Business Financing For Small Businesses Essay - 919 Words

Small Business Loans Starting a business requires capital so as to run and steer the business to profitability. There are many sources of financing tailored to meet the needs of start-ups and small businesses. Business financing usually varies depending on factors such as source of funds and the size and type of business. The process of securing funds can also be problematic for most start-ups and small business because of the unwillingness of most traditional banks to provide funds to small borrowers. Here are some of the main non-banking financing options for startups and small businesses: †¢ Venture capitalists – most venture capitalists are focused on specific growth industries. For this reason, small businesses that are making money can tap into this form of financing to expand their businesses into the next phase of growth. Besides capital financing, venture capitalist also provide crucial business insights and leads to business owners. For example, a business owner can be advised if the product or service he or she wants to sell will be a success or failure. Most venture capitalist who lend money to small businesses offer short-term to mid-term borrowing of between 3 to 5 years. †¢ Grants – startups that are keen on research can apply for grants from governments and willing investors. However, grant recipients must meet all the laid down developmental and research goals. In most cases, the ideas advanced by such entities must be viable to move to the next phase ofShow MoreRelatedAn Assessment of the Socio-Economic Considerations of the Federal Procurement Process1609 Words   |  6 PagesThe encouragement of small business is an important goal of government that is addressed by the FAR. The government is required to create a network of resources that provide for contract opportunities to level the playing field when procuring goods and services. Assess the socio-economic considerations of the federal procurement process. Recognizing the importance that small business has to the US economy, both the Legislative And Executive Branches the socioeconomic advantage of government procuringRead MoreSmall Business Loans : Small Businesses And Star Ups Essay913 Words   |  4 PagesSmall Business Loans When you want to start a business you need capital in order to run and steer the business to profitability. There are many sources of financing start-up and small businesses can tap into to get started. Financing usually varies depending on the source of financing as well as the size and type of business you want to run. However, the process of securing funds to start a business is fraught with many challenges. This problem has been compounded by the fact that many traditionalRead MoreThe European Union ( Eu )1684 Words   |  7 Pagesdesign, all individual EU member countries, and the businesses within them, should be able to easily access the vast markets that exist throughout the EU. The fundamental idea of the EU is to have a single market region where there are few (if any) barriers to the movement of goods and services throughout respective member countries. With the reduction of barriers to doing business, having a single market should help substantially grow business through out the European economy by increasing competitionRead MoreBusiness Field : Business And Managing Your Own Company1340 Words   |  6 Pagesinto the business field? The business field has so many opportunities for a person to choose from. It is a certain field where people can actually show off the type of skills and techniques they have learned in their past experience. If a person were to go into the business field, they should be the manager of their own company because you will learn about financing your business, expanding your business and managing your employees. The first goal in managing your own business is financing your businessRead MoreEvaluation Of Debt And Equity Funding1006 Words   |  5 PagesDebt and Equity Funding The way the business is funded for its operation and business plans is a crucial factor for the long-term performance of the business. Two most fundamental financing methods include debt and equity financing which will be discussed and evaluated. Equity financing is a method of raising fund from investors with the promise of a share in business ownership. Debt financing is obtaining a loan from external party separate from the business for example the bank and usually involvesRead MoreCommon Reasons For The Failure Of New Small Businesses860 Words   |  4 Pagesare 12 common reasons for the failure of new small businesses. This is not an inclusive nor industry specific listing. Leadership Issues 1. Managerial incompetence 2. Lack of strategic planning 3. Lack of relevant experience 4. Inability to make the transition from corporate employee to entrepreneur Marketing and Sales Issues 1. Ineffective marketing 2. Uncontrolled growth 3. Overreliance on a single customer Financial Issues 1. Inadequate financing 2. Poor cash management 3. Too much overhead SystemsRead MoreRaising Capital For A Young Business : Case Study819 Words   |  4 PagesRaising capital for a young business can be a difficult process. My businesses inevitably fail simply because they did not have the right amount of capital to start with (Keyes, 2007). A lack of capital can force an entrepreneur to make poor decisions simply because they did not have enough money to make the right one. A lack of funding will also lead to a lack of cash follow, which is considered the life blood of a starting business. Furthermore, funding short falls make it very difficult toRead MoreBusinesses keep a close eye on the money they make and the bills they owe. Anything that is not paid immediately is financed. Critically discuss the d1624 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Finance of a business means that the business raises funds to run its activities. It is an essential part of running a business because without business finance, the business will not be able to develop, grow and even start. In addition, business finance keeps cash flowing. Businesses usually raise funds from the shareholders, long-term and short-term sources. There are risks on every decisions that investors make to finance a business as no one knows how will it goes in the futureRead MoreAble Planet Case Essay1470 Words   |  6 Pagesfor their businesses 4 Ways Kevin Semcken can raise $1.5 million in capital 5 Memo to Kevin Semcken 7 References 9 â€Æ' Abstract This paper will analyze Case Study 2 Able Planet. In this case study, Kevin Semcken, Able Planet’s CEO and chairman is seeking capital to finance existing operations for its current products, build a prototype for a new product and market both products to new and current customers (Scarborough, 2012). Furthermore, Able Planet is unable to secure financing from a bankRead MoreBusiness For New Heights With The Correct Business Loan Essay891 Words   |  4 PagesTake your business to new heights with the correct business loan Entrepreneurs and business owners know that a business runs on working capital. Capital required to take your business to the next level is available through a business loan. As a Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) owner in India, you can take advantage of various options through th different types of the business loans in India targeted specifically to your particular industry and type of business. Whether your goal is to increase

The Purpose of Criminal Law - 846 Words

Laws serve several purposes in the criminal justice system. The main purpose of criminal law is to protect, serve, and limit human actions and to help guide human conduct. Also, laws provide penalties and punishment against those who are guilty of committing crimes against property or persons. In the modern world, there are three choices in dealing with criminals’ namely criminal punishment, private action and executive control. Although both private action and executive control are advantageous in terms of costs and speed, they present big dangers that discourage their use unless in exceptional situations. The second purpose of criminal law is to punish the offender. Punishing the offender is the most important purpose of criminal law†¦show more content†¦On the other hand, positive law is forced by the government for everyone to obey. In order for the law to be a positive law it must be formed and applied so that it is acceptable by most people .Common law is gear ed toward custom and usage for instance, nonstatutory customs, ways of life and examples that help steer the decisions of the judicial system The purpose of criminal law is to catch those individual’s that break the law and may harm other people. Not only does criminal law show individuals what they have done wrong but it also states what the punishment will be if the law is broken. Criminal law not only punishes the accused but it also offers protection through the judicial system that punishes and controls (http://www.hg.org/crime.html, 2012). The U.S. Constitution and state constitutions are written sources of American criminal law. They are the supreme law. The U.S. Constitution is the law of this country and the state constitutions are the supreme law of the state. Another written source of American criminal law is the statutes passed by Congress and state legislatures. The statutes refer to the conduct that is expected of the general public in near future. Administrative Agency Regulations along with the Case Law are other forms of written American criminal law. AdministrativeShow MoreRelatedThe Three-Strike Law: The Purpose of Sentencing1473 Words   |  6 PagesThe law and the Constitution, when thinking in general terms, exist mainly to protect and serve the average, law-abiding citizen. They also exist to ensure the protection of the basic rights of law-abiding individuals. On the other hand, they also exist to protect the rights of those who have been arrested under suspicion of criminal activities. The law and C onstitution, for these individuals, ensure that a certain process occurs to ensure guilt or innocence, and that no individual who has been provenRead MoreCriminal Justice System1011 Words   |  5 PagesCriminal Justice System Jean H. Blanc CRJ 100 04/30/2013 Prof. McCarty Abstract According to Shae Irving, the word â€Å"criminal† is describe as â€Å"the society’s belief that certain act are unacceptable and that any perpetrator should be punish† [ (Irving, 2008) ]. Enter the American Criminal Justice System. This paper will give a brief description of the Criminal Justice System and its purpose, and describe the key component of this system. It will also discuss the purpose and function of eachRead MoreIllegal Activities Of Criminal Bikie Gangs1400 Words   |  6 Pages`Do Queensland’s ‘tough new laws’ of 2013 that ‘target the illegal activities of criminal bikie gangs’ violate the human rights of motorcycle club members and other members of the public? The Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Act (VLAD) was brought into action 2013. The act states that â€Å"a person is a vicious lawless associate if the person commits a declared offence; and at the time the offence is committed, or during the course of the commission of the offence, is a participant inRead MoreThe Australian Criminal Justice System Is Shaped Largely by Our Society. Discuss This Statement.1269 Words   |  6 PagesThe criminal justice system is the system the Australian public look to for protection and justice against those that disregard the law but there are mixed opinions from the general public that the justice system is too lenient and that the public opinion isn’t taken into consideration when assessing crime and punishment. In this essay, I will argue that the Australian criminal justice system is in fact shaped largely by our society because if it doesn’t reflect social conscience, the justice systemRead MoreCourt History and Purpos e873 Words   |  4 PagesTERESA MORALES Court History and Purpose People in the United States attend court every day for different many reasons. Those reasons could be for traffic violations, civil law suits, or for unlawful criminal acts. No matter what they are all handled and disputed in a court of law. Courts are empowered to make fair and binding decisions upon the facts that are received. There are two types of courts; civil court and criminal court. It is very important that people understandRead MoreThe Doctrinal Design Has Been Used To Study The Jurisprudential1425 Words   |  6 Pageswith the help of case laws and leading judgments of various courts. 1.5 Research questions: a) Does the child have adequate cognitive skills for comprehending and accurately reporting the witnessed event? b) Can the child successfully discriminate actual events from the internal thoughts, images and fantasies? c) Can the child resist suggestions from various sources to change his or her report or memory of an event? d) What is the status of child witnesses in the Criminal Justice system? 1.6 ChapterizationRead MoreDefinition Of Criminal Behavior And Law1462 Words   |  6 PagesStrict liability is crimes in which the offender does not have a purpose to breach a strict liability law neither does they have the awareness of the lawful position of the exact strict liability offense. This paper will use two scholarly articles to discuss the critical analysis of expanding the concept of criminal behavior and law (strict liability). The first article in discussion is â€Å"Expanding Criminal Laws by Predating Criminal Responsibility: Punishing Planning and Organizing Terrorist AttacksRead MoreDefinition Of The Criminal Justice System901 Words   |  4 PagesThe definition of the criminal justice system according to Oxford Dictionaries is, â€Å"The system of law enforcement that is directly involved in apprehending, prosecuting, defending, sentencing, and punishing those who are suspected or convicted of criminal offenses.† The criminal justice system is very important in America. It means a lot to the people to know that justice will be served when due. Some people disagree with the criminal justice system, and believe that people are not served justiceRead MoreElectronic Surveillance And Its Historical Context854 Words   |  4 Pagessecond part of this paper briefly explores FISA and the law enforcement, their evolution through the buildup of the â€Å"Wall† that undermined the information s haring among Intelligence Community (IC). The passage of the USA PATRIOT Act, the FISA Amendments Acts of 2008, FISA Sunsets Extension Act, and their impacts in the fight against terrorism. FISA and Law Enforcement The Wall â€Å"The Wall is a metaphor used to describe the inability of federal law enforcement officials and intelligence officials to coordinateRead MoreCja/224 Court History and Purpose Paper1201 Words   |  5 PagesCourt History and Purpose. The courts are a critical component of American criminal justice because they determine what should happen to people charged with violating the law. Courts are important beyond criminal justice, too. Disputes that arise between private parties, businesses, government officials, and the like are brought to court in order to ensure that they are heard, ideally, in a neutral forum (Siegel, Schmalleger, Worrall, 2011). Succeeding in liberation and independence is difficult

Essay about My Struggle with Depression - 1490 Words

1. I was always awkward sexually, I don’t mean awkward in the sense of performing coitus but rather everything else. During sex I rather enjoy myself as any young man would, but before the act and after It where the awkwardness kicks In, Is where I find myself loathing the world and the person I am about to, or have recently just fucked. Usually young men enjoy the chase and thrill of courting. My best friend prefers this to sex itself, he believes that â€Å"It is a canvas in which only the best artists are capable of painting on†. In some ways Intend to agree with him and then reality kicks in and I remember that people are disgusting creatures, before, during (especially during) and after sex. I don’t exactly know where my hatred for u†¦show more content†¦Sex is a constant. I recently decided to stop having sex, not because I was bad at It or because It was boring me, but because I would rather eat a cactus through my anus than talk to a man or woman before or after. Instead of going to a bar or club to meet that selected nights sexual counterpart there should be some sort of system. If you aren’t looking for anything serious you register at your nearest ‘sex registry and on your specified day or night you meet up with the person fuck somewhere and then part ways. The rules will be; 1. One must fill in a form before hand to specify what they want in a partner. The computers will find a match. 2. After coitus the male or female must leave the premises immediately. 3. After coatis and the leasing of the premises the two people must never be in contact again. If It Is revealed that a ‘short term couple’ have decided to rendezvous they will be struck from that particular registry and must move to another. If this happens three times the person will be barred from all registries and no longer able to participate. Sounds quite good to me, of course you don’t have to do it this way, you can still go to clubs. But why would you? After all people are cunts. Take for Instance the man I’m sitting opposite too, he won’t stop talking long enough to eat the nitroShow MoreRelatedDepression Is A Silent Killer955 Words   |  4 Pagesrings true in my own life and I can think of a certain struggle in particular that has really shaped who I have become. It really comes down to one word with a whole lot more connected to it. Depression. My own personal case was major, which is called clinical depression. This two year struggle almost ended my life. I don t believe I ve ever shared this in this manner, however there s always a first time for everything. This is my story of how my fight and victory against depression has shaped theRead MorePower Of Depression By Joyce Hocker And William Wilmot1035 Words   |  5 PagesPower of Depression In most situations the term power is looked at between one person or group and another. The same perspective from the textbook â€Å"Interpersonal Conflict† written by Joyce Hocker and William Wilmot can be applied when looking at the lack of internal power when going through a phase of depression. The type of power, level of power, solutions, as well as the RICE perspective can all be associated with myself and my depressed state I went through for a few months. Distributive powerRead MoreEffects Of Depression On Athletes And Depression1286 Words   |  6 Pagesnumbers and statistics on depression are astonishing. Throughout my education at temple I have briefly touched on the subject of athletes and depression, respectively. To further expand my knowledge on this topic I looked at multiple areas dealing with the correlation of exercise and depression, as well as, the effect depression has on athletes. These areas included topics such as: depression, the relationship between depression and exercise, struggles of athletes, depression found in athletes, andRead MoreAntidepressants : Harmful Or Helpful?1566 Words   |  7 Pagespopulation struggles with worries of life, many men, women, and children struggle with depression; however, new studies are showing that treating the disorder with antidepressants can do more harm than good. In 1990, millions of people used Prozac, a SSRI (a type of antidepressant defined later) to treat their mental d isorders (Kent). Now, with suicide the third leading cause of death among fifteen to twenty-four year olds, the numbers are skyrocketing impossibly more (Williams). Depression percentagesRead MorePsychology : Drugs And Consciousness982 Words   |  4 Pagesunderstand and change my life for the better. I knew much coming in because I had taken a psychology class in high school, but I was able to approach this semester with a more open mindset and actually learn something rather than just trying to memorize for a test. I spent more time thinking about real world applications and was able to apply some of the aspects taught in the class as well as some of the pieces I read from the book. The three areas of psychology that were most impactful to my life this yearRead MoreExamples Of Identity In To Kill A Mockingbird874 Words   |  4 PagesThroughout history, different people have many struggles with their identity and trying to figure out who they are. When I was younger, I struggled with my identity and who I was to my family and my friends. I did not know how to be myself without being called names or being looked at funny. At the house I would act one way towards my parents and my siblings, and at school I would act differently towards my friends to fit in. This time period of my life is well conveyed throughout different charactersRead MoreDepression Is Not Just The State Of `` Being Sad ``882 Words   |  4 PagesDepression is not just the state of â€Å"being sad†, it is a serious disease. Depression takes over the body and swipes a person’s ability to feel and think in a normal way. The ability to feel emotions and make rational decisions is not possible for someone diagnosed with depression. It also has the ability to take over the body. Simple tasks such as getting out of bed in the morning become a struggle. One way of getting this disease is that it is just passed down from the parents into the genes. ThereRead MoreReflection Paper892 Words   |  4 PagesI witness students in my Pre-Algebra class that seem to know all of the answers while I sit there completely lost. They have no problem jumping ahead while I scramble, trying to get my life together. They seem like they are professionals at school, always early, always ahead, and always answering while I stare at the teacher like a deer in headlights when he asks for an answer to a question. Those types of students are what I wish I could be. Though some students allow nothing to stand in their wayRead MoreThe Correlation Between Mental Health Problems984 Words   |  4 PagesThe author looks at the factors and symptoms of depression and anxiety on college students. This article also discusses why students don’t seek to find help and discusses who to find help for those who would like help. With the recent rise in people with anxiety and depression disorders, this article encourages and educates people on what to look for when dealing with a person who might be struggling with either disorder. One of the things that caught my attention was the statistic that â€Å"75 percentRead More Essay on Janes Search for Self-identity in The Yellow Wallpaper609 Words   |  3 Pagesenvironment, the protagonist creates for herself a life of her own. Charlotte Gilman, through the first person narrator, speaks to the reader of the stages of psychic disintegration by sharing the narrators heightened perceptions: That spoils my ghostliness, I am afraid, but I dont care--there is something strange about the house--I can feel it (304). The conflicting emotions of power and control versus loss of control are expressed in her reactions to her husband: I get unreasonably angry

United States Government During The War - 1181 Words

enough to accept federally produced ammunition. â€Å" In all more than four hundred and thirty-six thousand of the Enfield pattern were purchased by the United States government during the war† (Davis 59). Those purchased came in two different forms machine made and handmade models coming mostly from Birmingham and London. The effect of this production on English gun makers was an expansion of wages twenty pounds became the common wage per week increasing from three prior to the war. â€Å" In some instances barrel makers had earned as much as fifty pounds in a single week† ( Edwards 247). By 1863 the importation of foreign arms had stopped except for fulfilling contracts on Enfield rifles. By this time the domestic production of Springfield’s†¦show more content†¦Prior to the war the Ordinance Bureau had decided to begin evaluating breech loading carbines for the cavalry. Ripley opposed breech loaders or repeating rifles for infantry use. There was a belief that they would waste ammunition, and were expensive. His main complaint was that the production of these weapons would curtail production of carbines. He saw the inherent advantage of the breechloader for mounted service. It was far simpler to reload from horseback than a muzzle loading arm. Because of this there many options for domestic carbines at the start of the war. The Sharps carbine was the weapon that the North wanted. The Sharps Company would produce over eighty thousand carbines during the war. But these were not enough. In response to the demand for carbines various other arms of good quality such as the Smith and Burnside were acquired. Some others of lesser quality such as the Cosmopolitan and Maynard were also purchased at this time. Carbine production was centered in Massachusetts also. â€Å"Smith carbines, of which large numbers were ordered by the Government, were built in part by Massachusetts Arms, and in part by the nearby American Machine Works in Spr ingfield† (Edwards 102). This

Obesity and Asthma Free Essays

What Is Asthma? Asthma is a disease that affects your lungs. It is one of the most common long-term diseases of children, but adults have asthma, too. Asthma causes repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing. We will write a custom essay sample on Obesity and Asthma or any similar topic only for you Order Now If you have asthma, you have it all the time, but you will have asthma attacks only when something bothers your lungs. In most cases, we don’t know what causes asthma, and we don’t know how to cure it. We know that if someone in your family has asthma, you are also more likely to have it. You can control your asthma  by knowing the warning signs of an attack, staying away from things that trigger an attack, and following the advice of your doctor or other medical professional. When you control your asthma: * you won’t have symptoms such as wheezing or coughing, * you’ll sleep better, * you won’t miss work or school, * you can take part in all physical activities, and * you won’t have to go to the hospital. How Is Asthma Diagnosed? Asthma can be hard to diagnose, especially in children younger than 5 years of age. Regular physical checkups that include checking your lung function and checking for allergies can help your doctor or other medical professional make the right diagnosis. During a checkup, the doctor or other medical professional will ask you questions about whether you cough a lot, especially at night, and whether your breathing problems are worse after physical activity or during a particular time of year. Doctors will also ask about other symptoms, such as chest tightness, wheezing, and colds that last more than 10 days. They will ask you whether your family members have or have had asthma, allergies, or other breathing problems, and they will ask you questions about your home. The doctor will also ask you about missing school or work and about any trouble you may have doing certain activities. A lung function test, called  spirometry  (spy-rom-e-tree), is another way to diagnose asthma. A spirometer (spy-rom-e-ter) measures the largest amount of air you can exhale, or breathe out, after taking a very deep breath. The spirometer can measure airflow before and after you use asthma medicine. What Is an Asthma Attack? An asthma attack happens in your body’s airways, which are the paths that carry air to your lungs. As the air moves through your lungs, the airways become smaller, like the branches of a tree are smaller than the tree trunk. During an asthma attack, the sides of the airways in your lungs swell and the airways shrink. Less air gets in and out of your lungs, and mucus that your body produces clogs up the airways even more. The attack may include coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, and trouble breathing. Some people call an asthma attack an  episode. What Causes an Asthma Attack? An asthma attack can occur when you are exposed to things in the environment, such as house dust mites and tobacco smoke. These are called  asthma triggers. Important Asthma Triggers On This Page * Environmental Tobacco Smoke (Secondhand Smoke) * Dust Mites * Outdoor Air Pollution * Cockroach Allergen * Pets * Mold * Wood Smoke * Other Triggers If you have asthma your airways always have some irritation. When you have an asthma attack this irritation gets worse and your airways close part way and get blocked with mucus. Asthma attacks may include coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, and trouble breathing. An asthma attack can occur when you are exposed to things in the environment, such as house dust mites and tobacco smoke. These are called  asthma triggers. Your personal triggers can be very different from those of another person with asthma. Try to avoid your triggers. Some of the most important triggers are listed below: Environmental Tobacco Smoke (Secondhand Smoke) Environmental tobacco smoke is often called  secondhand smokebecause the smoke created by a smoker is breathed in by a second person nearby. Parents, friends, and relatives of children with asthma should try to stop smoking and should never smoke around a person with asthma. They should only smoke outdoors and not in the family home or car. They should not allow others to smoke in the home, and they should make sure their child’s school is smoke-free. Dust Mites Dust mites are in almost everybody’s homes, but they don’t cause everybody to have asthma attacks. If you have asthma, dust mites may be a trigger for an attack. To help prevent asthma attacks, use mattress covers and pillowcase covers to make a barrier between dust mites and yourself. Don’t use down-filled pillows, quilts, or comforters. Remove stuffed animals and clutter from your bedroom. Outdoor Air Pollution Pollution caused by industrial emissions and automobile exhaust can cause an asthma attack. Pay attention to air quality forecasts on radio, television, and Internet and plan your activities for when air pollution levels will be low if air pollution aggravates your asthma. A good source of air quality information is  EnviroFlash. Cockroach Allergen:Cockroaches and their droppings may trigger an asthma attack. Get rid of cockroaches in your home and keep them from coming back by taking away their food and water. Cockroaches are usually found where food is eaten and crumbs are left behind. Remove as many water and food sources as you can because cockroaches need food and water to survive. At least every 2 to 3 days, vacuum or sweep areas that might attract cockroaches. You can also use roach traps or gels to decrease the number of cockroaches in your home. Pets:Furry pets may trigger an asthma attack. When a furry pet is suspected of causing asthma attacks, the simplest solution is to find the pet another home. If pet owners are too attached to their pets or are unable to locate a safe, new home for the pet, they should keep the pet out of the bedroom of the person with asthma. Pets should be bathed weekly and kept outside as much as possible. People with asthma are not allergic to their pet’s fur, so trimming your pet’s fur will not help your asthma. If you have a furry pet, vacuum often to clean up anything that could cause an asthma attack. If your floors have a hard surface, such as wood or tile, and are not carpeted, damp mop them every week. Mold:Inhaling or breathing in mold can cause an asthma attack. Get rid of mold in all parts of your home to help control your asthma attacks. Keep the humidity level in your home between 35% and 50%. In hot, humid climates, you may need to use an air conditioner or a dehumidifier or both. Fix water leaks, which allow mold to grow behind walls and under floors. Wood Smoke:Smoke from burning wood is made up of a mix of harmful gases and small particles. Breathing in too much of this smoke can cause an asthma attack. Other Triggers Infections linked to influenza (flu), colds, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can trigger an attack. Sinus infections, allergies, breathing in some chemicals, and acid reflux can irritate airways and trigger asthma attacks. Strenuous physical exercise; some medicines; bad weather, such as thunderstorms; high humidity; breathing in cold, dry air; biomass smoke from burning grass or other vegetation; and some foods and food additives can trigger an asthma attack. Strong emotional states can also lead to hyperventilation and an asthma attack. Learn what triggers your attacks so that you can avoid the triggers whenever possible. Be alert for a possible attack when the triggers cannot be avoided. How Is Asthma Treated? You can control your asthma  and avoid an attack by taking your medicine exactly as your doctor or other medical professional tells you to do and by avoiding things that can cause an attack. Not everyone with asthma takes the same medicine. Some medicines can be inhaled, or breathed in, and some can be taken as a pill. Asthma medicines come in two types—quick relief and long-term control. Quick-relief medicines control the symptoms of an asthma attack. If you need to use your quick-relief medicines more and more, you should visit your doctor or other medical professional to see if you need a different medicine. Long-term control medicines help you have fewer and milder attacks, but they don’t help you if you’re having an asthma attack. Asthma medicines can have side effects, but most side effects are mild and soon go away. Ask your doctor or other medical professional about the side effects of your medicines. The important thing to remember is that  you can control your asthma. With your doctor’s or other medical professional’s help, make your own asthma action plan (management plan) so that you know what to do based on your own symptoms. Decide who should have a copy of your plan and where he or she should keep it. Take your long-term control medicine even when you don’t have symptoms. Asthma Action Plan People with Asthma Should Have an Asthma Action Plan All people with asthma should have an  asthma action plan. An asthma action plan (also called a management plan) is a written plan that you develop  with your doctor  to help control your asthma. The asthma action plan shows your daily treatment, such as what kind of medicines to take and when to take them. Your plan describes how to control asthma long term AND how to handle worsening asthma, or attacks. The plan explains when to call the doctor or go to the emergency room. If your child has asthma, all of the people who care for him or her should know about the child’s asthma action plan. These caregivers include babysitters and workers at daycare centers, schools, and camps. These caretakers can help your child follow his or her action plan. Data and Surveillance Asthma Surveillance Data Asthma surveillance data includes collection of asthma data at both the national and the state level. National data is available on asthma prevalence, activity limitation, days of work or school lost, rescue and control medication use, asthma self-management education, physician visits, emergency department visits, hospitalizations due to asthma, and deaths due to asthma from National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) surveys and the Vital Statistics System. Asthma surveillance data at the state level include adult and child asthma prevalence from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and in-depth state and local asthma data through implementation of the BRFSS Asthma Call-back Survey (ACBS). * Asthma Call-back Survey (ACBS) The ACBS is an in-depth asthma survey developed and funded by the Air Pollution and Respiratory Health Branch (APRHB) in NCEH. It is conducted with BRFSS survey respondents who report an asthma diagnosis. The ACBS was piloted in three states in 2005 and has been conducted each year since. A majority of states participate in the ACBS each year. * Asthma Survey Questions Description of asthma survey instruments and their wording differences. * Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Data BRFSS is a state-based, random-digit-dialed telephone survey designed to monitor the prevalence of the major behavioral risks among adults associated with premature morbidity and mortality. * FastStats FastStats provides quick access to statistics on topics of public health importance, including asthma. * National Health Interview Survey Prevalence Data NHIS is a multistage probability sample survey designed to solicit health and demographic information about the population, conducted annually with face-to-face interviews in a nationally representative sample of households. Asthma and daily living * ————————————————- Asthma and exercise ————————————————- ————————————————- Learn how to exercise without asthma symptoms ————————————————- Learn More ————————————————- Living day to day with well controlled asthma means life as normal with a little extra thought and planning   ————————————————- Many asthma triggers are common things that may be around the home, so people often ask what they can change at home, or whatproducts  might help their asthma. For others it’s plants and pollens that cause them difficulties with asthma or allergies – if that’s you, read about  asthma and allergy friendly gardens. If you find your asthma is  worse at work  then there are some tips for your consideration. If you travel with work or plan a holiday, there are a few simple suggestions to help you  make the most out of your trip. ————————————————- Having a healthy  diet  and an  active lifestyle  is an important part of living well. Being  overweight,  smoking  or suffering from  stress  or   depression   can have a significant impact on your asthma. For most people with asthma, triggers are only a problem when their asthma is not  well-controlled. Research shows that for most people with well-controlled asthma, reducing exposure to triggers doesn’t reduce symptoms or reduce the risk of an asthma attack. With good treatment, most people do not need to change their lifestyle or environment just because they have asthma. However, it may be useful for you to identify triggers and reduce your exposure to them if: * you have troublesome asthma symptoms despite treatment * you need high doses of medication to keep your asthma symptoms under control, or * your asthma is much better when you are away from home Note: Cigarette smoke is directly harmful to the airways and makes asthma worse, so exposure to cigarette smoke should be avoided by anyone who has asthma Obesity ————————————————- Is it my weight or is it my asthma that is causing my symptoms? ————————————————- Research into the link between increasing levels of obesity and asthma still hasn’t come up with a definite answer. There is a recognised association between increasing body mass index (BMI) and increased levels of diagnosed or reported asthma in both children and adults, and it’s possible that there are other factors, e. g. genetic or environmental that may lead to both conditions. We do know that being obese makes asthma a lot more of a problem. ———————————————— People who are obese are more likely to have asthma, to have more severe asthma, and to need more medication to control it. ————————————————- Obesity can lead to people being breathless and wheezy without having asthma, so it’s important that you get a proper diagnosis from your doctor. Once you have that, and the right medications, you should be able to increase your activity levels w ithout getting too breathless, and start living an active life. ————————————————- ———————————————— Why does obesity make asthma worse? * ————————————————- Having a larger amount of fat on the body means there’s more pushing onto and into the chest, so there’s less room for the lungs to move. This causes the muscles around the airways to contract more, causing more asthma symptoms. * ————————————————- Airways in obese people with asthma are more likely to stay closed in normal breathing, so there’s less oxygen exchange able to happen. * ————————————————- Obesity causes general inflammation in the body, which makes asthma symptoms worse. * ————————————————- People who are obese are more likely to have problems with reflux and obstructive sleep apnoea (where you stop breathing while asleep), both of which can make asthma worse. * ————————————————- There has been some suggestion in research studies that people who are obese might have less response to some asthma medications. The reason for this is not clear, and more research is needed to clarify this. ————————————————- ———————————————— Will losi ng weight really help my asthma? ————————————————- Losing weight can have a big impact on your asthma; it can improve your symptoms and reduce your need for medication. In fact if you are overweight or obese, losing weight might have a greater impact on your asthma control than increasing medication. If you have asthma and are overweight or obese you should discuss weight control and healthy lifestyle with your doctor as part of your asthma management. ————————————————- Remember:  it is important that you don’t change your medication without speaking with your doctor first. ————————————————- Having a healthy lifestyle with regular activity and a balanced diet is important for everyone. Asthma and exercise * ————————————————- Being active is an important part of life. Well controlled asthma means you shouldn’t have to stop or restrict any of your normal activities. People with asthma should be able to participate in almost any sport or exercise, for example, going to the gym,  swimming, and team sports. ———————————————— Although some people have  exercise induced asthma, many Olympic gold medals have been won by Australian athletes with asthma. Exercise is essential for people with asthma and can even help control asthma and reduce the amount of medication you need. Scuba diving  is the only form of exercise that requires some special consideration for people with asthma. Asthma at work * ————————————————- ————————————————- Work-related and occupational asthma ————————————————- Up to 15% of newly diagnosed asthma cases in adults are related to exposure to agents encountered at work and up to 3,000 cases of occupational asthma occur per year in Australia. If you experience asthma symptoms at work, and these symptoms improve when you are away from work, e. g. during holidays or on weekends, you may have what is called work-related or occupational asthma. Occupational asthma can occur in many types of workplaces, but is most commonly reported where people are working with flour and isocyanates (chemicals which are found in paints as hardening agents). ———————————————— Work-aggravated asthma is different from occupational asthma, which occurs when there is sensitisation to a substance encountered at work. Work-aggravated asthma occurs when people who already have asthma are exposed to factors such as gases or fumes, smoke, dust or cold dry air which i rritate the airways causing asthma symptoms to occur and make a pre-existing condition worse. ————————————————- ————————————————- What causes occupational asthma? ————————————————- Over 4000 substances in the workplace (known as sensitisers) may cause asthma. Repeated exposure to these sensitisers over a period of time (usually years) may produce permanent asthma symptoms identical to non-occupational asthma. This usually takes weeks or years to develop. ————————————————- ————————————————- What are the symptoms of occupational asthma? ————————————————- Symptoms include wheezing and coughing, shortness of breath and tightness across the chest. Often these symptoms will develop after irritation is noticed in the nose and eyes. Other workers may be affected or may have left the job because of these symptoms. ————————————————- Symptoms may vary during the working week or shift. In the early stages of exposure, symptoms tend to improve when the worker is away from work. However, once the airways are sensitised, continued exposure even in small amounts can produce symptoms. Continued exposure may also lead to more symptoms and eventually to permanent asthma in some people. ————————————————- ————————————————- How do I know if I have occupational asthma? ————————————————- If you suspect something is affecting your breathing at work, go and see your doctor. They will ask you questions about your symptoms and your work, and carry out tests such as a  spirometry test  to decide if you might have occupational asthma. They may also ask you to keep a diary of your symptoms to compare with your working hours. There is also a software program available which can automatically compare your peak flows with your working shifts. This can be downloaded free from the  Oasys website. ————————————————- It can be very difficult to distinguish between true occupational asthma and work exacerbated asthma, and it may be necessary for your GP to refer you to a respiratory specialist with expertise in this area. Common sensitisers and occupations where workers may be exposed Agent  | Example occupations  | Wood dust (e. g. western red cedar, redwood, oak)  | Carpenters, builders, sawmill workers, sanders, model builders| Isocyanates  | Automotive industry, mechanics, painters, adhesive workers, chemical industry, polyurethane foam workers| Formaldehyde  | Cosmetics industry, embalmers, foundry workers, hairdressers, laboratory staff, medical personnel, paper industry, plastics industry, rubber industry, tanners| Platinum salts  | Chemists, dentists, electronics industry,photographers, metallurgists| Latex  | Health care workers, textile industry, toyManufacturers| Flour nd grain dust  | Bakers, cooks, pizza makers, grocers, farmers, combine harvester drivers| Animal allergens (e. g. urine, dander)  | Veterinary surgery workers, animal care workers, laboratory workers, jockeys, animal breeders, pet shop employees| Table adapted from Hoy, R. , Abramson, M. , Sim, M. (2010). Work related asthma. Diagnosis and management. Australian Family Physician, 39 (1/2), 39-42. What is the treatment for occupational asthma? Early diagnosis and management by removing any exposure to irritants in the workplace is the best way to treat occupational asthma and prevent it becoming a permanent condition. Otherwise, treatment with the usual asthma inhalers is usually effective. Note: Occupational asthma does not always mean having to leave your workplace, as workplace strategies can be developed. For example, if exposure cannot be minimised or ceased, then employers must provide adequate respiratory protection and/or substitute the irritant substance with a known non-irritant. This is a part of Occupational Health and Safety requirements. More information is available from your State or Territory Workcover authority   www. workcover. (insert your state). gov. u If you develop asthma symptoms at work, or your existing asthma gets worse, it is essential that you visit your doctor for tests and an accurate diagnosis. If you did not already have a diagnosis of asthma and/or a written   Asthma Action Plan  , then this should be provided to you. What if I only had temporary symptoms? If you have inhaled a high dose of a substance that causes damage to the airways, possibly as part of an industrial accident or spillage, you may temporarily experience breathlessness and wheeze similar to asthma. This is called Reactive Airways Dysfunction Syndrome (RADS). Symptoms usually occur within 24 hours of a single exposure to very high concentrations of a chemical spill, irritant gases, corrosive mists or solvent vapours. Usually, symptoms will gradually improve as your airways heal, but occasionally workers can be left with permanent symptoms. It is very important to have a medical check if this does happen, and to make sure your work environment is safe. Smoking * ————————————————- Smoking and exposure to smoke (passive smoking) can damage your lungs, and stop them from working properly. ———————————————— People with asthma who smoke have more frequent asthma attacks, have more severe asthma, and are more likely to be admitted to hospital. The type of inflammation in the airways that is caused by smoking means they donâ₠¬â„¢t respond as well to preventer medication, and so need higher doses to control their asthma. ————————————————- Asthmatic children who are exposed to cigarette smoke are more likely to have poor asthma control and more likely to need admission to hospital. Smoke exposure in the car is especially bad and opening the windows does not help. ————————————————- Smoking has two main effects on the airways: ————————————————- 1) Increases mucus ————————————————- – more mucus-producing cells and glands grow in the airway walls ————————————————- – damages and reduces parts of the airways that help to clear mucus ————————————————- 2) Damages the airways ——— Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- chemicals in cigarette smoke destroy lung tissue and also make the airways less elastic and therefore more narrow ————————————————- – causes inflammation in the airways ————————————————- If I quit smoking will my lung function really improve? ————————————————- Everybody’s lung function tends to gradually decrease as they age, but the lung function of people who smoke decreases much faster than normal. If you stop smoking, this rate will go back to normal. This means that although the damage done to your airways by smoking cannot be fixed, it’s never too late to quit no matter how long you have smoked for. ————————————————- Is smoking around children really harmful? ————————————————- Children are more vulnerable to the bad effects of cigarette smoke. ————————————————- If a pregnant woman smokes, or a young child is exposed to smoke, the child is at a much greater risk of developing asthma-like symptoms in early childhood. Babies of smoking mothers are four times more likely to develop wheezing illnesses before the age of one. Even if you go outside to have a cigarette, particles can still be present on you when you return indoors, so although it’s better than smoking near your child, it may still affect them in the long term. ————————————————- Other health issues ————————————————- Around 15-20% of people who smoke develop permanent lung disease (COPD), and smoking increases the risk of many other health issues: stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure, and cancer are just a few. ———————————————— Quitting smoking is difficult, and most people make several attempts before they quit for good. Diet and vitamin/mineral supplements and asthma * ————————————————- There are many theories about how diet can play a role in the management of asthma. Studies have been done but some have not been well designed and although they provide directions for future research, specific conclusions are not easily drawn from the data collected. Reliable data on specific vitamins and minerals is also not available. We do not recommend the routine use of vitamin and mineral supplements as part of asthma management. It is important to discuss any supplements you want to take with your doctor or pharmacist as some supplements can  interact  with other medication you are taking. Note: Some vitamin and mineral supplements can have detrimental health effects or are toxic if taken in high doses. ————————————————- ————————————————- Will a diet change help my asthma? ————————————————- Everybody should have a healthy balanced diet, which includes a mix of: * ————————————————- fresh fruit * ————————————————- fresh vegetables * ————————————————- fish * ————————————————- lean meats * ————————————————- whole grains * ————————————————- low fat dairy products, and * —————â€⠀Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- healthy fats. ————————————————- Calorie control is also important, as being  overweight  can have a significant impact on asthma symptoms and control. Food is rarely a trigger for asthma. Read more about  food as a trigger for asthma. Some people have specificfood allergy  which can have similar respiratory symptoms, and they need to avoid their known food allergens. If you have a serious food allergy, you should also read about  anaphylaxis. Do not restrict entire food groups without first consulting a dietitian who can help identify if any food restrictions are necessary. Note: The belief that milk increases problems with mucus for people with asthma is false. Dairy products are an important part of any diet. However, some people do have specific dairy intolerance (or allergy), which can cause symptoms in the nose, throat and ears. See our section on  food and asthma  for more information on food allergies. ————————————————- ————————————————- Specific Supplements ————————————————- Magnesium and Selenium ————————————————- Magnesium (in those people low in magnesium) and selenium supplements have been shown to have a potentially positive effect on asthma symptoms, though they don’t affect breathing capacity. ————————————————- Fish Oil (EPH/DHA) ————————————————- Most trials of adding fish oil to the diet of people with asthma found that their asthma was not improved. However there is some evidence that dietary supplementation with fish oil can reduce the severity of  exercise-induced asthma  in those with mild to moderate persistent asthma. This has led to better lung function and reducedreliever  use. Eating fish at least once a week is an important part of a balanced diet. ————————————————- Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) ————————————————- There is not enough information for or against using Vitamin C supplementation to improve asthma. Generally trials of the vitamin have been small, varied and not well reported. Larger and better designed studies are required. ————————————————- Probiotics ————————————————- Probiotics are live organisms that can be taken as a supplement to alter the types of bacteria that naturally live in your gut. The more commonly used probiotics include Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Many people know these as ‘acidophilus’ supplements. Probiotics such as lactobacillus have not been shown to be effective in improving asthma. ————————————————- Folic Acid ————————————————- Folic acid is recommended for women to take before and during the early stages of pregnancy. This significantly reduces the chance of a baby developing neural tube defects such as spina bifida, and it is also thought to play an important role in brain development. However recent research has shown that women who took folic acid supplements throughout their whole pregnancy increased their risk of having a child with asthma by about 30%. Folic acid from natural sources such as green leafy vegetables had no increased risk. It is recommended that folic acid supplements are taken only for the first 16 weeks of pregnancy, unless advised otherwise by their doctor. Stress * ————————————————- A tear-jerking movie, a fight with your partner, the stress of work related deadlines or even a joyous reunion can leave some people with asthma gasping for air. Strong emotions like fear, stress or even laughter can sometimes lead to increased asthma symptoms. ————————————————- Children can easily be affected by high levels of emotion. From fits of giggles to screaming tantrums; the effects on their asthma can be similar. ————————————————- ————————————————- How can I stop stress from affecting my asthma? ———————————————— While it is impossible to eliminate emotional stress from your life, you can learn to reduce the effect and recognise potential symptoms that may need some  reliever medication. * ————————————————- Be aware of the things, events or people that add stress to your life, and work at how you respond to them so you remain calmer   * ————————————————- Acknowledge the feelings you are having – this is a technique that can be effective in reducing their impact * ————————————————- If you can, remove yourself from stressful situations * ————————————————- Find constructive and positive ways to reduce your anger, anxiety or fear   * ————————————————- Learn more about your asthma; take an active role in caring for yourself and staying in control   * ————————————————- Exercise. It’s a great way to let off steam, and is good for you as well! ————————————————- Life can be a roller coaster of emotions so the best thing to do is to be prepared as much as you can, and along with appropriate asthma medication you can  take control of your asthma. ————————————————- So next time you’re going to see that adrenalin pumping movie or have an experience that gets the tears rolling, make sure you’ve got your  reliever medication  with you †¦ just in case. Depression and asthma * ————————————————- Research has shown that there is a link between depression and asthma. In fact, having severe asthma more than doubles the risk of developing epression. Around 1 in 5 women and 1 in 8 men will experience depression in their life, and these numbers are even higher in people with asthma. As with other chronic illness es, research shows that having severe asthma more than doubles the risk of developing depression. ————————————————- What is depression? ————————————————- Depression is a serious health condition, not just a low mood. People with depression can have trouble doing normal activities, and it can have serious effects on mental and physical health. ————————————————- How can depression and asthma affect each other? * ————————————————- Having both depression and asthma worsens health more than either condition alone. * ————————————————- Having depression makes it less likely that people will be treated for asthma effectively. This may be because of poor memory and problem-solving skills with a shortened attention, making it harder to recognise the need to get medical help. * ————————————————- People with depression have trouble concentrating or staying motivated. This may make them less likely to get help with their asthma, keep appointments and take medication. * ————————————————- Having uncontrolled asthma can make it harder to join in with fun activities such as playing sport or other recreational activities. This can make people with depression further isolated and low in motivation. * ————————————————- Stress can be a  trigger  for both asthma and depression. ————————————————- How do I know if I’m depressed? ————————————————- There are different checklists on the  BeyondBlue National Depression Initiative website  you can check to get a better idea if you or someone you know may have symptoms of depression. Depression is more than just stress and needs proper diagnosis by a health professional. You should talk to your doctor to learn more and get correct treatment. ————————————————- What can I do? ————————————————- Both depression and asthma can be treated, but first need to be recognised and diagnosed by a health professional. There are a number of treatments for depression, both therapy and medication-based. It is important to have a treatment plan that monitors both the symptoms of depression and asthma in order to find the treatment that works best for you. Some things you can do yourself include: * ————————————————- Learn relaxation techniques. * ————————————————- Get your asthma well  controlled  so you can take part in activities without being limited by your symptoms. * ————————————————- Learn as much as you can about both conditions. ————————————————- Get help and support from family and friends. * ————————————————- Visit a doctor regularly to review both your asthma and your depression. Travel * ————————————————- Make sure you have enough medication and the right equipment before you travel   ————————————————- Whether you’re taking a holiday or a work trip, changes in routine, location, weather, temperature, pollution (especially bushfires during summer in Australia) and unknown allergens may produce unexpected asthma symptoms. Following these tips will help maintain good asthma control and an â€Å"asthma friendly† time away which is enjoyable and worry-free. ————————————————- ————————————————- Visit your doctor before you go * ————————————————- Have a check-up before you go away to make sure your day-to-day asthma is  under control, that you have enough  medications, and you’re  taking them the right way. * ————————————————- Make sure your written  Asthma Action Plan  is up to date. ———————â₠¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- If you’re going overseas, it’s a good idea to get your doctor to write a letter stating the history and severity of your asthma as well as a list of your medications (using the generic brand name) and delivery devices. Carry this letter with you at all times in case of an emergency. You may need to present this report to customs in other countries if questioned about carrying medication. ————————————————- ————————————————- Your medications * ————————————————- Take extra medication in your luggage. * ————————————————- Keep your normal day-to-day medication with you in your carry-on bag (in case luggage gets lost). * ————————————————- Take prescriptions in case you lose your medication, or to prove it is for your own personal use. ————————————————- ————————————————- Your equipment * ————————————————- A  spacer  device is portable, inexpensive and is just as effective (and a etter choice for travelling) than anebuliser. * ————————————————- If you do need a nebuliser, remember other countries may have different power points and voltages, so you’ll either need an adaptor, or a battery powered portable version. You’ll also need to talk to the airline before you board if you’re likely to need to use your nebuliser on board the aircraft. * ————————————————- If you normally use a  peak flow meter  take it with you. Before you travel you should know what your normal peak flow is when you are well . ———————————————— —————————————à ¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- Be prepared – plan well! * ————————————————- Carry your mobile phone with you (as well as your reliever puffer) and if you go somewhere on your own, tell someone where you are going. * ————————————————- Make sure you know the emergency phone number for the country you are visiting. * ————————————————- Make sure your travel insurance covers the cost of health care that stems from pre-existing asthma. ————————————————- Travel to high altitudes is okay as long as your asthma is well controlled at sea level. * †”———————————————- For your own general health and safety, before going overseas always check your destination onwww. smartraveller. gov. au  Ã‚   ————————————————- Most importantly, enjoy your trip, relax, and don’t let your asthma stop you! Being active with Asthma Are you considering training for a fun run? Endurance running is more likely to trigger asthma symptoms than other more stop-start sports and activities. Many of these events are either held in the cooler months or require training during cooler weather so the cold dry air can be a trigger for many people with asthma. Generally, the colder and drier the air, the more severe the symptoms. If air is warm and moist, asthma symptoms will tend to be less of a problem. It’s always important to be prepared when you’re training and taking part in any form of sport or activity. It’s important to ensure that your day to day asthma is generally well controlled and you have an up to date written Asthma Action Plan. If your asthma is well controlled with preventer medication, you may not experience symptoms during or after the run. There are a few ways you can reduce the risk of an asthma attack when doing a fun run: * Ensure that you take your preventer medication regularly as prescribed; * Make sure you train for the event so you are fit and able; * Warm up:- spend about 15 minutes doing some gentle activity such as a series (6-8) of brief (30 second) sprints; * Carry your blue reliever puffer with you at all times. If advised by your doctor it may be useful to use it 5 -10 minutes before starting to run; * Pace yourself: start out steadily and you’ll get further than if you expend all your energy in the first few minutes; * Consider wearing a collar up around your mouth and nose to help warm and moisten the air you breath in and out; * Drink regular water during the run to stay well hydrated; * If you have cold or flu symptoms  do not  taking part – this can increase your risk of having asthma problems whilst you are running or, after the race; * Slowly cool down: – spend about 10 minutes (similar to warm-up) doing lighter activities after the race. Keep in mind that whilst some people experience symptoms during exercise, the airway narrowing induced by exercise classically occurs after exercise. Be aware of this, cool down and use your reliever medication if this occurs. Well controlled asthma shouldn’t stop anyone from taking part in events such as fun runs. Being active is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle, so take control of your asthma and get involved. Children and asthma * ————————————————- Young children with asthma ————————————————- ————————————————- Looking for more information about asthma medications for young children? ——————â€⠀Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€ Learn More ————————————————- Asthma in young children is one of the most common causes of hospital admission and visits to the doctor in this age group. ————————————————- However it is not easy to  diagnose asthma in children under 5 years old  as there are many reasons for wheezing and coughing at that age. ————————————————- Once diagnosis is decided, often treatment is with trials of different doses of medication. Parents often ask about whether changes to a child’s  bedding  or  diet  is needed. ——————— Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- The aim of good asthma management is to ensure that children can lead a normal healthy life, while taking only as much  medication  as is needed to keep them well, and avoid  asthma attacks. ————————————————- Children can also spend periods of time away from home. It is important that the people around your child are aware if they have asthma, and know how to recognise symptoms and what to do in an emergency. Parents can provide friends and family with a copy of their child’s  asthma action plan  and  asthma first aid  information to help them be prepared. ————————————————- Children’s services  and  schools  play an important role in supporting children with asthma, and they can also access resources and  training  to help the m. Asthma at School Asthma affects around 1 in 9 school aged children. This means that in an average classroom there will be at least 3 students with asthma. Schools and staff can work together with the wider school community to provide a healthy and safe educational environment for students with asthma. Student health and safety are essential in schools to allow all students to achieve their best. How does asthma affect students? Asthma is a leading cause of absenteeism in school students, which in severe cases can cause them to fall behind in their work. Asthma symptoms commonly occur overnight, which can mean a lack of sleep for the student, leading to a reduced ability to concentrate in class. Students can also show signs of worsening asthma, especially after vigorous exercise, and may have an asthma attack while at school, which requires an immediate response. Whose responsibility is it? Responsibility for the management of a student’s asthma is shared. Parents should: * Inform the school that their child has asthma * Provide sufficient information and equipment to school staff to allow them to support the child at school * Advise if there has been a change in the child’s health, or in their medical management * Ensure the child has their reliever medication with them each day at school   See  Information for parents of school-aged kids with asthma. Schools should: Encourage parents to provide up to date information about their child with asthma * Enable and encourage staff to attend training and obtain information about asthma and how to manage an asthma emergency * Ensure sufficient equipment is available and accessible for use in an emergency * Have p olicies that support the staff to act appropriately and effectively in an asthma emergency, including during off-site activities * Allow students to access (or carry with them) their reliever medication at all times, unless the child is too young to be responsible for using their medication appropriately   See  Asthma Friendly Schools  for more information about how schools can support kids with asthma. Teachers and school staff can get free  Asthma Training  and  teaching resources. Students should: * Take their regular  preventer  medication (generally taken at home in the mornings and/or evenings) as advised by their doctor * Know how to recognise when their asthma is getting worse and what to do * Carry reliever medication with them at all times * Tell their friends that they have asthma, and what to do if they have an asthma attack *   If you’ve recently been diagnosed with asthma, or you think you or a member of your family might have asthma, then you need to get some basic facts. Find out  what causes asthma, and  what happens  in your airways to cause  asthma symptoms. Get an explanation of the process for  diagnosis, including tests that can be done. Develop an understanding of what  triggers  are around you, and what sort ofseasonal issues  might affect your asthma. It’s also common for people with asthma to have other  related conditions, such asallergies,  hayfever,  eczema  and even  COPD. We also have anasthma dictionary  to explain commonly used asthma terms. * Once you’ve got all that information, you might want to go and have a look the  managing asthma section, where you can find out aboutmedications, and how you can  take control  of your asthma. http://www. asthmafoundation. org. au How to cite Obesity and Asthma, Essay examples

Leadership within a Global Context

Question: How your health care administration leadership philosophy may contribute to these strategies for multicultural leadership challenges. Answer: Globalization has turned the healthcare sector to a small village. Presently, the medical field is not confined to particular borders. Practitioners and patients can access services in any part of the continent. This results in interactions between individuals from varying cultures, which subsequently causes multicultural issues and problems. Therefore, as health care administrator, one must be aware of the existence of such problems and adopt an appropriate approach to multicultural leadership. There are challenges associated with multicultural leadership, but this paper looks at two of such test. Communication is a major problem in multicultural leadership. Setting a general communication approach which will suit individuals from varying cultural backgrounds is very tricky. Secondly, making the employees cooperate in a culturally diverse environment can be challenging. This is evident in national locally based institutions where the majority might be reluctant to accept the incorpo ration of other cultures. Solving multicultural challenges in the health sector require a collective approach involving the employees and their leaders. According to Soo (2012), as globalization progressive makes the world stronger, multicultural leaders need to tackle emerging problems skillfully. This is where multicultural competency plays a vital role. To address the communication problem, setting up a standard mode or language of communication can salvage the situation. The leaders should select a communication criteria which is welcomed by all workers. For the second problem, offering training to the employees can solve the problem. This training should enlighten the workers on the importance of having a diverse labor force. Multicultural competencies influence my decision-making abilities. This is because, when making healthcare guidelines or decision, I will design them in a way that they address the needs of different cultures and background. Conclusively, it is vital for healthcare institution to em brace multicultural approach in their services. References Soo, J. (2012). Multicultural Leadership Starts from Within. Havard Bussiness Review.

Strategic Environmental Assessment and Land †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Strategic Environmental Assessment and Land. Answer: Introduction: The significance of external environment is very important while making strategies during the launch of a new product. It is also necessary for making timely alteration in the existing strategies to maintain the gained potential. Nevertheless, external environmental analysis is very important for attaining a sustained business performance. External environment analysis is important while planning the strategies. It provides adequate information on various factors, which affects the business operation in the local country. Various factors are political, economic, social, technology, environmental and legal (Yksel 2012). Nevertheless, every single aspect influences the business operation. The success of any business depends hugely on all the mentioned aspects (Ho 2014). For example, if any business has violated some ethical commitments such as failing to pay the minimum wages, the particular action would attract legal proceedings against the organization. This is harmful for both the r eputation of the company and its business operation. The business operation from here after would be under strict surveillance of various restrictions imposed by the local government. Corporate social responsibility has now become a widely practiced operation for numerous reputed companies. They have concerns for CSR because they understand the wastages that their business is producing such as the emission of carbon-di-oxide (CO2) is harmful for the living creature. The rising awareness for environment friendly business practice in common people has forced various companies to become environment friendly (Rapoport 2016). The fact clearly states the effect of changing perceptions for environment on the business practice of various organizations. External environment analysis can be done with the help of various techniques such as PESTLE STEEPLE analysis and Porters Five Forces Model. External environment analysis helps an organization to be specific with the customers requirement, w hich is very necessary to avoid business losses. On other hand, the internal environmental analysis can be done with the help of SWOT analysis of the companys existing business operation. This is necessary to identify the strategy related failure if there is any (Craig and Campbell 2012). This is important for a sustained business performance as this provides a strategic control to an organization over its exiting operation. Analyzing the major external environmental changes Political Political environment is confusing Opposition parties are very aggressive that also discourage the government from taking any initiatives Economic Hong Kong is economically stronger in financial services GDP growth rate is affected in recent time Social Imported goods have comparative lesser tax duties imposed on those, which makes those suitable to the local public Diverse nature of shoppers in the city favors both the budget as well as the luxury budget Technology Unlike China, Hong Kong government has not imposed any censorship on internet use, which means all the services in the Western countries would also be available in the city as well Setting up business in Hong Kong is relatively easier Environmental Growing population density in the city has elevated the pollution level in Hong Kong Growing population is encouraging an elevated construction of closely placed towers, which is a threat for free air Legal Minimum wage law is in favor of low income earner Working hours are variable, which is more in support of higher position holder Figure 1: PESTLE analysis Source: (created by author) The external environment in Hong Kong is a mix of different variables of which some are supporting the business operation of 759 Store. The political situation in Hong Kong is very unfavourable to growth because opposition parties oppose aggressively to the government projects (Shiu-hing 2016). The economic growth is reduced to some extent at present; however, it is expected to grow by the end of 2018. Financial services are the highest supporting resource for the economic growth (Mathews and Yang 2012). People in Hong Kong have passions for shopping and they are open to any format such as expensive products to budgeted products (Waters and Leung 2013). This is very useful for the 759 Company as it would continue to help the business of the company. Internet use is not censored, which would help the 759 Company to enhance its business connectivity with the different countries such as with its suppliers in Japan (Naughton 2012). The increasing numbers of population density and the inc rementing numbers of closely connected towers are supporting the increase of pollution such as air pollution (Ng et al. 2012). The minimum wage for low income earners is given high importance but it lacks in duty hours for the lower designated labours. They are needed to work for longer than the normal duty hours (Davis 2016.). Appropriate tools analyzing the current business plans Following tools can be used to analyze the current market position of the 759 Store: Sales figure- This can effectively help to analyze the current business position of the company. The sales figure would help to differentiate the companys position from its competitors. This would tell about the effectiveness of its products in comparison to its products (Kew and Stredwick 2017). The 759 Store has maintained a stunning growth in its sales figure as it records a powerful 10.6 percent growth in its sales figure every year (Inside Retail 2017). Survey with customers- Conducting surveys with the customers are another very useful way that helps gain a good knowledge about the products popularity in the market (Cassidy 2016). This can be done by offering customers feedback forms provided to them after they finish their shopping. Customers can also be asked to participate in an online product review system where customers can rate the purchased product based on their experiences. The 759 Store has challenged the business of major supermarkets with its sheer business growth. The expansion of its stores from 60 to 180 is indeed worth mentioning. It is witnessing stunning growth in its business as well where other retailers are facing losses (Bschool.cuhk.edu.hk 2017). However, the appreciating Japanese Yen has forced the company to shut its few stores for compensating the losses generated by the incremented purchasing costs. Positioning some stores close to each other just to reduce the rental charges to provide cost effective products to customers Imports approximately around 30 % of the snacks from Japan that helps as well to keep the products pricing low Within a span of only 6 years, the company had achieved an exceptional feat where the company is even challenging the business of various super markets Good relationship with the suppliers in Japan Positioning some stores close to each other is one of their strategies that have helped the company effectively to cut down on its sales price. A reduced sales price is one of their strength that has helped the company see a homogenous growth within just a span of 6 years (Johnston and Bate 2013). It imports 30% of the snacks from Japan, which helps them offer cheap prices for the products that are also good in quality. It took a very short span of time for positioning it at a solid position in the market. It is capable of making profits even during such times where many other fail to maintain their previous performance. Making good relationships with the suppliers in Japan is one of their strategies that have enabled them offer cheaper prices to the customers (Slack 2015). This is necessary to keep the relationship going, which on other hand is one of the keys of 759 Store that helps them offer products at cheaper prices. Following are some of the weaknesses of the 759 Store: Inability to maintain the offerings of products at the cheapest prices because of Japanese Yen fluctuation Less availability on the advertisements stunts The fluctuation of the Japanese Yen such as appreciation makes it tough for 759 Store to maintain the offerings of products at the cheapest prices. The appreciated value of Yen increases the purchasing cost for the company. Therefore, they have also cut down on their offered prices to avoid the company from any losses (Wheelen and Hunger 2017). The contemporary business world takes a full advantage of different advertisement stunts to catch the attention of media and customers. However, the 759 Store is yet to consider the importance of advertisement stunts. Needs of stakeholders and their expectations are mutually connected to each other by means of operational process of organization. Organizations need stakeholders for their business whereas the stakeholders have their certain stakeholders with the organizations (MahazrilAini, Hafizah and Zuraini 2012). The concept would be clear after understanding the different stakeholders and their purpose of being with the organization. Following are some stakeholders that an organization in general used to have: Customers- They are the main reason behind the establishment of a business as the sales of products depend hugely on their behaviour. Consumers on other hand expect the organization to offer quality products, which has values for the money spent on it (Mueller and Naffziger 2015). Suppliers- They are the one who actually supply the required materials to the organization. Organizations need diverse range of suppliers, so that, they could make selections of their required suppliers for offering cost effective products to customers. Suppliers on other hand need a good offer to their materials. They also need regular demands of materials, which is necessary for their regular business (Jenster and Silen 2013). Employees- They are the valuable asset of an organization. Employers need employees for the commencement of the projects. Employees need the salary offered to them for their works (Aldehayyat and Al Khattab 2012). Local government- Business do contribute in the gross GDP growth in a country. An elevating business growth would certainly help the parent country with an elevated GDP. The local government of a country does expect an elevating business performance from top contributing companies (Namada and Bagire 2013). Stakeholder needs and expectations of 759 Store The 759 Store needed a good response from its customers to prove their business a worth in the market. Customers have responded to the urgency that was once felt by the company. The customers responses have made this a highly progressive company that makes an approximate 10% profit every year. On other hand, 759 Stores has also provided good quality products to customers at the cheapest prices. Customers expect that the company keep on offering the quality products at the cheapest prices. The company has its suppliers in Japan as well, from where it receives 30% of their snacks. Suppliers need a healthy business option from the company, which the 759 Store is efficiently providing. However, the company needs some additional suppliers who could provide supports for some additional services such as occasional gifts, products sample and repackaging of the products. The company needs some experienced employees that could raise their future capabilities. This is very necessary to stay ali ve in front of big companies that are getting attracted towards Hong Kong. They also need some fresh talents for their future promotional stunts. Employees expect a fair deal of payment of wages. The 759 Store indeed pays wages to its employees appropriately. The Ansoff matrix Model helps to determine existing strategic options for an organization. It is composed of four quadrants such as market penetration, product development, market development and diversification. Market penetration describes the level of penetration that the existing product line has attained so far. Product development states the development of new products, which organization does when they intend to enter new market. Market development is the making of strategies for an entrance into the new market. Diversification is the process of offering diverse products to suit the needs of different types of customers of the target market (Darvish and Temelie 2014). The 759 Store is into the diversified stage because it is engaged in developing several other kinds of products. With the help of these new products, the company has actually entered into a new market. The company has targeted diverse customers with its diverse products such as Millennials with cosmetics. Strategic plan for the company: According to the Porters generic strategy there are three ways of approach: cost leadership, differentiation and target or focus. Focus has been further divided in two parts cost focus and differentiation focus. The strategy that should be implemented by 759 stores is differentiation in terms of the products the store has been selling groceries and snack items as a part of product differentiation it can incorporate a section in the store that sold books and stationary items (Jenster and Silen 2013). New products to be introduced- The Company as a part of the differentiation strategy can involve the stationery items section in the stores where school and office supplies will be available along with magazines and newspapers. This will help the company to connect with some of the customers on a regular basis that would further build customer relationship and create value for the organisation in the long run. Improved promotional stunts- They need to take full use of the promotional stunts that are traditionally popular in order to install a changed brand image form just grocery items to stationery items as well. Some of the popular promotional stunts are such as PR event, online advertising etc. They can choose their choice of advertisement strategy according to their needs and its feasibility with the management capabilities (Agyapong and Muntaka 2012). The promotional strategy will be focused on the new products and the essence of the promotion will be daily encounters and being a part of the daily life of the people. Comparative understanding of activity The 759 Store is different to other organizations in its strategy. The company never thought of competing with big stores such as Wellcome, ParknShop, Mannings, Watsons and 711. This is because these stores belong to mighty competitors such as Dairy Farm Holdings and A.S. Watson Group. The company indeed bought stock directly from Tokyo. The company felt it safe to be at distant to its competitors, which is contrary to the competitive rivalry in the same industry. They rather believed in delivering the best to their customers by establishing their own place in market. To serve the purpose, the CEO Mr. Lam did personally move to Japan to approach some suppliers. The deal did eventually help the company get 30% of snacks from Japan at the lower than the price offered by the suppliers in Hong Kong. Nevertheless, during the hard times where other stores of the same industry struggled to maintain a healthy grow in their revenues, the 759 Store did it convincingly. Moreover, the company en joys an approximate growth of 10% every year in its total earned revenues (Jenster and Silen 2013). On the basis of the above analysis the company is found to be able to diversify in the product segment. As the strategy is opted to invest in a section of products the company should prepare for the same: Needs of suppliers- They need new suppliers and contacts of the segment that is being added to the line of products, the supplies the company will choose should offer them sample of the products. This is necessary to have a trial of the products before selling those to the consumers. This would help detect any quality related failure. Moreover, this is necessary to maintain a good reputation in the market. (Lake 2012). Reducing the operating expenses- They need to reduce the expenses made on operation. Operating expenses can be reduced with the help of some strategies such as outsourcing of some business operations. This would help the 759 Store avail their required products at a reduced rate. This would enhance their capability to meet with the rising demand of customers, as they would now have an additional centre of resource for their products (Nartisa, Putans and Muravska 2012). Stakeholder engagement plan The strategy that has been taken involves stakeholders such as employees, suppliers and customers. Suppliers: In order to engage the suppliers in this differentiation of products process the company has to offer a new agreement where stationery items have to be incorporated. Contacts have to be made with new suppliers in order to have a regular supply of newspapers as well as magazines regularly. Along with local newspaper some of the national newspapers should also be made available in order to cater to the demand of the target market (Ebner 2013). Employees: The employees of the company are accustomed to the old products that are available in the store but they have to learn about the new items that are being introduced. A team meeting should be conducted to involve the employees in the differentiation process so that they get a heads up about what changes are going to be made. The employees can also be made aware of the types of items that are going to be incorporated in the new sections so that they can easily guide the customers. Customers: For any organisation the customers are the most important stakeholders, the customers have to engage with the change with the help of promotional activities especially traditional methods of marketing and communication. The future organizational strategy would be implemented in the organization with the help of following resources implementation: Following would be the required human resources for the future strategy: Recruitment of fresh employees needed for the new section of product that is to be introduced, the people will be hired by a interview and selection procedure Recruitment of experienced employees to enhance the capabilities of 759 Stores workforces, which would also be done through recruitment selection process. This recruitment will be for higher managerial position Making relationships with some new suppliers, which can be done by approaching some trusted consultancy. Moreover, they would help the 759 Store to get their desired supplier (Aldehayyat and Al Khattab 2012) The proposed future strategy would require significant investments to be made on the recruitment, infrastructure and suppliers. For product differentiation and addition of choice more shelves space will be required, the new suppliers will be made in order to get new product in the line. The agreement with the new suppliers will require contracts and investment. The people who will be hired to cater to the new product section would require significant spending on the trainings required for the hired fresh talents as well. They would also need to pay a significant sum to the consultancies, which would supply them their required new suppliers (Namada and Bagire 2013). Measures of implementation of the strategy For a company to involve in differentiation of product means a lot of application of financial as well as HR resources as discussed above. The steps that are to be taken in the process of differentiation are: Hiring of new people for sales purpose Hiring experienced people on the management level Investment in the infrastructure of the stores to accommodate the new products as new shelves space and additional area also may have to be added to the store Contacting the suppliers of the new product Coming in to an agreement with the new suppliers of the business there should be a number of suppliers for newspapers; magazine and stationery items. Creating more contacts and reputation in order to leave scope for future expansion and growth (Slack 2015). Tasks June July August September October November December January February Gathering of information Development of strategy Strategy review Plan implementation Figure 1: Scheduling of different tasks Source: (created by author) The above scheduling of different tasks indicates the planning for the execution of different tasks. According to the scheduling depicted above, the first three months would include the gathering of necessary information of the changing external environment where the 759 Store operates. This would be followed by the development of strategy, which would be adopted to solidify the business operation of the company in the near future. The documented strategy for the future business would then be reviewed by aligning the required changes with the organizational values. After finding the feasibility of the planned strategies with the organizational values and the rest other resources, the planned strategies would be implemented to get the desired results. Organizational values needed for the planned strategy The required organizational values are the set of principles or ways through which an organization can attain the desired vision with the planned future strategies. The required organizational values encourage a participative and an engaging contribution from every stakeholder. This is necessary to attain the desired vision from the planned strategies. The attainment of the vision would be achieved with the help of following steps: Recruiting fresh talents for conducting some promotional stunts, which is one part that are not significantly considered in the 759 Store yet Recruiting experienced workforces that have relevant experience in the retail industry Making relationships with some new suppliers The recruitment of fresh and experienced talents would be done with the help of interview process. The selected candidates would then undergo training process, which would attract a significant investment. The financial department of the 759 Store would then appear in the implementation process. The organizational management would then be needed to search such suppliers that fulfill their changed desire. They can even approach to some consultancy, which can certainly provide the required suppliers to the 759 Store. This is a very convenient way to get the required skill; however, it attracts a significant investment also. Alignment of the values with the existing values The required values for the implementation and execution of the planned strategies are very much in alignment with the existing organizational values. The planned implementation strategy is for the enhancement of 759 Stores future capabilities. This is also for entering into the diversified market with diverse range of products. The enhancement of future capabilities is very much similar to the existing values that support the acquirement of competitive edge by giving cheapest pricing for the offered products. The future capabilities are similar in nature, as this would give a firm competitive edge to the company in the near future. The desire to venture in some other diverse market is again in the line of the existing values. The venturing is nowhere stating any direct competition from the separate competitors of the respective market. This indeed is just to save the company from any unwanted losses from the rising competition in the retail market. The 759 Store actually want to hav e some other options as well to compensate for any unwanted loss in the existing business. Mission statement- To implement a strategy of differentiation of products and items that are sold in the stores, the segment that has been focused on is stationery items along with daily newspaper and magazines Vision statement- To provide the customers with diversified product under one roof at reasonable price (759store.com 2017) Based on SMART objectives following are some future objectives for the next five years for 759 Store: Specific- To attain a notable feat in the diversified market such as stationery items and newspaper Measureable- To increase customer footfall by 20% and sales maximization by 10% Attainable- To engage the customers in new and improved services and more options in the product choice Relevant- To check for the accountability of the strategies with the different resources of the 759 Store such as the financial resources Time bound- To achieve the set target within the next five years Measurement evaluation of the progress of the planned strategies The measurement and evaluation of the progress of the planned strategies can be done with the help of data collection of every year after the implementation has been done. Measurement of the progress would be done every year to check for any improvements the plan needs. Following are some Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the first year, which would help to measure the progress of implemented strategies (Haines 2016): Appreciation in sales figure at the end of every quarter of the year Incrementing positive feedbacks of customers for diverse products in the future such as cosmetics and toys Reducing numbers of negative feedbacks with the deployment of innovative thoughts after the end of every quarter Reviews generation from good to excellent till the end of year The evaluation of the progress of the implemented strategies can be done with the data collection process, which would include the collection of sales figure data at the end of every quarter. If the sales figure has depreciation measured against the desired figure then this would be termed as a negative progress. The negative progress would then be supported with necessary strategies such as the rechecking of the quality of materials from the suppliers to make it happen in the next quarter. If the sales figure show positive trend at the end of every quarter this would be termed as a positive progress. This would further be supported with a sustained participation from every resource such as the human and the financial resources. Measurement evaluation of the success Measurement of the success can be done with the help of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as follows: Attainment of a homogenous sales figure at the end of every fiscal year Elevating graph of sales figure at every annual business report High conversion rates of customers by considering the repurchase Success in diversified market such as in cosmetics and toys The evaluation of the success can be done with the help of annual sales figure. 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