Asthma sufferers in Willmar have asked the question, “Is it possible to cure asthma?” for many years. If the term “cure” refers to the complete elimination of the disease from the body, then the answer is no; like the common cold, asthma is treatable, but there is as yet no known cure. Asthma affects Minnesotans in Willmar as well as 17 million other Americans, many of them children. Asthma attacks occur when bronchi, the sacs that expand to hold air in the lungs, become inflamed; they may fill with fluid in response to a substance that triggers the attack.

Causes of Asthma Attacks

While the root cause of asthma is still unknown, the triggers for asthma include pollen, irritants, physical and emotional stress, and other allergens. While Willmar is small as towns go, it has its share of these triggers. Pollen from trees and crops grown in the area, and aerosols produced from the poultry plant are probable sources of aggravation. Research is ongoing to find a genetic component that would explain why certain people are more sensitive to these stimuli, but no definitive results have been found.

Home Remedies

While severe cases and attacks will require medical intervention, there are a number of proven steps that can be taken to reduce the number and severity of asthma episodes. Breathing exercises that train the sufferer to use short shallow breaths have been demonstrated to reduce the severity of an attack. These exercises have also been able to reduce the need for an inhaler. Modification of diet has also proven effective; increased consumption of Omega-3 fatty acids, along with increased fruit and vegetable intake, has shown positive results.

Herbal Remedies

Sufferers have reported positive outcomes with the use of aloe vera taken as a tea or juice. A recent study performed at the University of Dundee in Scotland showed that almost half of the participants who drank tea made with the plant known as butterbur were able to reduce their use of medication. Butterbur is a member of the ragweed family and those persons allergic to ragweed should not use this as a treatment. Other herbal remedies known to produce calming effects, like St. John’s wort and chamomile, have also shown promise.

Medical Treatments

The primary drug of choice for the control of asthma is usually an inhaled corticosteroid. Steroids have the effect of reducing the inflammation in the bronchial sacs and tubes, which is what leads to the symptoms. Other drug classes that may be employed are bronchodilators; these help relax the smooth muscle and reduce the muscle spasms that make it difficult to breathe. Both types of drugs are available in pill or inhaled form, with the preference given to inhalation, as this allows the drug to work faster and more effectively.

Living with Asthma

As with any environmentally linked illness, asthma, while not curable in the true sense of the word, is controllable. One of the first steps to take is to record the attacks; where, when, what has the sufferer eaten, drank, or been exposed to should be recorded. It will also be helpful to note the emotional state of the sufferer just prior to the attack; a pattern will begin to emerge, which will lead to the identification of triggers for the attacks. Once identified, they can be avoided, leading to a reduced number and severity of the attacks.

Hopefully, this information will help the people of Willmar who suffer from asthma learn what they can do to ease their problems. It may also be able to help them become empowered, so they can remove the limits imposed by any breathing difficulties. There may not be a cure for asthma, but life does not have to be difficult or painful for those suffering from it. It should be said that you should always consult a medical professional while trying any of these approaches.