Asthma Research Papers

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare defines asthma as a chronic inflammatory condition of the airways associated with episodes of wheezing, breathlessness and chest tightness. These episodes are generally associated with airflow obstruction that is often reversible either spontaneously or with treatment (Hambrecht, Fiehn & Weigl, 1995). It is a very common disease that affects an estimated 300 million people worldwide (Bateman et al. 2008). Several studies have shown that the prevalence of asthma in the world has been increasing at 5% per year (Hammil et al. 2010) and remains a significant health problem in Australia. Many diseases in this modern age, are recently being treated with strategies combining conventional pharmacological
Medical treatment is the common way to treat symptoms of asthma and can be used for instant relief or the prevention of asthma. Relievers are fast acting medications to treat acute symptoms and come in the form of short-acting bronchodilators known as albuterol. This medication is commonly known as a Ventolin inhaler. Preventers are used to reduce symptoms and asthma attacks as long-acting bronchodilators. They are also taken as an inhaler but in the form of corticosteroids and only once a
Using tension, vibration, pressure and motion. It is a practice commonly used by osteopaths, chiropractors, myotherapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists. Through various studies manual therapy has been explored in its ability to improve pulmonary function for asthmatics. A study by Field et al. (1988) investigated this matter, using 32 asthmatic children in a randomised study. The study involved comparing massage therapy and relaxation therapy for the treatment of pulmonary function for asthma. Results from this study reported that massage therapy improved pulmonary function over the course of the investigation. It was also noted that this study appeared to show that regular massage improved airway calibre and control of asthma (Field et al.