4 Air Purifier Types You Should Know If You Have Allergy or Asthma

If you have asthma you know that even to breathe is an amazing feat. People take breathing for granted. But if they have asthma, they know how amazing it feels to feel fresh air going deep into their lung.

For most sufferers, daily outdoor activities are a serious no, no. Staying indoor is the best protection from smoke, dust, pollen and other harmful floating particles.

But there's a slight problem with that idea. You see, the air in your home could be worse than outdoor. Well, I didn't say that. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the one making that claim.

That is why many sufferers are now turning to modern technologies to help save their lives. One such technology is called air purifier.

If you're thinking of shopping for one, let's see 4 basic types of air purifier you could find on the shelves of your neighborhood supermarket today.

1. Electrostatic Air Cleaners

Well, at least that's what the makers would call it - air cleaners. If you open one of these machines, you will see a long wire or plates in it. Here's how it works. When air runs through the wire or plate, dirty air gets charged. The charged dust will then cling to the wall or washable filter in the machine.

In theory it's sufficient. But in reality, it only gets rid less than 50% of what's on air. Secondly, that sort of operation could create a type of gas called ozone. While it is good up in the air, you certainly do not want it in your bedroom because it is highly toxic.

2. Ozonizer

They are usually much cheaper and smaller than most hospital-grade air purifiers. Some could be as big as your toaster. The pamphlet attached to the machine and the late night infomercials by sexy sales lady will tell you that ozone kills bacteria, viruses and other harmful particles unseen to your eyes. But it omits one important fact. It could also kill you.

The government via its Environmental Protection Agency has been fighting to take off such machines off the shelves for years. You can go to the site and see for yourself what the agency has to say about these kinds of machines. In short they don't clean the air, they only emit ozone.

3. HEPA Air Cleaner

You might have heard of HEPA air cleaner if you have done some research on air purifier yourself. You see, HEPA is a weird name the US Army give to a special filter they designed and used during the Manhattan Nuclear Project. And like many other industrial products, the military release the technology to the public for wider use.

If you want to get an air purifier, this is the type of air purifier you want to buy. HEPA is highly efficient at trapping unseen particles (imagine it filtering the tip of your hair divided into a hundred parts). It doesn't give out harmful gases, could last a few years and has been proved to work.

Such air purifiers have also been used during the SARS outbreak in Hong Kong, post 9-11 attacks in New York and have also been recognized by the American Lung Associations and The Red Cross. It's that good.

4. HEPA + other technologies

Some newer companies have also use the combination of HEPA filters and electrostatic to try make more efficient and cheaper machines.

Some companies have succeeded but others bite the dust. Because they use electrostatic or ozonizer, you should be wary about ozone coming out of these machines. To be safe, ask if you could turn off the electrostatic or ionizer function. If not, skip such machine and stick with HEPA machines. It is that simple.

So there you are. Those are the 4 types of air purifiers that you could find in the market today. Buying an air purifier is not an easy task. Even buying a HEPA air purifier is not easy - there are thousands of models to choose form. That is why it is also wise to read reviews before buying.

But after reading this article at least you are better in form than 80% of buyers out there. Knowledge is power. Applied knowledge is a sign of wisdom. Good luck!

Natural Cure for Asthma Found in Fiji

According to World Health Organization estimates, nearly 300 million people around the world suffer from asthma, with nearly 10% of the global population diagnosed with this lifelong respiratory disease. In the United States, around 70% of asthmatics also have allergies to pollen and certain foods, especially dairy, with the annual economic cost of asthma reaching US$20 billion in medical and indirect costs, with prescription drugs representing the largest single direct medical expenditure at US$6 billion. Every year, nearly 250,000 people die from asthma related complications.

There is currently no known medical cure for asthma, with asthmatics enduring a continuous management regime of steroids, inhalers and nebulizers to help reduce its symptoms. But an 11 year old Australian boy begs to differ with medical science, and claims that a traditional Fijian remedy for asthma has cured him, with no relapse for the past 12 months since he underwent an incredibly moving and traditional Fijian ritual. At the age of five, Tanner Blessington from Sydney's north shore in Australia contracted the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) at the start of winter and ended up being hospitalized and treated with intravenous fluids and ventolin immediately. RSV is a major cause of respiratory illness across all ages in nearly every country, but school-aged children are particularly susceptible during colder months as colds and flu spread and place their immune systems under enormous pressure. RSV was first discovered in 1956 and since been recognized by the medical profession as one of the most common causes of childhood illnesses.

The Blessington family visit Fiji every year for holidays but on one visit they learned from a Fijian working at one of the resorts that his mother claimed to have the gift to cure asthma. Tanner's mother, Leanne, just shrugged the comment off as a Fijian myth but remained curious for another two years, when by a second chance meeting, she met the same man. Still curious but acutely aware that it might just be a scam for money, she decided to take the next step and meet this mysterious mother. In pouring rain, the Blessington's took a taxi to the local village to meet the man's wife and three children. His elderly mother came straight up to Tanner and said that she had a dream that he was coming to see her. After a few hours of pleasantries, Leanne and husband Adrian were asked to leave the room, so that the elderly women could concentrate on helping young Tanner. With night approaching and still raining, the men of the family went to climb a nuidamu coconut tree to retrieve an orange-red coconut, and to get a medicinal tree root. Without any safety equipment, one of the men climbed a tall palm tree, carefully removed a few coconuts, tied a rope around each bundle and gently lowered them to the ground. Nuidamu coconuts are highly respected in traditional medicine and the utmost care was taken not to let them hit the ground.

Returning back to the house, the older woman began shaving the skin of the root over newspaper, like peeling cassava root. The shavings were then bundled up inside the stringy, vau bark of the coconut tree to form a bundle, and immersed into the coconut water to let it infuse and absorb. In the meantime, as the family continued to pray and chant, she ran her finger across Tanner's hand and up the underside of his arm and said to him, "this will not work if you don't have love inside you". All negativity and stress had to go from his mind, as well as his parents who were sitting nearby. This was especially difficult for his parents, as they had just heard that their Sydney home had been robbed and most of their jewellery and possessions had been stolen whilst they were in Fiji. Leanne tells of the hardship to rid herself of stress but she was determined to do everything right to make this work for her son.

Once the bark and shaved roots had absorbed most of the coconut water, they were hand-squeezed to extract the essential oils and tree sap back into a bowl, leaving only the dry bark and root in a bundle, which she put to one side. Tanner had his first drink of the herbal water and said it didn't taste as bad as Western medicine. After more ceremony and prayer, Tanner had one final ritual to perform. He had to swim out to the deepest point in the sea and throw the dry bark bundle as far as he could and say "goodbye to my asthma". He was told that he had to drink the rest of the mixture, with top ups of more nuidamu coconut water, for the next seven days. He couldn't drink any other liquids including water, juice or the gravy from his favorite curries - only the coconut medicine that had been made. This was probably because it may have diluted the potency of the herbal drink, ensuring the traditional medicine could do its job. Leanne was still skeptical, but there was no money exchanged and the old woman simply asked that they had faith and put their hearts and minds to believing the treatment would work. On day eight, Tanner mustered up the courage to put the treatment to the ultimate test. With his inhaler at the ready, he ordered the biggest ice cream sundae. To everyone's surprise, there was no reaction. No wheezing, no constricted airway, his asthma had miraculously disappeared. For the next 12 months, Leanne held her breath, constantly monitoring her son's condition back home in Australia, unsure if and when his asthma may return. It didn't. On their return to Fiji just recently, Tanner fulfilled one his biggest dreams that his previous condition had prevented him doing. He learned to scuba dive. "On the dive application form, it asked if I had any medical condition. I ticked no. I used to have asthma but it is now out there at sea" said young Tanner.

In the book, "Secrets of Fijian Medicine", Dr. Michael Weiner, a professor at the University of California in the US, spent several years in Fiji during the 1980's working with the government and the United Nations Development Programme to document Fiji's ancient herbal remedies. In it, Tanner's treatment is documented and well known to many Fijian elders. Tree roots used to treat asthma include vesi (intsia bijuga) and vadra aerial roots (pandanus) and both are commonly found throughout parts of South East Asia and the Pacific Islands. The sacred orange-red coconuts are also listed in his book. Native to Asia and Polynesia, the niudamu tall palm tree grows to a height of 100 feet and bears mainly yellow and orange-red coloured coconuts. Belonging to the cocos nucifera L. family, this unique tree is known in Fijian medicine to also cure a number of ailments like fish poisoning, infected sores, scabies and is used as a general antibacterial agent.

Studies of coconut oil around the world reveals that pure virgin coconut oil, cold-pressed and not heat-treated like that processed in Fiji's copra mills, is very high in antioxidants that are beginning to be recognized around the world to help stop brain degeneration and life threatening bacterial and viral diseases. MCT's (middle chain triglycerides) are in high concentration in virgin coconut oils containing 60% of the good antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties of any known oil. Lauric acid is also naturally occurring in coconut, and like breast milk, acts as an antibacterial and antiviral to both kill germs and nourish the cells. Our modern diet, especially in Western cultures, lacks MCT, which was always mostly found in coconut oil and now you will find it lacking or nonexistent in most cooking oils you use today. One of today's characteristic health problems is high cholesterol mostly in the form of LDLs (low density lipoproteins), with low HDLs (high density lipoproteins), and high triglycerides. What's interesting about coconut oil is it increases HDL, reduces LDL, and reduces the triglycerides all at once. MCT oil is also being used in a number of applications in the US for treatment of a range of viral diseases including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, asthma, eczema and HIV, as it is believed that this ancient medicine in a coconut is one of nature's gifts of a highly effective, non-toxic remedy to kill viruses and bacteria in the body.

Easy Tips For Effective Asthma Monitoring

There are several easy to use strategies that can increase the effectiveness of any asthma treatment plan. Although your symptoms may be well managed by medications, it is important to remember that the more pro-active you are in managing your asthma, the more you will find that your symptoms are under control. Following these guidelines will give you the tools you need to live a healthier and more active life.

Developing an asthma action plan is one of the most important things you can do to live a happy healthy life even though you have asthma. An action plan should include all your important medical information that would be needed in case of a severe attack requiring emergency intervention. It should include a list of asthma triggers, the name a dosage of daily medications and the name and dosage of rescue medication, as well as emergency telephone numbers. Your plan will include a description of your asthma zones and the action to be taken for each zone. Gathering this information together and making sure it is readily available is much easier if you make it a part of a daily asthma diary.

An asthma diary is used to record all of your daily observations, possible triggers, PEF readings and a description of your asthma zones. Total honesty in recording your symptoms, no matter how small, is very important.

There are many sample asthma diary forms available online or you can design a chart that works for you. These forms can be organized neatly in an attractive folder system or in a loose leaf binder. Include a copy of your action plan at the beginning of your diary. The most important thing is to make sure to use this diary every day to get a more complete picture of how effective your treatment plan really is for your needs. Try to choose a format that is easily carried, so that you can take your diary with you. Another option is to have a portable diary and then transfer any information to your main one at the end of the day.

A record of peak expiratory flow, or PEF, readings in a key component your asthma diary. Measure your PEFs before you take any asthma medication. Compare your reading with your asthma zones. When you find that your reading is less than 80% of your recorded best reading, be prepared to take the appropriate action in your action plan.

Once you have been keeping your asthma diary for a while, it is important to evaluate the information you have gathered. Ask yourself about any changes in symptoms or increase in attacks and try to pinpoint the reasons.

Information About Asthma and How to Treat It

Budesonide and Asthma Treatment

How does conventional Western medicine treat asthma? Well, typically, it focuses on dilating the bronchial airways that are in spasm by using an assortment of medications. The pharmacological arsenal usually includes anti-inflammatory drugs such as certain steroids, mucolytics and bronchodilators. In contrast, homeopathic treatments for asthma include a wide range of natural remedies and substances. Although it is less effective as a single asthma treatment than an inhaled steroid, Cromolyn acts by reducing the activity of certain allergy cells that cause inflamed, constricted bronchial airways.

Why Asthma Attacks Occur

Research has shown there is a very strong relationship between asthma and panic attacks. The two often occur simultaneously, and people with asthma are much more likely to experience panic attacks. In addition to this, while many asthma attacks are brought on by exercise, there is also an emotional component. Furthermore, changes in atmospheric conditions, including the temperature and quality of the air (specifically, its humidity, irritant and allergen content), along with changes in the barometric pressure, may all be associated with asthma attacks.

Medications Used to Treat Asthma

Medications such as hydrocortisone and its relatives can be used to gradually regulate the size of the bronchial airways of patients with asthma. While many of these medications are taken orally as pills, others are mists or powders which are sprayed into the mouth using a device called an inhaler. In certain cases, drugs that block testosterone's effect on the body might be recommended. A wide variety of injectable and oral medications are available.

Budesonide as an Asthma Medication

Budesonide Formoterol is a preparation that combines two medications. Together, they can reduce inflammation and help open up the bronchial airways. Budesonide (which is sold as Entocort) is used to address various conditions, including asthma. Nasal budesonide can reduce the number of white blood cells that can help your body stave off infections.

The symptoms of asthma can be different from one person to the next, but they can also vary in the same person from attack to attack. You might see your asthma symptoms beginning to improve as soon as ten hours after you start using a budesonide spray, but in any event your symptoms should decrease within a few days. The dosage and number of medications needed to manage your asthma will vary with the severity of your symptoms.

Treat Your Asthma With This Great Asthma Advice

As hard as living with asthma is, there are ways to manage your symptoms so you can live a happy and healthy life. You can keep your asthma in check and prevent it from lowering your quality of life through a variety of methods, techniques and treatments. The following tips will make it easier to manage your asthma.

Feather pillows can be bad for those with asthma. Feathers can trigger asthma symptoms and reduce lung function. This also goes for bedding; use sheets, comforters and blankets that are crafted from hypoallergenic materials.

Some of the most notorious causes of asthma attacks exist in normal households. These can include dust, mold and spores. To keep your body healthy and to cut down the frequency of asthma attacks, it is important to have your house professionally inspected and cleaned to remove these harmful substances. In addition, regularly cleaning the home can stop these things from building up.

Those with asthma should remain inside as much as they can when the pollen count rises. Asthma's not an allergy, but many things that irritate allergies also irritate asthma. You can get the information about air quality in the area you are in; people who suffer from asthma should stay indoors if their air quality is low.

Make sure you are taking plenty of Vitamins E and C if you suffer from asthma. They help to increase the function of the lungs and control the overall symptoms of asthma. Either find a good vitamin supplement to take, or change your diet to include more foods rich in Vitamins E and C. These vitamins will also provide a boost to your immune system. This will prevent respiratory illnesses that can trigger your asthma attacks.

Avoid anything that could trigger your asthma. Many asthma suffers find that dust or pollen can trigger an attack. For others, attacks can be caused by physical activities. Determine what sets your asthma off so you can stay away from these things.

If you find your asthma requires you to use your fast-relief inhaler more than once or twice weekly, or if you have night-time attacks more than once or twice per week, tell your doctor it's time to switch to a better medication. As always, consult your doctor before making a switch. You must also keep your home environment clean and dust free, to stay in good health. The more you vacuum, the less allergens you will likely have in your home. Central vacuum systems are especially good for asthma sufferers, as the allergens are removed from the home without even having to go into a bag.

Ease yourself into more difficult regiments by regulating your breathing. Make sure you are able to breathe in and out, and receive enough air to take on your current task. If you think the physical exertion will be too much for your asthma, it likely is.

If someone you know has asthma, they need fresh air in the home. Leave your doors and windows open if you can to let fresh air in. Homes that are insulated contain twice as many allergen levels as homes that are ventilated well. Having an excellent ventilation system is the best way to keep the air clean.

Proper use of an inhaler is crucial if you suffer from asthma. Spraying it into your mouth and then inhaling doesn't work. You must breathe deeply for at least a few seconds when using your inhaler. If you are having trouble using it correctly, ask your doctor for help at your next visit.

So, as you have read, your options for a great lifestyle are not limited. Asthma doesn't have to ruin your life; make some plans on how you can effectively live with it.