Archive for category Asthma
The Need For Oxygen Masks on Planes
Air travel has become a lot more common now than ever before. Many people take flights in planes and travel to destinations across the globe. Air transport has been said to be the safest mode of transport when compared to other modes of transport. Airlines across the world always endeavour to adhere to strict safety measures to ensure the safety of the passengers, crew and the aircraft.
One of the most important features of airline safety is the oxygen masks. These have become a standard and mandatory safety feature and are found on all commercial planes. The oxygen masks are essential for the safety of a passenger during flights. As many passengers may not have used one before, flight attendants usually demonstrate how an oxygen mask is used and how to fasten and securely use one during a flight emergency.
This is very important, as there will not be time to teach passengers the correct ways of using an oxygen mask during a flight emergency. This is why the demonstration is mandatory and is repeated in several languages.
During a regular flight, the cabin is usually pressurized. This ensures that passengers can breathe normally. In the event that a window breaks or there is a crack or tear on the body of the plane, then the pressure in the plane decreases rapidly to very low levels. Passengers will be unable to breathe normally. During such occasions, the pilot will press a conveniently located button that will automatically release oxygen facemasks from overhead compartments. Passengers will be expected to secure the masks on their own so as to breathe normally and avert a crisis. When the oxygen is worn, it automatically releases oxygen at the correct pressure, enabling passengers survive a crisis that would otherwise be catastrophic. This indicates that the oxygen mask is a very important safety equipment feature used in aircraft.
Some planes fly at altitudes of below 12000 feet. In such planes, pressure is very low and the masks produce continuous oxygen. They are very common in almost all planes across the world. Read the rest of this entry »
Do I Have Asthma?
What is asthma?
Asthma is a lung disease that affects the airways, It causes obstruction of the airways. Airways plays a very important role as it is responsible for carrying air in and out from lungs. If a person suffering from asthma the muscles surrounding the bronchi constrict, impeding the outward passage of stale air. When your breathing stale air you are not getting oxygenated properly.
What causes asthma? We don’t know there is some genetic and environmental factors to cause asthma usually early on in life. These factor include your Parents have asthma, Certain respiratory infections during childhood.
Contact with some airborne allergens or exposure to some viral infections in infancy or in early childhood when the immune system is developing.
What causes an asthma attack well it is causes by what we call triggers and trigger can be from a variety of different things but here are some examples.
1. Animal dander
2. Dust mites
3. Chemical
4. Strong smells (bleach is a huge trigger, also perfume)
5. Tobacco smoke
What happens during an asthma attack?
When you have an asthma attack the airways can close so much that vital organs do not get enough oxygen as needed. An asthma attack is constriction and inflammation process the combination of these two things working against your normal breathing process.
What are signs and symptoms of asthma?
1. Coughing from asthma often is worse at night or early in the morning, making it hard to sleep.
2. Wheezing is a whistling or squeaky sound that occurs when you breathe.
3. Chest tightness, this may feel like something is squeezing or sitting on your chest.
4. Shortness of breath
5. When someone is having an asthma attack their cough is high pitched and they may also vomit up large amount of phlegm due to the inflammation.
How Can Asthma Be Prevented?
Currently, asthma can’t be prevented you can take steps to control the disease and prevent its symptoms.
Learn about your asthma and how to control it.
Use medicines as your doctor prescribes.
Identify and try to avoid things that make your asthma worse (asthma triggers).
Get regular checkups for your asthma.
This is a brief description of asthma, If you think you have asthma you should make an appointment with your physician for treatment. Read the rest of this entry »