Asthma: Breathe Easy

MedicineNet presents this thorough, well-organized overview of asthma. On the main page it dispels some of the myths surrounding the condition, describes what asthma is, what can trigger an attack, the types of asthma, treatment, and more. Visit the "Asthma Index" for a treasure trove of references covering a range of topics, from news to medications and procedures to doctor's insight about respiratory diseases and a checklist to bring with you to your first doctor's appointment.

Medem hosts the article, "Advice From Your Allergist on Asthma," which answers questions like, "What is the difference between allergies and asthma?" and, "What is the best treatment?" In addition, it explains potential triggers for asthma attacks, including exercise, viral respiratory infections, cold air, and even aspirin in very susceptible individuals.

Mayo Clinic provides this in-depth summary of asthma, including causes, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and more. This site also offers helpful self-care tips for asthmatics to lessen the possibilities of attacks including exercising, reducing pet dander, and controlling heartburn.

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's

explains how the lungs work, how our breathing is controlled and includes a diagram of the respiratory system.

KidsHealth writes this article explaining asthma so that all ages can understand the condition with specific sections for kids, teens, and parents. This site also provides an animated demo for children on how to use their peak flow meters.

The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology states that "about 8 percent of women are affected by asthma during their childbearing years." Possible complications from asthma during pregnancy for both the mother and the baby are discussed, as well as which asthmatic medicines to use and how.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a comprehensive list of asthma statistics. Did you know that, as of 2005, 8.9 percent of children had asthma?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Lung Disease Focus describes the workings of a bronchial asthmatic lung, explaining that during an asthma attack, the membranes inside the bronchial tube become inflamed. Also listed are the classifications of bronchial asthma. Use the navigation bar on the left of the page to access extensive asthma information.

WebMD explains why asthma attacks occur during physical exertion and mentions famous athletes, such as basketball's Dennis Rodman, who have asthma. This article describes some of the medications that can be used to control exercise-induced asthma, and offers work out tips.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America covers lifestyle and medical advice for those who suffer from allergic asthma, and handy resources for asthmatics.

The Environmental Protection Agency explains how cockroaches can trigger allergic reactions and asthma symptoms in humans occupying infested spaces. The EPA also offers advice on pest control and provides links for further information.

The National Jewish Medical and Research Center states that the worsening of asthma at night is common due to exposure to bedroom dust mites and other factors. This site lists contributing factors and several solutions to nocturnal asthma.

Mayo Clinic is an informative, easy-to-navigate resource for occupational asthma, listing known causes, risk factors, prevention methods, treatments, and more.

Asthma UK lists and describes many of the triggers for asthma. Did you know that an asthma attack can be triggered by a thunderstorm? Thunderstorms can release large quantities of pollen into the air, triggering asthma attacks.

Mayo Clinc offers a detailed overview of the steps in the diagnosis of asthma, including an explanation of the spirometry test, a noninvasive test that measures how well you breathe. This site also covers tests your doctor may recommend to rule out other possible conditions.

Medem posts this American Medical Association overview of asthma medications; each drug listed has a detailed profile that tells you in what forms they're prescribed (and, if applicable, which form is most effective), possible side effects, and a "Notes" section that gives other key information about the medication.

The American Lung Association provides this explanation of peak flow meters, which measure your ability to push air out of your lungs. Here you'll find out how to use your peak flow meter, how to chart your peak flow meter, and when you should use it.

Mayo Clinic gives this guide to asthma inhalers, discussing the types, the medications they deliver, and how to use them. There are several useful resources on this page, including a chart that helps you compare inhaler types, and several videos that demonstrate how to use the different inhaler types.

The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology provides users with the name, location, and map of the nearest allergist, and indicates which allergists are certified by the American Board of Allergy & Immunology (ABAI). You can search by clicking on "Allergist Locator," and then entering your address into their online search engine or calling the toll-free number provided.

The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology offers this search engine to find an allergist near you. A profile includes contact information, practice type, hospital affiliation, and any certification. The doctors' training levels are also listed.

ClinicalTrials.gov

The Cleveland Clinic discusses some alternative treatments for asthma, including herbs and vitamins, yoga, and acupuncture. The site is careful to point out that these remedies, though natural and therefore often assumed to be safe, are not regulated by the FDA and can cause complications.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases offers an informative fact sheet with tips to help you create a dust-free bedroom to alleviate a possible cause of your asthma. Tips include hanging plain, lightweight curtains, using a synthetic pillow, and washing all of your bedding in water heated higher than 130 degrees Fahrenheit (lower temperatures will not kill dust mites). Air filters and humidifiers can also help.

AirNow was created by several U.S. government organizations to provide the public with easy access to information regarding air quality in their state. The site also provides the AQI, Air Quality Index, which lets you know how clean (or not-so-clean) your air is, and what health issues may be a concern for you, plus news concerning air quality.

Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics

WebMD

Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics is a national nonprofit network of families that offers advice on asthma medications, newsletters, community awareness programs, and tips from families living with asthma and allergies. Possibly the best part of this site is Breatherville, USA, which has resources laid out like a small town, making it very user-friendly. An example, the "Pharmacy" offers advice on medications, and a "Farmers Market" discusses food allergies.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) will help you find local support groups of an educational nature. These groups are organized in four categories: for parents, for pre-teens and teens, for adults with asthma or allergies, and for people with food allergies. Don't see the right kind of group in your community? AAFA provides the tools to start your own support group.

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

has tip sheets for different aspects of life with asthma, such as traveling and being pregnant with asthma. Tips are also available in Spanish.

The American Lung Association has information to help people manage their asthma. There are articles for people who may not be able to afford their medication, a sample peak flow chart, a profiler to help you with treatment decisions, and information about the association's Open Airways for Schools program.

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is a federal research organization that also coordinates educational activities for the public. This page has a number of articles about asthma, with a special focus on education. Titles include "So You Have Asthma" (available in a PDF), "How Asthma Friendly is Your School?", and "Asthma and Physical Activity in the School."

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences provides published studies in PDF format. Studies covered include, among others, asthma in the inner city, lead and allergens in housing, and cockroach asthma.

PubMed Central

is a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health and a repository of biomedical and life sciences journal articles. Read articles or abstracts on asthma. Once you’ve searched a topic, use a tab under the display options to read articles that are free to access. A box on the front page of the site invites you to create customized updates that are sent to you.

Medical News Today aggregates asthma news on the site, and also provides news alerts when news is added to the asthma category via e-mail. You can browse the latest headlines or use their search engine if you're looking for something specific.

ScienceDaily posts news related to asthma research. Recent headlines at the time of this writing include "Residential Oil Boilers Raise Health Concerns for Northeast U.S." and "Increased Allergen Levels in Homes Linked to Asthma."

Allergies and Asthma is hosted by WebMD and written by Dr. Paul Enright, who offers his insight and experience with asthma through this blog. His posts cover a wide array of topics, including asthma regulations, asthma medications, and the connection between asthma and acid reflux.