmaceutical Inc. said some of its 20-milliliter Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Solution was contaminated by microbial organisms. It poses special risks of serious infection to people with compromised immune systems, including those with AIDS, cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive lung disease and …..

DRUG-MAKER SETTLEMENT COULD SPELL RELIEF IN STATE A Birmingham lawyer said at least 40 Alabama residents are eligible for payments as part of a proposed $150 million settlement in a class action lawsuit that charged that a drug company sold contaminated medicine. The accord with Copley Pharmaceuticals Inc. over its asthma drug albuterol must still win the final approval of a federal judge in Cheyenne, Wyo. A hearing has been scheduled for Oct. 31 on the matter. Birmingham attorney David Guin thinks the pact, affecting as many as …. Repository, The

Asthma sufferers fret about ban on ‘rescue’ inhalers Asthma sufferers will soon be paying more for increasingly scarce emergency inhalers as part of the price of protecting the environment. By the end of 2008, the government says, the makers of albuterol “rescue” inhalers — used by millions of people to reopen airways during asthma attacks — will have to stop using the ozone-destroying chlorofluorocarbon propellants that power the devices. Three decades ago, scientists found that the

CUTTING MEDICINE COSTS For many Americans, the rising cost of prescription drugs can be a bitter pill to swallow. Government figures show that prices for all prescription drugs jumped 5. 8 percent last year — well above the overall inflation rate of 2. 7 percent. But there are some options available to bring down out-of-pocket drug costs. In recent years, hundreds of companies and organizations have started offering discount prescription drug cards. For a fee, enrollees are promised access to …..

Deaths Spur Asthma-Drug Warning Washington – Twenty users of a new drug for chronic asthma have died since it hit the market in April, possibly because they mistakenly tried to use it, rather than a fast-acting inhaler, to relieve an asthma attack. The drug, Serevent, is effective at preventing asthma attacks over a 12-hour period, and it has been proven safe if used properly, experts said. But it doesn’t treat actual asthma attacks, because it takes at least 30 minutes to begin working ….. . Disease Proof – July 4, 2008 Kids: Nebulization Ups Cardiac Injury Risk Jul. 3, 2008 ( Disease Proof delivered by Newstex) Albuterol nebulization often used to treat acute asthma attacks has been shown to increase cardiac risks in children.

AstraZeneca gets OK to sell asthma pills Accolate, to kids Drug approval first since merger By CHERYL MEYER Staff reporter AstraZeneca Plc received federal approval to sell a new formula of its asthma-fighting pills to children as young as 7 years old, company executives said Monday. Previously, adults and children ages 12 and older could take Accolate, AstraZeneca’s oral drug for the respiratory disease. Accolate was officially launched for sale in November 1996. For years, many children under age 12 have relied on inhalers ….. Financial Times (London, England) – September 21, 1999 COMPANIES & FINANCE: UK: AstraZeneca may advertise drug NEWS DIGEST Pharmaceuticals, Pharmaceuticals AstraZeneca may advertise drug AstraZeneca is considering launching a new US advertising campaign to kickstart sales of Accolate, its asthma tablet, after winning approval from the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of children as young as seven. Sales of Accolate, until now used only for mild to moderate asthma in adults and children above 12, have been flat this year. This has largely been because of competition in the US from ….. (New Jersey) – November 5, 1996 NEW DRUG FOR ASTHMA HELPFUL IN MANY CASES An entirely new class of drugs that could help as much as one-third of asthma sufferers and open up a new avenue for better medications is on the market. Doctors say Accolate, taken in pill form, can improve breathing for those with mild to moderate asthma, especially those who find carrying inhalers cumbersome and inconvenient. Known generically as zafirlukast, it is the first new class of asthma agents approved by the FDA in 20 years. Doctors began writing prescriptions for the ….. Guardian, The (London, England) – July 21, 1998 THE GUARDIAN: ASTHMA PILL ‘COULD REPLACE INHALERS’ FOR SOME SUFFERERS A NEW tablet that could replace inhalers for some of Britain’s 3 million asthma sufferers was launched yesterday. The drugs company Zeneca Pharmaceuticals says its anti-asthma pill Accolate is the first new treatment of its kind in Britain and the first alternative to inhaled steroids for 20 years. The tablet, taken twice a day to prevent an asthma attack, has been welcomed by the National Asthma Campaign, but the charity said it was too early to say which patients would ….. Scotsman, The (Edinburgh, Scotland) – July 21, 1998 The Scotsman: New drug hope for asthma sufferers A TABLET which could mean the end of inhalers for some asthma sufferers was made available in Britain yesterday. Doctors hope the pill, marketed by the drug company Zeneca as Accolate, will revolutionise asthma treatment. Zeneca claims it is the first alternative to inhaled steroids to be launched in Britain for 20 years. Although not all patients will be able to do without inhalers, the manufacturer believes it will provide a popular alternative for people on low-dose steroid ….. Chemical Business NewsBase: Press Release (United Kingdom) – June 15, 2009 Chemical Business NewsBase – Press Release: Four asthma drugs get new precaution. The FDA has asked makers of Singulair, Accolate, Zyflo, and Zyflo CR to include a precaution on those drugs’ labels about reports of behaviour and mood changes. Singulair is used to treat asthma and symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Accolate, Zyflo, and Zyflo CR are used to treat asthma. All four drugs are leukotriene inhibitors, which affect the leukotriene pathway, which is involved in the body’s response to inflammatory stimuli (such as breathing in an allergen). The FDA ….. THE ORLANDO SENTINEL – May 9, 2000 CHRONICALLY ILL SHOULD BE WARY OF CHITLINS In many parts of the southern United States, chitterlings – cleaned and boiled pig intestines, also known as chitlins – are a tradition. But a report suggests that this treat has the potential to be hazardous for people with diabetes and for others who are chronically ill. The report, in last week’s New England Journal of Medicine, said that the pig bowels can contain a bacterium called Clostridium perfringens type C, which produces a toxin that can cause a severe infection ….. Daily Telegraph (Sydney, Australia) – January 25, 1999 New help for asthma sufferers TWO pills to help prevent asthma attacks were among 36 new drug treatments approved in Australia last year. Singulair and Accolate, made by different drug companies, have undergone trials worldwide. The companies, Merck, Sharp and Dohme, and Zeneca, said yesterday the pills were selling for $90 to $110 for a month’s supply of Singulair or $90 to $130 for Accolate. A Zeneca spokeswoman said they would apply for Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme listing in the hope Accolate …..

New pill helps asthmatics breathe easy The first new class of asthma drugs in Canada in 20 years has been introduced in time for the cold weather that’s especially hard on people with the chronic lung disease. Accolate is the only pill-form anti-inflammatory available here that helps mild to moderate asthmatics breathe easier. It was recently approved by Health Canada after clinical trials involving 4, 000 patients worldwide, researchers said Thursday. “This medical advance places us on a threshold of ….. Newstex Blogs (USA) – June 15, 2009 New Precautions on Asthma Meds The FDA has requested that a new precaution be added to the drug prescribing information for some popular asthma medications. The medicines are known as leukotriene modifiers and include • Singulair (montelukast) • Accolate (zafirlukast) • Zyflo and Zyflo CR (zileuton) According to the FDA, neuropsychiatric events have been reported in some …..

Perseverance Is Key to a Good Life With Asthma Until about three years ago, Dawn Bosquez, a 30-year-old resident of Denver, was getting most of her medical care for asthma in emergency rooms. About once a month, she would wake up unable to breathe and would frantically call an ambulance or friend to rush her to the hospital, where she would be given oxygen and inhaled medications to bring the attack under control. Then, a doctor would prescribe a short course or “burst” of prednisone tablets

, Dr Reddy’s Labs (DRL) has been sued by US major, AstraZeneca, following DRL’s paragraph IV abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) submission for marketing Accolate, the US firms’ leading drug used to treat asthma. In a suit filed on June 27 in the district court ….

Maker says asthma drug Accolate may damage liver The maker of the asthma drug Accolate is advising patients using it and their doctors to be on the lookout for signs of liver problems, following some reports of adverse reactions. AstraZeneca Canada said in a release yesterday that analysis of safety databases has shown that some patients taking Accolate have experienced serious liver problems. There have been reports of seven patients, none of them in Canada, who died of liver-related reactions after taking the drug, said Health …..

DRUG FOR ASTHMATICS IS TIED TO SYNDROME Doctors should closely watch asthma patients who take the drug Accolate for signs of a rare but sometimes fatal condition called Churg-Strauss syndrome, the government and manufacturer said Wednesday. Churg-Strauss syndrome is a tissue disorder that sometimes strikes adult asthma patients and, if untreated, can destroy organs. Early symptoms are flulike, including fever, muscle aches and weight loss, and some asthmatics experience worsening lung symptoms as pulmonary blood vessels become ….. –

PATIENT’S MEDICATIONS WOULD FILL A PHARMACY DEAR DR. GOTT: Because of a variety of health problems, my doctor has prescribed the following medications: Cozaar, Maxzide, K-Dur, folate, vitamin E, Lodine, Premarin, Propulsid, Prilosec, Accolate, Aerobid, Proventil inhaler, and Pamelor. I feel awful. I’m not surprised. You are taking 13 medicines, all of which have potential side effects. Heaven knows how these powerful drugs are interacting in your body. I believe that your situation represents precisely the problem ….. – May 28, 1997 Asthma drug treats causes, symptoms After a research effort that goes back nearly 40 years, scientists at Harvard University have seen their work developed into a new drug that could help millions of people who suffer from asthma.

K. Frank Austen, a Harvard professor of medicine who has been involved since the research began in 1959, said the new drug, called Accolate, is the first ever developed that treats the causes of asthma and not just the symptoms. “Older drugs relax smooth muscles and open up ….. – February 4, 2000 When ADS RULE the doctor’s office, Patients are self-diagnosing based on Madison Avenue’s pitches Allegra, Claritin, Zyrtec, Zyban, Accolate, Zomig. These once strange-sounding names are now common, thanks to with the stream of advertisements promoting prescription drugs and the Internet offering easy access to information. This can have its good points and bad, physicians say. From patients coming into doctors’ offices and asking for a particular drug by name to being frightened of a drug because of possible — and sometimes scary — side effects, doctors see it

The drug, known as Accolate, helps stop the shortness of breath, itching and runny nose that so torment people allergic to cats
ASTHMA DRUG CAN ALSO HELP PEOPLE WITH CAT ALLERGY A drug developed to help asthma can help people allergic to cats, researchers said. The drug, known as Accolate, helps stop the shortness of breath, itching and runny nose that so torment people allergic to cats. “This drug has the added advantage of providing some relief for the nose as well as the chest, ” said Dr. Robert Wood, an associate professor of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. “It’s especially appealing ….. (GA)

THE NAME GAME Allegra, Claritin, Zyrtec, Zyban, Accolate, Zomig. These once strange-sounding names are now common, with the stream of advertisements promoting prescription drugs by name and the Internet offering easy access to information. This can have its good points and bad, physicians say. From patients coming in to doctors’ offices and asking for a particular drug by name to being frightened of a drug because of possible — and sometimes scary — side effects, doctors see it …
Zeneca seeks US asthma approval Zeneca has filed its first asthma drug,

Accolate, for approval from the US Food and Drug Administration. If successful, the application would open up an area for Zeneca in the world’s biggest medicines market, worth Pounds 3bn annually. Lehman Brothers, the stockbroker, said Accolate was a potential ‘blockbuster’ drug and forecast annual sales of more than Dollars 500m (Pounds 313m) within seven years. Asthma affects 5 per cent of adults and 10 per ….. (WV) – January 18, 2000 So much drug info can lead to confusion Allegra, Claritin, Zyrtec, Zyban, Accolate, Zomig.

These once strange-sounding names are now common, with the stream of advertisements promoting prescription drugs by name and the Internet offering easy access to information. This can have its good points and bad, physicians say. From patients coming in to doctors’ offices and asking for a particular drug by name to being frightened of a drug because of possible – and sometimes scary – side effects, doctors see it all …..

ADVERTISING SURGE HAS PATIENTS REQUESTING MEDICINE BY NAME, SOME DOCTORS WORRY SUPERFICIAL INFORMATION PROMPTS SELF-DIAGNOSING, BUT OTHERS FEEL IT HELPS PEOPLE RECOGNIZE SYMPTOMS Allegra, Claritin, Zyrtec, Zyban, Accolate, Zomig. These once strange-sounding names are now common, with the stream of advertisements promoting prescription drugs by name and the Internet offering easy access to information. This can have its good points and bad, physicians say. From patients coming into doctors’ offices and asking for a particular drug by name to being frightened of a drug because of possible and sometimes scary side effects, doctors see it all ….. . Record,

It will seem horribly unfair to any child who suffers with
allergies that they cannot have a pet or must loose one whom they
have grown attached to. Is there a way to deal with pet allergies
which may lessen or even eliminate the suffering for adults and
children with allergies?

WHAT ARE YOU ALLERGIC TO?

By establishing whether the animal is actually the cause of an
allergy is certainly the best starting point. However, that can
be a difficult task if you already have an animal since the
allergens are extremely difficult to remove entirely.

If an existing pet can be removed and the home thoroughly cleaned
(carpets, walls, furniture etc.) you MAY be able to verify the
allergy in several months. Obviously that is not the easiest
solution.

Having the child stay with a friend or relative for a week (as
long as there are no pets in the home) may show an improvement
that might indicate an allergy to the family pet.

A visit to the doctor can confirm an allergy with a simple test.
The tests vary, but some can be mildly uncomfortable and would
probably not be considered if the allergy symptoms were mild.

Some allergy symptoms are compounded by exposure to several
allergens. By identifying other sources and removing them you may
find the reaction to pets is lessened and not a barrier to
enjoying their presence.

CREATING AN ALLERGY FRIENDLY HOME

There are several steps you can take to reduce the build up of
allergens and bring relief to allergy sufferers.

The first recommendation is to have hardwood or other smooth
surface for your flooring. Carpets hold far more of the particles
that cause allergies and hard flooring makes it easy to clean.

Leather furniture is also ideal for homes with pet allergies. For
the same reason as hard flooring is more suitable than carpet,
leather holds far less allergens than fabric.

Keep a seat for the allergy sufferer that pets are not allowed to
sit on. Also be certain that animals do not sleep on the beds or
enter the bedrooms of allergy sufferers. Consider keeping the
sleeping area of the home as a pet-free zone.

MAKING YOUR PET AS HYPO-ALLERGENIC AS POSSIBLE

There are even things you can do with your pet to reduce the
allergic effects of having them in your home.

Frequent grooming and bathing with a mild soap to prevent over
drying will reduce the dander that is one of the main causes of
pet allergies. It would be recommended that someone without
allergies take on this task.

Washing hands after playing with a pet and avoiding touching your
face with unwashed hands will also help. Since some individuals
are also allergic to the saliva of pets it would be sensible to
not allow your pet to lick you.

In the case of more serious allergies or asthma it may be best
that no pet share the home. For older children or adults it may
be possible to find a medication or treatment which makes the
situation tolerable if they prefer to keep the pet despite the
allergy.

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes
only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any
disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any
health care program.

Allergies can range from a mild seasonal annoyance to a life threatening
condition. There are a number of different types of allergies that affect
millions of people.

Some of the most common types of allergies are food allergies. The
reactions to food allergies can range in severity. Some individuals
experience an upset stomach or mild headache when they eat certain kinds
of foods. Other people, however; have very serious reactions that can be
life threatening.

Of the food allergy categories, shellfish and peanut allergies are quite
common and can very serious, even leading to death. Many of the signs and
symptoms related to food allergies include rashes, itching, nasal
congestion, diarrhea, nausea, dizziness, swelling of the lips, tongue
and/or throat.

In very serious reactions, the individual may go into shock and
experience a rapid drop in blood pressure. The airway may also begin to
constrict, making it difficult for the person to breath. At this point,
the allergic reaction becomes life threatening and emergency medical help
should be sought immediately.

In many cases, food allergies can be caused due to a genetic family
history. Many children experience food allergies in their younger years
but then eventually grow out of the condition as they mature.

Some individuals also suffer from various types of drug allergies. These
types of allergies most commonly include reactions to the drug known as
penicillin; however other types of drugs may also cause reactions. Sulfa
drugs, anesthesia and insulin also cause allergic reactions in a number
of people.

It is very important to let anyone treating you know if you suffer from
any type of drug allergy. Many people who suffer from drug reactions and
allergies also find it beneficial to carry some kind of identifying
information with them to denote the allergy in the event of an accident.

While no one reacts well to an inset sting or bite, in some people the
situation can become life threatening. These individuals usually begin to
experience what is known as anaphylaxis when stung or bitten. Anaphylaxis
is an extremely serious medical condition in which the airway becomes
constricted and the person is at risk for dying if medical help is not
sought immediately.

Other common symptoms related to impending anaphylaxis include swelling
of the face and shock. Severe allergic reactions are usually associated
with bites and stings from wasps, bees, hornets and yellow jackets.

Allergic reactions to latex are a problem that is not well known by many
people but that can be extremely serious. Individuals can come into
contact with latex in a number of ways and environments; both at

ISO
9002 ACCREDITED NATURIST HERBAL REMEDY

www.healasthma.com

  and
at work. It is commonly found in many types of rubber as well as shoes,
balloons, gloves, condoms and rubber bands.

The reaction related to latex exposure in a person with this type of
allergy can range from mild to severe. As with all other allergic
reactions, it can become life threatening if anaphylaxis occurs.
Individuals who suffer from latex allergies develop it because they have
been around and exposed to latex significantly at some point in their
lives.

Considering that thousands of products contain latex, it may be difficult
to pinpoint when and where this occurred. Some people develop the problem
if they have frequent surgeries because of the fact that most surgical
gloves are made from latex. If you suffer from a latex allergy it is
imperative that you inform your doctor if you are scheduled for surgery.

Exposure to latex during a surgery can be quite serious, even life
threatening. Alternate measures can be used if you inform the medical
staff.

You may also consider carrying some type of allergy identification in the
case of an accident.

Individuals who have life threatening allergies, such as some food
allergies and allergies related to insect stings and bites may be advised
by their doctor to carry a special medical kit with them at all times.
This kit usually contains an antidote known as epinephrine and is
commonly used as an injectable. While the epinephrine will work as
antidote, medical attention should still be sought immediately.

Dust mite allergies affect many people who do not even realize that the
symptoms they experience are related to an allergy. Dust mites are small
organisms that prefer to inhabit areas that are dark and warm. They are
completely invisible to the naked eye.

http://www.healasthma.com ]]> http://www.wordpress.healasthma.com/2009/11/08/allergies-can-range-from-a-mild-seasonal-annoyance-to-a-life-threatening-condition/feed/ 0 http://www.wordpress.healasthma.com/2009/11/07/chronic-asthma-is-an-inflammatory-disease-of-the-airways/ http://www.wordpress.healasthma.com/2009/11/07/chronic-asthma-is-an-inflammatory-disease-of-the-airways/#comments Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:15:26 +0000 admin http://www.wordpress.healasthma.com/?p=1490 http://www.healasthma.com

Not everyone with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease suffers from chronic asthma, but many individuals who experience emphysema or chronic bronchitis have asthma-like symptoms. Medical experts continue to debate whether chronic asthma should be classified as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, since asthma can be reversed.

Chronic asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways; the term asthma is derived from an ancient Greek word which means panting. With chronic asthma, the inflammation leads to the narrowing of the airways, which can cause wheezing, breathlessness, and gasping for air.

Studies indicate that chronic asthma involves two stages: the hyper-reactive response and the inflammatory response. The hyper-reactive response in chronic asthma refers to the constriction of the airways in response to inhaled irritants, while the inflammatory stage involves the production of white blood cells in the airways.

During a chronic asthma attack, the muscle tissue in the walls of the bronchi experiences spasms, causing labored breathing. With chronic asthma, coughing, shortness of breath and wheezing occur almost everyday. In order to combat chronic asthma, several medications may be needed.

Some medical experts speculate that the persistent symptoms of chronic asthma indicate a food allergy. As a result, some doctors encourage those suffering from chronic asthma to revise their diets in order to reduce the incidence of flare-ups.

There are some other simple strategies one can follow in order to alleviate symptoms of chronic asthma. These include removing the cause of chronic asthma, treating the symptoms, or altering the host to be more tolerant of the causes.

If you’ve been diagnosed with chronic asthma, medical experts suggest stopping all smoking and banning cigarette smoke from the house. Chronic asthma patients should also stop the use of volatile chemicals, which may exacerbate one’s symptoms. Ending contact with pets can also alleviate chronic asthma.

The aims of any treatment program for chronic asthma should include: avoiding the trigger factors for chronic asthma, eliminating symptoms, restoring normal lung function, reducing the incidence of severe attacks, and minimizing the side-effects of drugs.

Drug therapy for chronic asthma can fall into three categories. Chronic asthma can be attacked with preventors or anti-inflammatories; relievers, which provide acute relief of symptoms; and controllers, which provide a sustained bronchodilator action with a mild anti-inflammatory action.

It should be noted that there are some misconceptions about the treatment of chronic asthma. For instance, antihistamines do not appear to be an effective chronic asthma treatment strategy. Immunosuppressives such as methotrexate are rarely beneficial for chronic asthma, and acupuncture has a negligible effect.

The basic goals of educating those with chronic asthma include an ability to understand the nature of asthma, an understanding of different types of asthma medication, an understanding of prevention strategies, knowing the correct use of inhalers, and recognizing signs of worsening asthma.

Interestingly enough, chronic asthma is often misdiagnosed in the elderly. Also, older people are more susceptible to the side-effects of drugs used to treat chronic asthma. As a result, senior citizens need special prevention strategies for chronic asthma.

http://www.healasthma.com ]]> http://www.wordpress.healasthma.com/2009/11/07/chronic-asthma-is-an-inflammatory-disease-of-the-airways/feed/ 0 http://www.wordpress.healasthma.com/2009/11/07/greater-risk-of-developing-asthma/ http://www.wordpress.healasthma.com/2009/11/07/greater-risk-of-developing-asthma/#comments Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:12:50 +0000 admin http://www.wordpress.healasthma.com/?p=1488 http://www.healasthma.com

Recent studies have shown that babies born to mothers who were exposed to high levels of pollen in their last trimester of pregnancy have a much greater risk of developing asthma. One of the main keys with asthma prevention is avoidance.
When you have asthma the typical garden is not a very friendly place at all. There are mold spores to contend with and worst of all is the pollen. Typical gardens have pollen producing male trees and male shrubs and other plants that can provoke asthma attacks. Almost anyone with asthma will tell you that their asthma can be triggered by a good number of things, but pollen is often number one for causing an attack. Garden allergies are common, but they need not be. Allergies from gardening could be largely a thing of the past… if we’re willing to make some simple changes.
In fall of 1999 in Richmond, Virginia the American Lung Association of Virginia (ALAV) built a new Breathe EasyÔ office and headquarters. They had this entire large building constructed with the latest innovations in green construction and sustainable design. No construction materials were used that would off gas any harmful or toxic chemicals, no materials were used that would trigger asthma or allergies. Every attempt was made to build something that would be pleasant and healthy to work in. The people who work in this office now will tell you too, that they all notice what a great improvement it is. Their office is a healthy building.
The ALA decided it would make perfect sense to landscape their new healthy building (in some states these are now called Health Houses) with an allergy free landscape. OPALSÔ (the plant/allergy 1-10 numerical ranking system) was used to select only those plant materials that were either very low pollen, low allergy, or that were totally pollen free, allergy free. In effect they created the first true asthma friendly garden in the US.
Health Houses in other states are now also adding pollen free landscapes to their green construction, green buildings. A new Health House is about to be built in Pennsylvania, and the PA Association of Landscapers and Nurserymen are helping to surround it with an asthma friendly landscape.
Schools too are getting into the clean air act, and in the city of Visalia, California, the Tulare County Asthma Coalition recently directed the asthma friendly landscaping of a newly built elementary school.
Twelve keys to building your own asthma friendly garden:
1.Plant lots of female trees and female shrubs. Not only will these not shed any pollen, they will also trap a good deal of pollen that may stay in from somewhere else. Think of these female plants as nature’s air cleaners.
2.Use only low pollen or no pollen lawns. There are types of lawns now that are pretty well pollen free and these are a big improvement over some of the older lawn varieties. In southern states, if you have a common Bermuda grass lawn, consider replacing it with a newer, more asthma friendly hybrid Bermuda grass. ‘Princess 77’ is a new Bermuda grass hybrid that can be planted from seed. It is next to pollen free, grows very low and tight, and is especially good looking.
3.With OPALSÔ 1 is best, 10 is worst. Use only plants with rankings of 1-5. The more plants in your gardens that have rankings ranging from 1-3, the friendlier your place will be for anyone with allergies or asthma.
4.Remove any trees or shrubs with rankings over OPALSÔ #7. The woody landscape plants with rankings of 8-10 are all sure-fire allergy triggering plants and you can live without them.
5.Replace any removed high pollen, asthma triggering plants with their opposite, female trees or female shrubs. Also good as replacements are perfect flowered plants that are known to be very low pollen producers. These will all have good (low) OPALSÔ rankings.
6.Use only plants that are well adapted to your own area. If you can find natives that have low allergy rankings, consider using them. Look around your own neighborhood, and see for yourself, which kinds of plants seem to be flourishing there already. For almost every kind of plant used in landscaping, there is now a no or low pollen version of it, if you know what to look for.
7.Use a wide variety of plant materials; diversity is good. Biodiversity always makes sense. The more diverse our gardens are the fewer problems we’ll have with insects and molds.
8.Avoid plants with strong fragrances or odors, as they can cause asthma. Don’t plant jasmines or similar vines next to entrances or exits and certainly don’t use them underneath bedroom windows.
9.For mulch, use rock or gravel instead of bark to cut down on toxic mold spores in the garden. Flat stones or pavers also make good, mold free mulching materials.
10.To further eliminate mold spores, encourage wild birds in your garden. Virtually all wild birds eat insects, and insect damage triggers outbreaks of mold. Even the tiny hummingbirds actually eat a large number of insects. Put up a hummingbird feeder!
11.Keep your plants healthy. This too will cut down on both pollen and mold. When it is hot and windy, do some irrigating. Fertilize everything in the garden spring and fall. If plants are crowding each other too much, thin them out. If tree branches overhead are putting your whole yard in deep shade, consider having the tree thinned to let in more light. Fresh air and light are the enemies of molds.
12.If a tree, shrub, vine or any other plant always looks sickly, looks dirty, or always attracts bugs, then shovel prune it. Dig it up and get rid of it. Replace it with something easier to grow. Don’t get caught up in having to spray insecticides all the time, as they too can easily cause asthma and allergies.

http://www.healasthma.com ]]> http://www.wordpress.healasthma.com/2009/11/07/greater-risk-of-developing-asthma/feed/ 0