Professional Documents
Culture Documents
BRONCHITISIf present, relieve it with Chest Pack; repeat in 4-6 hours. Cold
Mitten Friction twice a day. Steam Inhalation and copious water drinking when
bronchial, or laryngeal, catarrh exists.
Also see "Croup2."
ASTHMA1
The chronic inflammation and excessive sensitivity of the bronchi produce those
constricting spasms. The bronchial tubes swell and become plugged with
mucous. An attack, often occurring at night, usually begins as a nonproductive
cough and wheezing, which is often followed by difficult breathing and a tight
But what causes an attack to come on? Only certain people have asthma, and
those that do may have an attack triggered by an allergen or other irritant, such
as chemicals, drugs, dust mites, feathers, food additives, pollutants, fumes, mold,
animal dander, tobacco smoke, etc. But other things can also do it: anxiety, fear,
laughing, stress, low blood sugar, adrenal disorders, temperature changes,
extremes of dryness or humidity, or respiratory infections.
About 80% have an allergic disorder, but the others do not. The experts warn
that ever-increasing amounts of pollutants will cause the number of asthmatics to
increase. Many workers must continually live with such things as sulfites,
urethane, polyurethane, epoxy resins, dry cleaning chemicals, and many other
chemicals common to industry. In the last decade alone, the number of
asthmatics in America has increased by one third! Children under 16 and adults
over 65 suffer the most from it.
Asthmatics are frequently very sensitive to foods containing sulfite additives:
potassium metabisulfite, sulfur dioxide, potassium bisulfite, sodium bisulfite,
etc. Restaurants use them, to prevent discoloration in salads and other foods.
Sulfites are also added to many other foods by the food industry.
Intrinsic asthma is the more severe, and generally begins after 30 years of age.
Attacks can occur at any time, and the causes are much more difficult to identify
About half of asthmatics are diagnosed between 2 and 17, another third after 30.
The other one sixth does not fit either the intrinsic or extrinsic category. For
example, some may initiate the problem in their 20s and others may, after their
30s, develop reactions to only one or two seasonal allergens.
But asthma can be difficult to diagnose, for its symptoms are similar to those of
bronchitis, emphysema, and lung infections.
Over a period of time, the attacks can become more frequent, so it is best for the
person with asthma to learn every possible way to lessen the problem. Here are
several suggestions: