When it comes to treatments, medical conditions, and illnesses, sometimes these treatments can cause more harm than good. Yes, they are helping treat the illness but they can cause many symptoms and side effects that could have you thinking that maybe treatment isn’t even worth it. The altering that medications can do to the body and mind is unfortunate. Certain prescribed medications and treatments can also cause other illnesses, which can be frustrating because now not only are you battling one type of medical issue; but another one has developed. This is why natural remedies are so popular in some cultures because they can be more beneficial in some instances. Like when living with eczema, a natural remedy used by many is an oat milk bath. Or dealing with preventing type 2 diabetes by making healthier meal choices to cure prediabetes. Another good natural remedy can be breathing exercises that help with asthma and respiratory problems and this is a type of treatment that anyone can do, anywhere.
Medically Prescribed Asthma Treatments: The Good And The Bad
There are many different types of asthma treatments out there and though many have and do work, they come with some cons that can definitely play a part in the decision to continue taking some of these medications.
The type of treatment you are prescribed depends on the severity of your asthma, your age, and your symptoms.
With certain asthma treatments such as long-term control medication you have to be on this medication consistently and for a long period of time since it’s used for more severe asthma cases.
In some instances, certain long-term medications need to be taken for several months before you’re able to start receiving the full benefit of the treatment.
The good thing about long-term control medications is that they are very helpful when it comes to reducing inflammation in the airways and controlling asthma.
The bad thing is that some long-term medications can cause growth delays in children.
If used for too long, some risky side effects of asthma medications that are used for less severe asthma symptoms include: thinning of the bones, cataracts, high blood pressure and reduced growth in children.
RELATED: Breathing Exercises For Asthma Relief & Stronger Lungs
Why A Natural Remedy Might Be A Better Option For You
When getting treated for asthma and being prescribed medication, you’re usually prescribed some sort of steroid and steroids can have a negative effect on the body. For some people, it may cause extreme weight gain, for others it may stunt their growth (children). Certain types of asthma medications can cause the risk of heart and brain blood vessel problems and you have to be monitored closely while taking them.
With that being said, sometimes the risk and worry of solely relying on these medically prescribed treatments can cause uncertainty. Yes, you are reducing the inflammation in your airways and opening the breathing passages, but you are also suffering from extreme risks and side effects. This is why a natural remedy might be a better option for you and even if you need prescribed treatment, incorporating natural remedies with the medication your doctor gave you can be extremely helpful.
Buteyko Breathing Technique
The Buteyko Breathing Technique, also known as BBT is a type of breathing exercise used to help reduce your asthma symptoms by using slow and gentle breathing.
The focus of the Buteyko Breathing Exercise is to breathe out your nose instead of out of your mouth. This is because breathing out of your mouth can dry out your airways, which can cause pain and even more difficulty when breathing. When using this exercise, you may experience fewer infections in your respiratory system. It can also help raise carbon dioxide levels in your body.
RELATED: Inhale, Exhale: 5 Breathing Exercises for Ultimate Relaxation
Other Natural Remedies To Try When Living With Asthma
As stated before, the severity of your asthma will determine what medications and natural remedies may or may not work for you. If you are living with a less severe case of asthma, then the Buteyko Breathing Exercise may be helpful when trying to prevent an oncoming asthma attack.
Other natural remedies you can try with a less severe case of asthma are adding more ginger to your diet (ginger has anti-inflammatory properties), drinking hot tea and using honey as a relief for your symptoms (honey is great for helping colds and cough). Even taking up yoga or trying hypnotherapy may help.
If you suffer from severe cases of asthma then trying these natural remedies while taking the prescribed medications can not only help with your symptoms but also lessen the severity of your asthma over time.
Sometimes you have to go back to your roots and see where that takes you, it could really help your symptoms.