Allergies are one of the most common medical disorders affecting Americans today. An allergy is an immune system response to an environmental stimulus. The body incorrectly identifies the stimulus as harmful, and attempts to protect it, causing the symptoms of allergic reaction. The most common symptoms include a running or itching nose, irritated eyes, coughing and wheezing.

One very prevalent type of allergy is asthma. It is a chronic allergy that directly affects the lungs and air passageways in the body. The airways are easily aggravated by allergens and a thick lining of mucus builds up. Allergens and other stimuli can bring on an asthma attack, including temperature changes, humidity changes, smoke and pollen. Typically, an asthma attack consists of a number of respiratory symptoms, including coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and difficulty breathing. Another asthma symptom is shortness of breath.

Symptoms of an asthma attack are caused by the airways reacting to the allergen or trigger. When exposed to a trigger, the airway becomes irritated and constricts, causing the respiratory symptoms. These symptoms can range from mild to life threatening, depending on the severity of the allergy. Any asthma symptom can be frightening, and should be taken seriously.

Asthma is most often diagnosed in childhood, as symptoms tend to manifest by the age of 5. Currently, it affects around 10% - 12% of all children, and has been steadily increasing. There is no definitive known reason for the increase, but risk factors include exposure to cigarette smoke, other allergies and a history of other respiratory infections. Also, the odds of being diagnosed are increased in males and African Americans.

Presently, there are many types of asthma medication and treatments that can effectively reduce symptoms. Two main types of asthma medication are fast-acting medicine to treat symptoms during an attack, and controlling medicine, which is taken regularly to reduce the chance of having an attack. Short-acting Beta-2 Antagonists (SABAs) are bronchodilators, which is a type of fast-acting medication that helps to open air passages and ease the symptoms of an attack, and are typically administered through asthma inhalers. This type of medicine does not treat the inflammation that causes an attack, but is effective when taken during an attack, and will last for three to six hours after administered.

Controlling asthma medication is taken regularly and treats the underlying causes of attacks. The most common types of this medicine are asthma inhalers containing a steroid that reduces inflammation in the airways and lungs and Long-Acting Beta-2 Antagonists (LABAs). The effects of long-acting asthma inhalers typically last for twelve hours, and can help reduce the number of attacks that occur during sleep. Many pharmaceutical medications have very severe side effects for some people.

One type of asthma treatment, alternative therapy, is currently becoming more popular. Some alternative approaches focus solely on preventative care, such as not smoking during pregnancy or around children, incorporating a selenium-rich diet or removing sources of allergens in the home. Other treatments include loosing weight, increasing Omega-3 consumption, decreasing Omega-6 consumption, acupuncture, relaxation techniques and hypnotherapy. It is important to note that any type of alternative therapy is intended to be used in conjunction with medical advice, as fast-acting medications are often required for an acute asthma attack.

One treatment program that is becoming more popular is hypnosis or hypnotherapy. Hypnosis treatment for asthma has the goal of causing relaxation, which can help to prevent or reduce your symptoms when having an attack. Other alternative types of asthma treatment also employ relaxation as a way to combat symptoms, such as with meditation programs.

Using hypnosis, the individual can treat the emotional aspects of an attack, which have the ability to make it much more severe. It is only human nature to become scared or feel threatened when we feel our air supply being cut off. This instinctual reaction actually can and will heighten the severity of an attack. Similar feelings of fear and apprehension about having an attack can actually bring on an attack. These emotional causes and reactions are handled with the asthma treatment method of self-hypnosis.

Self-hypnosis has been proven to be extremely effective asthma treatment. With a trained hypnotist, or using one the many hypnosis asthma CDs available, an individual can slowly slide into a relaxing state, and begin to take control over their own body. One of the most effective techniques is to learn how to use self-hypnosis to actually abort an impending asthma attack. The self-hypnosis method of asthma treatment is enormously successful, and can work well for those who cannot take or do not want to take prescription medication regularly. Which asthma treatment you choose depends both on the severity of your symptoms and what type of treatment works well for your symptoms.