After much consideration, we decided that we are going to continue to give away a FR*EE airline ticket voucher for new HerbaCall subscribers through the month of August. And as we did last month, we'll also give a voucher to any current member who refers a new member who subscribes during that time! So if you refer someone, make SURE that they include your name when they subscribe!

Have you been waiting for Of Course You Can! to be available on paper? Wait no longer! You can now purchase Of Course You Can! as a paperback. Not only that, it's the 2nd Edition, which is larger and includes some valuable appendixes.

Asthma

Asthma is a serious, sometimes life-threatening respiratory disease that affects the quality of life for millions of Americans. Although there is no cure for asthma yet, asthma can be controlled through medical treatment and management of environmental triggers.

Some of the most common indoor asthma triggers include secondhand smoke, dust mites, mold, cockroaches and other pests, household pets, and combustion byproducts.

Asthma Facts

Asthma leads to 2 million emergency room visits and 5,000 deaths per year in the U.S.
Asthma accounted for more than 14 million missed school days in 2000.
Asthma costs (health care costs and lost productivity) totaled $14 billion in 2002.

What Happens During an Asthma Attack?

When asthma causes breathing problems, the person experiences an "asthma attack", or episode. During an attack, three major changes can take place in the lungs:

Cells in the air tubes make more mucus than normal. The mucus is thick and sticky and tends to clog up the air tubes.
Cells in the airways get inflamed, causing the air tubes to swell.
The muscles around the air tubes tighten.

These changes cause the air tubes to narrow and make it hard to breathe.

Who Gets Asthma?

Asthma is a major public health problem in the U.S. and asthma prevalence has been on a steep rise since 1980. Though many cases of asthma probably go undiagnosed, health officials estimate that at least 20 million people in the U.S. have asthma, including 6.3 million children.

African-Americans have higher rates of asthma emergency room visits, hospitalizations and death than Caucasians. African-Americans visit the emergency room for asthma more than twice as often and are hospitalized for asthma more than three times as often.

HerbaCall Asthma and Allergies Testimonials

Matthew Carter wrote that he has suffered from asthma and allergies his whole life. "He started on Schizandra and RoseOx and other Herbalife products, and doesn't need his inhalers or nebulizer any more."
Kim Hickey told HerbaCall about her friend who "was allergic to 64 of 75 tested allergens and had a constantly running nose and watering eyes. After a month of using the Ultimate Program, NRG & Schizandra, his runny nose, sneezing and watering eyes were gone!"
Jennifer Thilman is allergic to mold, and used to get a lot of sinus infections. She tells HerbaCall that "Herbalife Schizandra and RoseOX have gotten rid of her sinus discomfort and all her allergy problems."
Michelle Davidoff's tiny son was wheezing, on a nebulizer, and taking steroids when he asthma got bad. She writes that "I've been giving him Schizandra plus and Kindermins. He's been doing so well so we've taken him off his meds and for a full year he wasn't wheezing, neither has he had the croup."

How does Asthma Affect Children?

Asthma is the most common chronic childhood disease, affecting 6.3 million children.
Nearly 1 in 13 school-aged children has asthma, and the rate is rising more rapidly in preschool aged children than in any other age group.
Approximately 4.2 million children had an asthma attack in the last year.
Asthma in children is the cause of almost 5 million physicians visits and more than 200,000 hospitalizations per year.

Asthma accounts for many nights of interrupted sleep, limitation of activity and disruptions to the family and caregiver routines. Asthma symptoms that are not severe enough to require a visit to the emergency room or to a physician can still be severe enough to prevent a child with asthma from living a fully active life.

Boost Your Immune System to Help Control Asthma

Herbalife’s RoseOx is a powerful blend of phytonutrients with antioxidant properties. When combined with Schizandra Plus, you can strongly support your body's natural defenses against stress, pollution and allergens. Without an adequate supply of antioxidants, free radicals cause cellular damage, which can lead to disease and premature aging. Schizandra Plus combines the natural antioxidant power of schizandra berries, with vitamins C, E beta carotene and the mineral selenium, to help support and protect good health.

What Triggers Asthma Attacks?

Asthma attacks occur when something irritates the lungs and "triggers" an asthmatic reaction. Many things can trigger asthma. If you or a loved one has asthma, it's important to learn which triggers cause problems. Ask your doctor to help you.

Allergens and irritants trigger asthma for many people. Allergens are substances that do not cause problems for most people, but trigger allergic reaction in some people. During an allergy attack, the body releases chemicals called mediators that can trigger asthma episodes. Irritants, such as cigarette smoke, fragrances, paint and gasoline fumes can also trigger asthma. Exposure to irritants can stimulate receptors in the respiratory tract. The receptors send signals to the surrounding airways to constrict which can cause an asthma attack.

Once you know what triggers your asthma, you can take steps to reduce exposure to triggers and decrease the frequency and severity of your asthma attacks.

Want more information on Asthma, Allergies and more Herbalife testimonials?

Visit the HerbaCall Asthma and Allergies Resource Center for more detailed information on Asthma and Allergies news, research links and testimonials. Herbalife products can calm your allergy and asthma problems!