If you suffer from respiratory ailments, there are a number of breathing positions and relaxation techniques that can be used to assist you when you find yourself feeling short of breath. Talk to your doctor or a qualified respiratory therapist about controlled breathing techniques to help you improve your lung function. Sit upright. This can help increase the capacity of your lungs, which may be invaluable during times when you are short of breath. Breathe in through the nose and out through pursed lips. This can help you find a slow, steady rhythm to regulate your breath. Use your diaphragm to breathe. That means taking deeper, more substantial breaths, rather than the shallow breaths associated with the upper chest. Using your diaphragm to breathe will also have the added benefit of activating the parasympathetic nervous system and relaxing you. When you are short of breath you may feel very anxious. Relax your neck, shoulders, and upper torso while breathing. If at all possible, have a friend or relative stand behind you and gently rub your shoulders while you sit and breathe. Coughing is a side-effect that some people may experience in the weeks or months after giving up smoking. It may seem counter-intuitive, but coughing is actually good for your body once you've quit smoking. It helps clear irritants (including mucus) out of your lungs, which is often considered a sign that the lungs are healing. If your coughing persists for more than a month or is accompanied by any blood, call your doctor right away, as this may be a sign of a more serious respiratory condition. Many current and former smokers experience elevated levels of mucus in the lungs. To combat this, you may need to cough more frequently (unless it is painful to do so). You can also help combat mucus and airway irritation by using a humidifier in your home to moisturize the airways. You should also drink plenty of water to help keep your body hydrated each day. For some people with respiratory problems, exercise is exhausting and difficult; however, regular exercise especially cardiovascular exercise has been shown to improve the respiratory muscles and provide you with stronger lungs. Just don't overdo your workout or push yourself too hard. According to the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition you should aim 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week. This is equivalent to working out for 30 minutes five time a week. You can further break down your exercise into 10-minute increments. Any shorter than that, however, and you won't receive all the benefits. Moderate intensity exercise includes walking, biking slowly, gardening, using a wheelchair, and water aerobics. . Some people may not think of diet as a factor in respiratory health, but being overweight can put an additional strain on the lungs and may restrict breathing. Being underweight also puts you at risk of missing vital nutrients. Ask your doctor whether a healthier, more-balanced diet may help your respiratory condition. Dietary guidelines for Americans include consuming more healthy foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low fat dairy products, lean meats, and seafood. Limit sodium, saturated and trans fatty acids, and simple sugars.

Summary: Learn controlled breathing. Allow yourself to cough. Reduce mucus. Get plenty of exercise. Maintain a healthy diet

Loop one end of the rubber band around your index finger. Loop the other end of the rubber band around your thumb on the same hand. Position your hand so that your thumb and index fingers are pointing straight up. Point your index finger with the rubber band around it at your target to aim. Don't allow your finger to bend as this will cause the rubber band to slip down. The rubber band should rest no lower than the midpoint of the top part of your index finger before the first knuckle.

Summary: Hold the rubber band between your index and thumb fingers. Aim your gun.

Some forms of RA result in ulcers that need to be protected. Dress the wound with bandages, pads or gauze to prevent infections entering the wounds. Change these dressings every day and after showering. Your doctor may advise you to use a topical steroid cream under the dressing to reduce inflammation and/or pain. Discuss with your doctor on the appropriate cream to apply. Your doctor may advise you to receive a steroid injection within the wound with the steroid Triamcinolone 40 mg/ml into the ulcer edge, either alone or as additional therapy. Your doctor will first clean around the injection site with alcohol pads. After the injection, he may advise dressing the wound including the site of injection to prevent infection. Oral steroids are the mainstay therapy for this condition, Prednisolone is the drug of choice and is usually started at high doses (60-120 mg) tapered down to lower doses. Discuss with your doctor to establish what the starting dose should be and how long you should be on a certain dose of oral steroids before reducing the dose. Side effects of steroid use include increased blood sugar, weight gain, infections due to lower immunity (these drugs reduce the immune system's inflammatory response), swelling, bruising and much more. It is not advised to stay on steroids for extended periods of time. Talk to your doctor to establish a timeline on when to stop using steroids. Cyclosporin is an immunosuppressive drug that can be used to reduce the dependence on steroids and, secondly, used as an alternative treatment if steroids fail to work. Your doctor will determine if you should try Cyclosporin. Then he will give you a prescription and proper dosing based on your weight. This drug can be taken as a capsule, liquid or injection; take as directed. Most patients show clinical improvement within three weeks with a dose of 3-5 mg/kg/day.

Summary: Prevent infections from developing in the wounds. Get steroid injections. Take oral steroids. Try an immunosuppressive drug as an alternative treatment.

If you know the person well and they've never had a seizure before, you should call emergency services to get immediate medical care. They can assist in stopping the seizure once they arrive. Even if the person has had a seizure before, you should call emergency services if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes. Begin the timer as soon as you can get the person safe. You should also call emergency services if the person injures themselves, has trouble breathing, has more than one seizure in a row, or has another health condition such as diabetes or heart disease. Also, call if the seizure happened in water or if the person is pregnant. If you are questioning whether or not you should call emergency services, give them a call. It is always better to call if you're unsure. If you're the only person there, it's important to stay with the person having the seizure so you can monitor them. Plus, they will be disoriented when they come out of the seizure, so they will need someone there. Try to stay calm and collected. Be sure to check the person for injuries as they come out of the seizure; look for blood or bruises. Keep in mind, they may not be able to answer questions due to disorientation.
Summary: Call an ambulance if it's the first time the person has had a seizure. Call emergency services if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes. Stay with the person.