How to Get Rid of Asthma Naturally - Health Learning Series Table of Contents. Introduction. Section one- Asthma - an overview. Asthma - What is Asthma? Symptoms - When you know it's coming... Risk factors and Complications - Why you should bother trying to avoid asthma? Section Two- Reducing Asthma in a natural way. Natural remedies - Who needs a doctor? Try some homemade remedies. Go green, Go for herbs. What to eat, what to avoid? Healthy life style - An effective prophylaxis. oUse air conditioner. oChange your room decor. oReduce mould spores. oReduce pet dander. oCover your mouth and nose. oStay healthy. Get regular exercise. Maintain normal weight. Eat healthy. Control heart burn. Introduction. "An estimated 22 million Americans have asthma; 6.5 million are under 18" (American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology) Asthma is a serious complication of respiratory track which causes symptoms like chest congestion, coughing and difficulty in breathing. "In America alone, asthma causes 4,000 deaths per year" (American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology) Environmental pollution and too much exposure to harmful chemicals have significantly increased the susceptibility of people getting asthma. The death toll is expected rise even further. The cost of treatment of asthma is increasing. Accept it- No one likes going to a doctor. A single visit to a doctor costs too much. "Americans spend, through direct and indirect expenses, a total of $19.7 million each year for the treatment of asthma" (American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology) This book focuses on describing all the possible natural treatments of asthma. You don't have to go to great lengths to cure asthma. Sometimes, simple things in your cupboard or refrigerator can serve as homemade remedies for asthma. Another natural way is to treat asthma with herbs. Herbs are being used for the treatment of several ailments for thousands of years. But, it's an astounding fact that people consider them unsafe and difficult to use. Several experimentations have proved that herbs can cure several health conditions with virtually zero side effects. A simple change in life style can also help in curing asthma. Asthmatic attacks, in some cases, are triggered by eating certain food substances. So, having knowledge of what to eat and what to skip can actually decrease the frequency of asthmatic attacks. Section one - Asthma - an overview Asthma - What is Asthma? Asthma is a common health condition related to an immune reaction taking place in the respiratory track. It's a breathing disorder characterized by several symptoms like air way obstruction, difficulty in breathing, tightness of chest, coughing and wheezing. For most of the people asthma is not a big problem. But, in reality it can cause serious hindrance in performing routine activities. If it goes untreated, it can produce serious and life threatening conditions. Asthma is an immune reaction triggered when the respiratory track is exposed to certain irritating stimuli. Human body has got a strong immune system which protects it from the harmful effects of foreign substances like chemicals, pollutants and organisms like bacteria and viruses. An important component of this immune system is "mast cells." These cells respond to the presence of certain "antigens" and release several mediators of inflammation, in the presence of these antigens. For example, if these cells are exposed to the smoke of cigarette, they'll release several chemicals which, in turn, will start a cascade of events leading to the development of symptoms of inflammation. These mediators cause spasm in the muscles of respiratory track, increase the production of mucus and make the respiration difficult. Asthma is a combination of several environmental and genetic factors."