10. Mindfulness
Research has shown that mindfulness practices such as meditation, yoga, and deep breathing can help reduce symptoms of asthma by decreasing the level of stress and anxiety, which can trigger asthma symptoms.
Mindfulness can also improve the effectiveness of asthma medications by reducing inflammation in the airways.
It can also help improve breathing patterns, which can help to reduce the number of exacerbations and improve lung function in people with eosinophilic asthma.
9. Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy can be used to reduce symptoms of asthma by decreasing the level of stress and anxiety, which can trigger asthma symptoms. It can also be used to help people with asthma to better understand their condition and learn how to manage it.
During hypnotherapy, the patient is guided into a state of deep relaxation and then given positive suggestions to help them to relax and manage their condition.
8. Papworth Method
The Papworth method involves teaching people with asthma how to breathe using their diaphragm instead of their chest, which can help to open up the airways and improve breathing.
The particular method also involves breathing exercises and relaxation techniques that can help to reduce stress and anxiety, which can trigger asthma symptoms.
It has been found to be effective in reducing symptoms, including wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. It has also been found to reduce the number of exacerbations.
7. Buteyko Breathing Technique
The Buteyko Breathing Technique aims to increase the levels of carbon dioxide in the body which in turn leads to an increase in the oxygen partial pressure, which causes oxygen to be released from the hemoglobin (a process known as the Bohr Effect.
This can cause the airways to relax and open up, which can help to improve breathing and reduce symptoms.
Some studies have found that the Buteyko Breathing Technique can be effective in reducing symptoms of asthma, such as wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness.
6. Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves the insertion of thin needles into specific points on the body, known as acupoints, to promote healing and relieve symptoms of various conditions, including eosinophilic asthma.
It is thought to work by promoting the release of endorphins, which are chemicals that can help to reduce pain and inflammation in the body.
It may also help to improve lung function, reduce airway hyperresponsiveness, and decrease the number of eosinophils in the airways of people with eosinophilic asthma.
5. Speleotherapy
Speleotherapy, also known as salt cave therapy, is a form of therapy that involves spending time in a salt cave or mine.
The therapy is based on the idea that the natural salt crystals found in salt mines or caves can have a beneficial effect on respiratory conditions, including asthma.
During speleotherapy, people with asthma spend time in a salt cave or mine, where they inhale salty air. The salt is believed to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, which can help to reduce inflammation in the airways and improve breathing.
4. Anti-Inflammatory Medications
Anti-inflammatory medications are an important treatment for eosinophilic asthma as they help to reduce inflammation in the airways.
These medications help improve breathing by reducing the production of inflammatory compounds, such as prostaglandins and leukotrienes, which are involved in the inflammation associated with eosinophilic asthma.
Examples of anti-inflammatory medications include corticosteroids, such as inhaled fluticasone, budesonide, and mometasone; and leukotriene modifiers, such as montelukast and zafirlukast.
3. Biologics
A biologic is a type of medication that is made from living organisms or their derivatives. They are used to treat a variety of conditions, including eosinophilic asthma.
Biologics are typically made using genetic engineering techniques, and they can be administered in a number of ways, such as by injection or infusion.
Examples of these drugs are mepolizumab, reslizumab, and benralizumab. These drugs are usually used as a last resort after other treatments have failed.
2. Bronchodilators
Bronchodilators are a class of medications that help to relax and open up the airways in the lungs. They can be helpful in treating eosinophilic asthma by reducing the constriction of the airways and improving breathing.
They can be either short-acting or long-acting. Short-acting bronchodilators, such as albuterol, are typically used on an as-needed basis to provide quick relief of symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness.
Long-acting bronchodilators, such as salmeterol and formoterol, are typically used on a regular basis to help control symptoms and prevent exacerbations.
1. Oxygen
Oxygen therapy can be administered through a nasal cannula or a face mask, and it can help to increase the amount of oxygen in the blood, which can help to improve breathing and reduce symptoms such as shortness of breath and fatigue.
Oxygen therapy is typically used in patients with eosinophilic asthma who have severe or uncontrolled asthma symptoms and who have difficulty breathing despite the use of other treatments.
It can also be used during an exacerbation to provide relief of symptoms and prevent complications such as hypoxia, which is a condition characterized by low levels of oxygen in the blood.
These are eosinophilic asthma symptoms and treatments worth knowing.