Salt Cave Blog

I just read a really good article in the Medical News Today.

IF THE 13 billion other health deficiencies related to obesity weren’t enough to dissuade you from the Po’Boy life, then take a bite at this: In a University of Washington study of more than 1100 adults, researchers determined that the overweight were more likely than slimmer folks to have asthma. It’s not clear whether excess weight causes asthma or asthma results in weight gain (asthmatics may eschew exercise to avoid an attack). With proper medication and a sufficient warm-up, however, even those suffering from exercise induced asthma can be active without breathing problems, says the Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter. Exercise is key to weight loss and its collateral effect of fewer asthma episodes.

Original article was published here.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, but the exact cause of it remains unknown. There are, however, certain triggers that researchers have identified that cause asthma in some people. What happens is that when triggers come into contact with the airways, the airways become narrow and inflamed and begin to fill with mucus.

People who suffer from asthma are referred to as asthmatics, and they may be affected by long term asthma or periodic, recurrent asthma. Since scientists have not identified a particular cause of asthma, there are no known cures for this disease. It can be properly managed, however, so that people can lead normal, productive lives without constantly suffering.

Common Asthma Triggers

About 80% of people with asthma suffer from allergies, so there is a definite link between these. Allergies to airborne substances such as pollen, mold, pet dander, grass, trees, weed pollens, and dust mites all contribute to the development of asthma in many people.

Food additives are another cause of asthma in some people, but it is not common for people to develop asthmatic symptoms from these. Some of the most common food additives that cause allergic symptoms in people include:

• Shellfish
• Fresh fruits
• Eggs
• Cow’s milk
• Wheat
• Soy
• Peanuts
• Fish

Some people, on the other hand, only suffer from asthma when participating in physical activity, particularly strenuous exercise. Exercise-induced asthma causes people to feel chest tightness, coughing, and difficulty breathing during the first five minutes or so of a workout. Even after symptoms subside, some people are prone to developing another asthmatic episode hours after they have finished working out.

Symptoms of Asthma

For people with asthma, their symptoms present themselves whenever their airways fill with mucus, tighten or become inflamed. The classic symptoms of asthma are:

• Pain, pressure, or tightness in the chest
• Shortness of breath
• Coughing (particularly at night)
• Wheezing

All people who have asthma do not necessarily experience the exact same type or severity of symptoms. In fact, your symptoms may vary a bit from one asthma attack to another, making it sometimes difficult to properly diagnose this condition and rule out the possibility of other health problems being present.

Asthma attacks often present more severe symptoms than the classic symptoms of asthma. It is important to know the warning symptoms that indicate a building asthma attack so that medical assistance can be obtained as quickly as possible.

• Severe wheezing
• Extremely rapid breathing
• Pale face
• Uncontrollable coughing
• Tightened neck or chest muscles
• Pain or pressure in the chest
• Feeling anxious or panicky
• Blue fingernails or lips
• Difficulty talking

If left untreated, an asthma attack will cause a person’s breathing to become more labored. It is very important that people receive medical treatment during an asthma attack because the symptoms will continue to progressively get worse. In fact, if asthma attacks are left untreated, they usually result in death because a person becomes unable to breathe over time. It is not a condition that will simply go away or get better on its own.

The most important thing for asthmatics to do is keep regular appointments with their doctor. Having checkups as a part of your routine will help you to keep your asthma symptoms in check and under control.

The original article was written by Jamell Andrews and was posted here.

I have found a really good article about Asthma and Sport. Read it here!

Intro:…I winced as I witnessed her collapse and start violently wheezing.  As the team’s athletic trainer, I was taught never to go onto the field unless it was absolutely necessary.  So after a mini-eternity, I was finally waved over to her side.  With a Hubba Bubba Bubble Tape look-a-like inhaler in hand, I sprinted like no other…

Timothy Barber from City AM visited us recently and wrote a great article about The Salt Cave with a title: A salt of the earth therapy for congested Londoners.

He resembled The Cave to Narnia and claimed to have benefits right after his first visit: I only paid a single visit, on the back of a heavy cold, and could certainly notice clearer airways for a short time afterwards.

If you are interested to read the whole article please click here. 

Enjoy reading! Sofia

We are celebrating today our first birthday as we have opened on the 20th January 2009. In the last 1 year we have treated over 1000 clients. To celebrate this we have restarted the Buy 1 Get 1 Free offer. We have analysed the results and in the new year will introduce a few things to help our clients more to tackle with respiratory illnesses.

• Special sessions twice a week where a Respiratory physio will provide you additional treatment and also teach you different breathing techniques
• We will sell various products which will help you to make the quality of air you breathe in at home better (heat recovery ventilators, air purifiers, filters, etc)
• We are going to sell various sea salt based products (e.g. bath soak, salt lamps, cremes, etc)

We have teamed up with James Turgis who is an experienced Respiratory Physio practitioner. With this cooperation our clients can fight against their respiratory illnesses on the most efficient way. James will teach you how to breathe properly in the cave. The exercises help people with asthma or with chronic respiratory conditions to deal better with their crises and to reduce the intensity and frequency of them. Also he can teach you how to free your lungs from mucus using new and very efficient techniques of chest physio based on the acceleration and of the expiratory flux. There is no age limit as he has specialised in babies.

- £55/session which can be reclaimed on Private Insurance

- Sessions: Tuesdays 11.30-12.30 and Thursdays 17.30-18.30

Book your session via email here.

Wahanda.com visited us and written this article about us on their website. They also started to sell vouchers for our Salt Therapy to help people suffering from cold, wheezing, asthma or allergies during this cold winter period.

As we mentioned in our previous newsletter we want to reward our subscribers. To do this we draw a Salt Therapy package in the value of £150 every month.

We are glad to announce that the first lucky winner is:

Christine Kerr

Next month we will draw again, to win you can also sign up for our newsletter here:

http://www.saltcave.co.uk/signup.html