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Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. I decided to write this letter to you in the hope that you can help me to understand this dream I saw. First of all, I want to say that I am a Roman Catholic and I do not know much about Islam. Two months ago I saw in my dream that I was in the mosque, but I was not in the place of prayer or in the place for wudoo'; rather I was in a special place inside the mosque.
Then a man came to me who was aged between 35 and 40. He was wearing black. He was not very tall neither was he short, and his hair was curly. He was wearing distinctive black clothing, and I have never seen anything like this clothing before. He was approximately 185 cm tall and he was an Arab. He was followed by two boys, one of whom was 17 years old and the other was 20 years old. The younger one was wearing a black coat and holding in his hands a book that was shining, and I knew that this book might be the Qur'aan, but he had a black patch over his eye and the book was lighting the way for him and guiding him. Then the man who had entered in the beginning, who was the oldest of them, began to speak about Makkah and Rome and Vienna and about light and darkness, day and night and about the beginning of creation. In an instant everything became clear to me but I cannot define exactly what he was talking about because I forgot some of it but I cannot forget this dream.
What does this dream mean? What do I have to do? I hope that you can help me. Thank you.
I am waiting for your reply.
And upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. We were filled with joy when you asked us about this amazing dream. We may have taken a little while to reply to you, but we take this dream very seriously and we waited until we could ask more than one person who knows about dream interpretation. Not one of them differed concerning the importance of this dream for you, which may be a turning point in your life.
It should be noted first of all that a good dream is a kind of glad tidings that Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, may send to whomever He will among His slaves. Our Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) told us: "There is nothing left of Prophethood except glad tidings." They [his Companions] said: What are glad tidings? He said: "Good dreams."
Hence we do not doubt that this dream is a good dream, in sha Allah (if Allah wills); indeed it is the greatest glad tidings for you in your life.
We will not hide our joy at your dream and the fact that we regard it as glad tidings, and wish that we could invite you to this religion from the first moment. But you have asked us for an interpretation of this dream, and dream interpretation is a branch of knowledge in which it is not appropriate to be hasty, even if the intention is good and even if the aim is to call you to Islam. We should not interpret your dream in a manner different to what it indicates.
Al-Baaji (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
No one should interpret dreams except one who is good at doing so. If a person has no knowledge of that or does not do it well, then he should refrain from doing that.
Maalik was asked about a man who interpreted dreams for everyone. He said: Is he playing with Prophethood? It was said to him: Should he interpret it in a good way even though he thinks it signifies something bad, because of the saying: The dream is according to how it is interpreted? He said: No; dreams are one of the parts of Prophethood; is he playing with something that is one of the matters of Prophethood? End quote.
Al-Muntaqa Sharh al-Muwatta', 7/276
Because of that, and because of our belief that this dream is important for you, we told a number of dream interpreters, from a number of different countries, about your dream and they did not differ as to its essential meaning and the glad tidings of good that there is in it for you!
The mosque in this dream is a sign of Islam and an affirmation of the Oneness of the Lord of the World. The mosque is a symbol of Islam, and Allah tells us that the mosque is only established to affirm the Oneness of Allah, may He be glorified and exalted. In the Holy Qur'aan it says (interpretation of the meaning): "And the mosques are for Allaah (Alone), so invoke not anyone along with Allaah" [al-Jinn 72:18].
Qataadah (may Allah be pleased with him) – who was one of the scholars of tafseer or Qur'aanic exegesis – said: The Jews and Christians, when they entered their churches and synagogues, associated others with Allah, so Allah commanded our Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) to affirm His Oneness. End quote.
Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 8/244
It is quite clear that you entered the mosque (in your dream), which is a sign and symbol of Islam, and you felt an attachment to this religion, but this alone is not sufficient for your salvation. Hence you remained inside the mosque, far away from the place of purification, because you have not as yet given up your previous religion and you have not done the action of purification. This is what Allah tells us in the Holy Qur'aan. He, many He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): "O you who believe (in Allaah's Oneness and in His Messenger Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم)! Verily, the Mushrikoon (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allaah, and in the Message of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) are Najasun (impure). So let them not come near Al‑Masjid Al-Haraam (at Makkah) after this year" [al-Tawbah 9:28]. Once a person enters Islam, he becomes pure for ever, in life and in death, so long as he remains a Muslim. Our Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "The Muslim does not become impure." Narrated by al-Bukhaari (283) and Muslim (372).
The mere fact that you were inside the mosque is not sufficient on its own, unless you pray, because the mosque is only built for prayer and to establish the remembrance of Allah. Your praying will not benefit you unless your heart is purified of your previous religion and you are physically purified by means of ghusl (major ablution) and wudoo' (minor ablution).
A situation occurred in real life -- not in the imagination or in a dream -- from which you can learn a great deal, as it was an experience that is close to your experience, but it happened with Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him):
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) sent some cavalry towards Najd, and they brought a man of Banu Haneefah who was called Thumaamah ibn Uthaal, the leader of the people of Yamaamah. They tied him to one of the pillars of the mosque, then the Messenger of Allaah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) came out to him and said: "What do you have to say, O Thumaamah?" He said: O Muhammad, I shall say something good. If you kill me, you will kill one who has shed blood, and if you show me kindness, you will be showing kindness to one who is grateful, and if you want money, then ask, and you will be given whatever you want. The Messenger of Allaah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) left him alone until the next day, then he said: "What do you have to say, O Thumaamah?" He said: What I said to you: If you show me kindness, you will be showing kindness to one who is grateful, and if you kill me, you will kill one who has shed blood, and if you want money, then ask, and you will be given whatever you want. The Messenger of Allaah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) left him alone until the next day, then he said: "What do you have to say, O Thumaamah?" He said: I say what I already said to you: If you show me kindness, you will be showing kindness to one who is grateful, and if you kill me, you will kill one who has shed blood, and if you want money, then ask, and you will be given whatever you want. The Messenger of Allaah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "Let Thumaamah go." So he went to some date palms that were near the mosque, and washed himself (ghusl), then he entered the mosque and said: I bear witness that there is no god except Allaah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. O Muhammad, by Allaah, there was no face on earth that was more hateful to me than your face, but now your face has become the dearest of all faces to me. By Allaah, there was no religion on earth that was more hateful to me than your religion, but now your religion has become the dearest of all religions to me. By Allaah, there was no city on earth that was more hateful to me than your city, but now your city has become the dearest of all cities to me. Your cavalry seized me when I was intending to do 'Umrah. What do you think? The Messenger of Allaah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) gave him glad tidings and told him to do 'Umrah.
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (4372) and Muslim (1764).
Do you see? This man stayed in the mosque for three days but he -- like you -- did not do wudoo' or pray there, until the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) let him go and pardoned him, then he did what you have to do now. He went and did ghusl (full ablution), then he came back to the mosque, but this time he came as a Muslim and a believer in the Oneness of Allah, bearing witness that there is no god except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
Your notion that the book which appeared in the dream was the Qur'aan is appropriate. This is in fact a description of the Qur'aan and this is how Allah describes it in many verses. It is because of that that Allah called everyone who believes in Judaism or Christianity or any other religion and called them to follow the light of this Qur'aan. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Now has come to you Our Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) explaining to you much of that which you used to hide from the Scripture and pass over (i.e. leaving out without explaining) much. Indeed, there has come to you from Allaah a light (Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم ) and a plain Book (this Qur'aan).
16. Wherewith Allaah guides all those who seek His Good Pleasure to ways of peace, and He brings them out of darkness by His Will unto light and guides them to the Straight Way (Islamic Monotheism)"
[al-Maa'idah 5:15-16].
With regard to the words about light and darkness, day and night, Makkah and Rome, this is the story of the conflict between truth and falsehood from the beginning of creation, and the story of the conflict that has begun in your heart: between light and day and Makkah which is the land of Islam and the symbol of Tawheed (the Oneness of Allah) from which the light of Islam began and filled the world with light on the one hand, and (on the other hand) Rome and Vienna, and the night and darkness which filled your heart, before the light of the new faith entered upon you.
Allah says in the Holy Qur'aan (interpretation of the meaning): "Is he who was dead (without Faith by ignorance and disbelief) and We gave him life (by knowledge and Faith) and set for him a light (of Belief) whereby he can walk amongst men — like him who is in the darkness (of disbelief, polytheism and hypocrisy) from which he can never come out? Thus it is made fair‑seeming to the disbelievers that which they used to do" [al-An'am 6:122].
Perhaps there were other details in the dream which we cannot state definitively. The young Arab man may have been a sign of the Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) whose mission began when he was in his 40s according to the Hijri calendar. At the beginning of his mission, as it says in some saheeh (sound) hadeeths, there were two men with him, as 'Amr ibn 'Absah (may Allah be pleased with him) mentioned in the story of how he became Muslim:
During the Jaahiliyyah [time of ignorance before Islam], I used to think that the people were misguided and not following anything real when they worshipped idols. I heard of a man in Makkah who was telling stories, so I sat on my mount and went to find him. The Messenger of Allaah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was in hiding and his people were persecuting him. I kept a low profile until I managed to enter upon him in Makkah. I said to him: Who are you? He said: "I am a Prophet." I said: What is a Prophet? He said: "I have been sent by Allaah." I said: With what has He sent you? He said: "He has sent me to uphold the ties of kinship, to break the idols and to proclaim the Oneness of Allaah and not associate anything with Him." I said to him: Who do you have with you? He said: "A free man and a slave" – at that time he had Abu Bakr and Bilaal with him among those who believed in him
Narrated by Muslim (832).
Or this may have been have been a sign of this Arabic website to which you sent your letter, or it may indicate a real Arab man whom you will meet or marry some day, but these other details do not affect the essential meaning of the dream or change its general significance.
Do you know what you have to do now?
Have you seen what that man in the story that we told you in our answer did, after he had stayed in the mosque for three days, without doing wudoo'(minor ablution) or praying?
He went and did ghusl (major ablution), then he entered Islam so that he could pray in the mosque after that as the Muslims pray.
Your Lord has called you in this blessed dream, so come to pray in the mosque that you have seen, and to come to prosperity. Beware of closing your eyes to this light that has come to you from the Lord of the Worlds.
We ask Allah to help you, open your heart to Islam and guide your heart.
We will be happy to hear this good news of your entering into Islam and we will also be happy to answer any questions that may help you to learn more about your new religion.
And Allah knows best.


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Muris T., Harrogate 25-Feb-2018
Failed To Provide Even A Basic Level Of Management Or Customer Service
After having several separate tenants managed by Bridgfords Leeds, I can unequivocally say that I would strongly advice against engaging with them to manage your property. During 2 separate tenancies, individuals at the Leeds team failed to provide even basic customer service to the first tenant and failed to inform me that the 2nd was never in a position to pay the rental fee for the property. All of this, amongst failing in other basic areas of customer service, has left me significantly out of pocket for legal fees, and over 6 months of lost rental income. I have no issue paying a management fee when that management is actually carried out. Almost every instance with Bridgfords has left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
My service feedback with Sales
Chose Bridgefords as other local agent had a 6 months sole agency tie-in. Staff were very pleasant, approachable and professional throughout.Customer Relations Team 30-Jan-2018
Thank you for the great 5 star review for our Bridgfords team in Lowton. It is great to see that the team were able to provide their proven excellent customer service. Kind regards, Sarah.

Valued Customer 19-Jan-2018
Professional team, good service
YesCustomer Relations Team 20-Jan-2018
Thank you for your 5* review of the professional service you received from Bridgfords in Marple. Kind regards, Scott.

Valued Customer, Burnley 19-Jan-2018
My service feedback with Sales
friendly, helpful staff from start to finishCustomer Relations Team 20-Jan-2018
Thank you for your wonderful 5* review of the friendly and helpful service you received from Bridgfords in Burnley. Kind regards, Scott.

Adrian Luther, Poynton 19-Jan-2018
Bridgfords made our sale happen quickly and efficiently
The team at Winsford kept us fully informed of what was going on, chased up on things, buyers, both sets of solicitors, oh and us if we weren't on top of things, to make sure things happened on time. We felt like they had just as much interest in securing the sale of our house as we did!Customer Relations Team 20-Jan-2018
It is great to read Mr Luther, that you found Bridgfords in Winsford efficient in making your sale happen quickly while keeping you informed throughout and that you believed they had just as much interest in securing the sale ad you. Thank you for your 5* review! Kind regards, Scott

Valued Customer 19-Jan-2018
Great Service
Did a great job, responsive, sold the house in 72 hours above asking price. Couldn't ask for more.Customer Relations Team 20-Jan-2018
Thank you for your wonderful 5* review of the great service and quick pace sale you received from Bridgfords' marketing in Altrincham. Kind regards, Scott.

Valued Customer 19-Jan-2018
My service feedback with Sales
Brilliant service would recommend them to anybody enjoyed doing business with themCustomer Relations Team 20-Jan-2018
Thank you for your wonderful 5* review and recommendation of the brilliant service you received from Bridgfords in Yarm. Kind regards, Scott.

Valued Customer, TS9 5HT 17-Jan-2018
My whole experience of Bridgfords stokesley is worse than terrible bad advice given they wouldnt listen and broke my client confidentialityCustomer Relations Team 20-Jan-2018
Thank you for taking the time to leave us your feedback. We do always aim to provide a very good level of customer experience and I am sorry to read, that on this occasion, we may not have reached this expectation in your eyes. We do always forwards feedback such as this to our Retail Performance Directors who will raise your concerns locally with the branch team to help improve the customer experience moving forwards. Therefore, with this in mind, I would like to invite you to leave us further feedback and detail at firstname.lastname@example.com. Kind regards, Scott.

Gary Element, Chapel-en-le-Frith 14-Jan-2018
My service feedback with Sales
Great marketing by a professional, friendly team who kept us well informed with regular updates about the sale of our house. We cannot fault the service they provided.Customer Relations Team 17-Jan-2018
Thank you for your great 5 star review. It's wonderful to read that you were kept fully informed and up to date throughout the process by our Bridgfords team in Buxton branch. Kind regards, Sarah.

A and D Absalom, Withington, Manchester 12-Jan-2018
Beware of poor communication between agent and in-house conveyancer.
Information given to Bridgfords was not passed onto Countrywide Conveyancing Service. This resulted in unnecessary checks and delays by the conveyancer. I was assured by Bridgfords that using CCS would help speed the process , especially since they were also to act for the buyer. It would have been more accurate to say that the opposite was likely, and the work in responding to the buyer's queries was effectively passed on to me. The draft invoice from Bridgfords failed to allow for payments already made. The final completion statement (issued after the sale proceeds were paid) contained an unwarranted charge from Bridgfords that had not been included in an agreed draft. Yet more time and emailing was needed before CCS agreed to make a refund (which is still awaited). I'd now be out of pocket by over £200 if I had trusted Bridgfords and CCS to generate accurate invoices and statements.Customer Relations Team 13-Jan-2018
Thank you A & D Absalom for leaving us your feedback. We do always aim to provide a high level of customer experience and I am sorry, if on this occasion, you felt we did not reach this standard. We do always use feedback, such as yours, to look for ways we can improve our service and processes going forwards and as such I have forwarded your comments onwards to the Retail Performance Director to address locally with the branch team. If you would like to provide further feedback or details about your experience please feel free to contact us and discuss via firstname.lastname@example.com. Kind regards, Scott.


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An in-depth report on how asthma is diagnosed, treated, and managed in children and adolescents.
Asthma Guidelines
The U.S. National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma recommend
Asthma Symptoms
Symptoms of asthma include:
Early Exposure to Allergens and Bacteria
Exposure before age 1 to pet dander, cockroach, mice allergens, and certain types of household bacteria may actually help protect against the development of wheezing and asthma, according to a 2014 study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Researchers think that exposure to these substances may bolster babies' immune systems. Other research on the "hygiene hypothesis" has suggested that children who grow up on farms also have stronger immune systems due to their exposure to a variety of environmental microorganisms.
The word asthma comes from an ancient Greek word meaning panting. Essentially, asthma is an inflammatory lung condition that makes it difficult to breathe properly.
When people inhale, the air travels through the following body structures:
The major features of the lungs include the bronchi, the bronchioles, and the alveoli. The alveoli are the microscopic sacs lined by tiny blood vessels that take in oxygen and give up carbon dioxide.
Asthma is a chronic condition in which these airways undergo changes that are usually triggered by allergens, other environmental triggers, or by infection. Such changes appear to be two specific responses:
These actions in the airways cause coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath (dyspnea), the classic symptoms of asthma.
In the hyperreactive response, smooth muscles in the airways constrict and narrow excessively in response to inhaled allergens or other irritants. This sudden contraction in the muscle walls of the bronchioles is called bronchospasm.
Bronchospasms can result from many different health conditions (allergies, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) but asthma is the most common cause.
Everyone's airways constrict when exposed to allergens or irritants, but there are major differences in the hyperreactive response that occurs in people with asthma:
The hyperreactive stage is followed by the inflammatory response, which generally contributes to asthma in the following way:
Inflammation appears to be present in the lungs of all patients with asthma, even those with mild cases, and plays a key role in all forms of the disease.
Doctors do not fully understand the causes of asthma. They believe the disorder is most likely caused by a combination of genetic (inherited) factors and environmental triggers (such as allergens and infections). Asthma tends to run in families. Children whose parents have asthma are more likely to develop it themselves.
Asthma and allergies often coexist, and the allergic response plays a strong role in childhood asthma. About 70 to 85% of children with asthma also have allergies. While only a small percentage of children with allergies have asthma, some of these children may develop asthma as adults.
In people with allergies, the immune system overreacts to exposure to allergens. Allergic asthma is triggered by inhaling certain substances (allergens), such as:
An asthma attack can be triggered or aggravated by direct irritants to the lungs. Studies indicate that the more indoor allergens to which a child is allergic, the higher the child's risk for severe asthma. Important irritants include:
The role of early childhood respiratory and intestinal infections is very complex. Viral respiratory infections certainly worsen existing asthma, but the most common ones are unlikely to cause childhood asthma. In fact, early respiratory and intestinal infections may offer some protection against asthma.
Studies suggest that most respiratory infections are not important causes of asthma in children, except in certain cases. A possible exception is the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which is associated with the development of asthma. RSV is the major viral cause of infant pneumonia. Studies also indicate that infants who have reduced lung function within a few days after birth are at increased risk of developing asthma by the time they are 10 years old.
Common respiratory infection viruses that cause colds (such as the rhinovirus) may be associated with the development of asthma in some people. More likely, these viruses do not directly cause asthma, but they worsen asthma in children who already have it. Rhinovirus is the most common infection associated with asthma attacks.
Research indicates that children who have viral-induced wheezing during infancy may be at increased risk for later development of asthma. However, many children outgrow attacks of intermittent wheezing.
The "hygiene hypothesis" theorizes that early exposure to dirt, bacterial germs, and certain infections may help stimulate the immune system to help prevent childhood asthma and allergies. Some studies suggest that children who grow up on farms have lower rates of asthma due to their exposure to a variety of outdoor microorganisms. Other studies indicate that city children exposed before age 1 to cockroach, mice, and cat dander indoor allergens, and certain types of household bacteria, may also be protected.
It may be that the timing of exposure -- during early infancy -- is a critical factor. Researchers are continuing to explore the hygiene hypothesis and its implications for childhood asthma.
Asthma affects about 7 million American children. Asthma has dramatically increased over the past few decades in both developed and developing countries around the world. It is now the most common chronic childhood illness.
Most children develop asthma symptoms before they are 5 years old.
Among younger children, asthma is twice as common in boys as in girls, but after puberty it is more common in girls.
African-American children have significantly higher rates of asthma than Caucasian children. Hispanic children are also at higher risk. Both groups of minority children are more likely to have fatal asthma than Caucasian children. Ethnicity and genetics are, however, less likely to play a role in these differences than socioeconomic factors, such as having less access to optimal health care and a greater likelihood of living in an urban area (another risk factor for asthma). Caucasian children who live in cities also face a higher risk for asthma.
Certain pregnancy and perinatal factors may possibly be associated with increased risk for asthma, although none are very well studied or proven. Results from studies include:
There is a strong association between obesity and asthma. People who are overweight (body mass index greater than 25) also have more difficulty getting their asthma under control. Weight loss in anyone who is obese and has asthma or shortness of breath helps reduce airway obstruction and improve lung function.
Patients with asthma often also have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is associated with acid reflux. It is not entirely clear which condition causes the other or whether they are both due to common factors. Acid reflux can worsen asthma symptoms. Treating GERD may help improve asthma in some patients.
Aspirin-induced asthma (AIA) is a condition in which asthma gets worse after taking aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). AIA often develops after a viral infection. It is a particularly severe asthmatic condition, associated with many asthma-related hospitalizations. In about 5% of cases, aspirin is responsible for a syndrome that involves multiple attacks of asthma, sinusitis, and nasal congestion. Such patients also often have polyps (small benign growths) in the nasal passages.
Patients with aspirin-induced asthma (AIA) should avoid aspirin and other NSAIDs, including ibuprofen (Advil and other brands, generic) and naproxen (Aleve, generic). Some research indicates that acetaminophen (Tylenol, generic) may also trigger or worsen asthma, particularly in children. Although this link is not yet proven, parents whose children have asthma should be alert for this possible effect.
Asthma is the third leading cause of hospitalization in children under age 15. The condition can be very serious in children, particularly those younger than age 5, because their airways are very narrow.
Asthma death rates have steadily declined, and asthma is now only rarely fatal in children. Even low mortality numbers are unacceptable, however, since asthma deaths are largely preventable.
Factors associated with an increased risk of death from asthma in children include:
African American children have more than six times the death rate of Caucasians in the age groups of 4 years and younger and 15 to 24 years. Hispanic children also have a higher risk.
Asthma generally improves as children get older, although most school-age children with persistent asthma will still experience symptoms through adolescence. Some children outgrow their asthma by adulthood. In general, the more severe the childhood asthma, the greater the likelihood that it will persist.
Severe asthma can cause long-lasting damage and possibly permanent scarring in some patients. The risk for such injury is highest when asthma strikes children in their first 3 to 5 years. There does not appear to be any significant risk for long-term lung damage for children who develop mild-to-moderate persistent asthma between ages 5 to 12. Children adapt well to living with asthma, and even with severe asthma they can function as well as healthy children in virtually all areas of life.
In children with asthmatic symptoms, it is important to first consider as a possible cause inhaled foreign objects such as peanuts; viral infections such as croup; and bacterial infections, which may be accompanied by high fever and progress rapidly. Any child who has frequent coughing or respiratory infections should be checked for asthma.
The classic symptoms of an asthma attack include:
Any of these symptoms may worsen with exercise, viral infections, exposure to irritants, stress, or changes in weather.
The end of an attack is often marked by a cough that produces thick, stringy mucus. After an initial acute attack, inflammation lasts for days to weeks, often without symptoms. (The inflammation itself must still be treated, however, because it usually causes relapse.)
The following signs and symptoms may indicate a life-threatening situation:
Asthma often progresses very slowly, but it may sometimes develop to a fatal or near-fatal attack within a few minutes. It is very difficult to predict when an attack will become very serious. Any symptoms that suggest a serious attack should be immediately treated with a rescue bronchodilator. If symptoms persist, call for emergency help.
Exercise-induced asthma (EIA), also called exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, is a limited form of asthma in which exercise triggers coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath. This condition usually occurs during intense exercise in cold dry air. Symptoms are generally most intense about 10 minutes after exercising, then gradually resolve.
EIA is triggered only by exercise and is distinct from ordinary allergic asthma in that it does not produce a long period of airway hyperactivity, as allergic asthma does. Many people who have asthma also have EIA. However, EIA can also affect people who don't have asthma.
Many patients experience a worsening of their asthma symptoms during the nighttime, especially during sleep. Attacks often occur between 2 and 4 a.m. Factors that increase the risk for nocturnal asthma include allergen exposure, sinus problems, GERD, chronic obstructive lung diseases, and the sleep-disordered breathing associated with obstructive sleep apnea.
Your child's doctor will want to know any patterns or triggers associated with asthma symptoms. Be sure to let the doctor know:
If symptoms and a patient's history strongly suggest asthma, the doctor will usually perform lung (pulmonary) function tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine the severity of the disease.
A standard test uses a spirometer, an instrument that measures the amount of air taken into and exhaled out from the lungs. The patient breathes into a tube that is connected into a machine. The spirometer can give several measures of airflow:
If the airways are obstructed, these measurements will fall. Depending on the results, the doctor will take the following steps:
The doctor may recommend skin or blood allergy tests, particularly if a specific allergen is suspected. Allergy skin tests may help diagnose allergic asthma, although they are not recommended for people with year-round asthma.
One of the most common methods of allergy testing is the scratch test or skin prick test. The test involves placing a small amount of the suspected allergy-causing substance (allergen) on the skin (usually the forearm, upper arm, or the back), then scratching or pricking the skin so that the allergen is introduced under the skin surface. The skin is observed closely for signs of a reaction, which usually includes swelling and redness of the site. With this test, several suspected allergens can be tested at the same time, and results are usually available within about 20 minutes.
Other conditions can mimic or worsen asthma and must be ruled out as possible cause of symptoms. They include heart and lung diseases, sinus problems, enlarged thyroid glands, vocal cord dysfunction, infections, and inhaled objects.
A stepwise approach is recommended for treating asthma. Medications and dosages are increased when needed, and decreased when possible. Based on a patient's age and asthma severity, there are specific recommendations regarding whether to use long-term control medications and which ones to use. Patient education, environmental control measures, and management of any other conditions are also included.
In choosing therapy, doctors also consider a patient's risk for more severe exacerbations. Contributing factors include parental history of asthma, atopic dermatitis, and known sensitivity to different allergens or foods. Patients should be reevaluated within 2 to 6 weeks of starting therapy to assess response.
While medications play an essential role in the management of asthma, appropriate management of asthma also involves:
Doctors classify asthma based on factors such as symptom frequency, nighttime awakenings, lung function, medication need, and normal activity functioning. Asthma severity is generally classified into four groups:
Once asthma severity is classified, there is a recommended treatment approach that takes into consideration three age groupings:
Key points regarding recommendations for children 4 years old and younger include:
Key points regarding recommendations for children 5 years and older include:
The variation between age groups consists mostly of which medications are recommended and how soon to start various medications and treatments.
Medications for asthma fall into two categories:
The goal of asthma therapy is to maximize long-term control of the illness with medications and other treatment approaches, thereby minimizing the frequency of asthma symptoms and asthma attacks. Parents can greatly reduce the frequency and severity of their children's asthma attacks by understanding the difference between coping with asthma attacks and controlling the disease over time.
Unfortunately, many patients do not understand the difference between medications that provide rapid, short-term relief and those that are used for long-term symptom control. It is important not to overuse short-term rescue medications or underuse long-term control corticosteroid medications. .
These are the signs of well-controlled asthma:
Most asthma drugs are inhaled. The basic devices used for inhalation are the metered-dose inhaler (MDI), dry powder inhalers, and nebulizers.
Metered-Dose Inhaler. The standard device for administering asthma medication is the metered-dose inhaler (MDI). The medicine comes in a pressurized canister, which is placed inside a plastic inhaler. MDIs, particularly when used with a spacer, allows precise doses to be delivered directly to the lungs.
The spacer is a tube that is attached to the inhaler. It serves as a holding chamber for the medication that is sprayed by the inhaler. The spacer makes it easier and more efficient for the medication to reach the lungs. For children who are too young to breathe into the tube, a face mask can be attached to the spacer.
Dry Powder Inhalers. Dry powder inhalers (DPIs) deliver a powdered form of beta2-agonists or corticosteroids directly into the lungs. Unlike an MDI, dry powder inhalers do not contain a propellant and do not require a spacer. Some patients find that they are more difficult to manage than MDIs. Humidity or extreme temperatures can affect DPIs' performance, so they should not be stored in humid places (bathroom cabinets) or locations subject to high temperatures (glove compartments during summer months).
Dry-powder may cause tooth erosion. Children should rinse their mouths out with a fluoride mouthwash right after using these inhalers.
Nebulizers. A nebulizer is a machine that delivers a fine spray of medication-containing liquid. Nebulizers are often used for children younger than 3 years and sometimes for older children who have difficulty using the MDI. It takes 5 - 10 minutes to administer medication using a nebulizer. Because the spray is less targeted than with the inhaler, it must deliver large amounts of the drug. This increases the risk for toxicity and severe side effects. In general, children who can manage an inhaler should not use nebulizers.
Most patients with asthma respond well to standard medications, but a small percentage of people are treatment-resistant. In these cases, a doctor (preferably an asthma specialist) should confirm the asthma diagnosis and evaluate other conditions that might contribute to severe persistent asthma.
Conditions that can worsen asthma include rhinosinusitis, nasal polyps, obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, thyroid dysfunction, and GERD. Medications such as aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can also worsen asthma. Addressing these conditions can help reduce asthma severity.
For patients age 12 and older who are not helped by high-dose inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta agonists, omalizumab (Xolair) may be recommended for patients where allergies play a large role in their asthma.
Quick-relief (rescue) medications work immediately to relax airways and quickly control acute asthma attacks. They are not useful for preventing attacks or controlling inflammation in the airways.
The standard quick-relief medication is a beta2-agonist inhaler. Beta2-agonists serve as bronchodilators, relaxing and opening constricted airways during an acute asthma attack. A short-acting inhaled beta2-agonist, taken as needed, is often the only medication used by children with chronic mild asthma.
Albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin, Proair), called salbutamol outside the U.S., is the standard short-acting beta2-agonist in the United States.
Short-acting bronchodilators are usually administered through inhalation and are effective for 3 - 6 hours. They relieve the symptoms of acute attacks, but they do not control the underlying inflammation. If asthma continues to worsen with the use of these drugs, a doctor may prescribe corticosteroids or other drugs to treat underlying inflammation.
Side Effects of Beta2-Agonists. Side effects of all beta2-agonists may include:
Loss of Effectiveness and Overdose. Short-acting beta2-agonists become less effective when taken regularly over time, which increases the risk for overuse. Overdose can be serious and in rare cases even life threatening.
Common oral corticosteroids include prednisone/prednisolone, dexamethasone, methylprednisolone, and hydrocortisone. They reduce inflammation very effectively. They are most commonly prescribed for asthma flare-ups that do not respond to inhaler medications.
Doctors may provide a written prescription for patients to keep on hand, with specific instructions about when to fill it. Usually, the dosage starts out higher and is gradually reduced over a 5 to 7 day period. Prolonged use of oral steroids has widespread and sometimes serious side effects, so they are not generally given to children for longer than 5 to 7 days.
Asthmanefrin is an over-the-counter (non-prescription) rescue bronchodilator that contains a form of epinephrine called racepinephrine. The medication is inhaled through an atomizer. Asthmanefrin came on the market in 2012 as a replacement for Primatene Mist. (Primatene Mist was discontinued because its inhaler used chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) propellant. CFCs are banned because of environmental concerns.)
Asthmanefrin does not use CFC and is approved for patients ages 4 years and older. However, many doctors have safety concerns regarding the use of epinephrine products for asthma. In particular, this medication can be risky if overused. In general, patients are much better off seeing a healthcare provider and using inhalers that are prescribed.
Long-term control (maintenance) medications are taken on a regular basis to prevent asthma attacks, control inflammation in the airways, and manage chronic symptoms.
Corticosteroids, also called glucocorticoids or steroids, are powerful anti-inflammatory drugs. Steroids are not bronchodilators (they do not relax the airways) and have little immediate effect on symptoms. Instead, they work over time to reduce inflammation and prevent permanent injury in the lungs. They can also help prevent asthma attacks from occurring.
Taking a corticosteroid drug through an inhaler makes it possible to provide effective local anti-inflammatory activity in the lungs with very few side effects elsewhere in the body. (By contrast, oral steroids have considerable side effects throughout the body.) Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are recommended as the primary therapy for any patient needing long-term control medications for persistent asthma.
Examples of inhaled corticosteroids:
Inhaled corticosteroids are the preferred first-line therapy for children with asthma. However, doctors caution against corticosteroids for infants and toddlers with mild asthma and urge close monitoring, especially for children under age 5 with severe asthma who are receiving high doses.
Inhaled corticosteroids and growth in children is a common concern. However, a number of studies report only a slight effect (about half an inch) on children's growth, which may be only temporary. These growth changes are mostly when higher doses are being used. Poorly controlled asthma can also affect growth.
Side effects of inhaled steroids may include:
Long-acting beta2-agonists (LABAs) are used for preventing an asthma attack (not for treating attack symptoms). These drugs should never be used alone in the treatment of asthma in adults or children. They can be dangerous when used alone, because they can mask asthma symptoms, and they can increase the risk of asthma death unless paired with an inhaled steroid. LABAs should only be used in combination with an asthma controller medication, such as an inhaled corticosteroid. LABAs should be used for the shortest time possible, and should only be used by patients whose asthma is not adequately controlled by asthma controller medications.
Salmeterol-fluticasone (Advair), formoterol-budesonide (Symbicort), and mometasone-formoterol (Dulera) are long-acting beta2 agonists products combined with a steroid in a single inhaler that are used for treatment of moderate-to-severe asthma. Advair is approved for children ages 4 years and older, and Symbicort and Dulera are approved for children ages 12 years and older.
Leukotriene antagonists (also called anti-leukotrienes or leukotriene modifiers) are oral medications used for prevention, NOT for treating acute asthma attacks.
Leukotriene antagonists include montelukast (Singulair, generic), zafirlukast (Accolate, generic), and zileuton (Zyflo). These drugs are considered an alternative for long-term control of asthma. Other potential uses include preventing exercise-induced asthma.
Side Effects and Complications. Upset stomach, headache, and sore throat are the most common side effects of leukotriene antagonists. Because these drugs can raise liver enzyme levels, patients may need periodic liver tests.
Leukotriene antagonists may cause mental health and behavioral changes. Mood problems include agitation, aggression, anxiousness, dream abnormalities, hallucinations, depression, insomnia, irritability, restlessness, tremor, and suicidal thinking. Patients who take a leukotriene antagonist drug should be monitored for signs of behavioral and mood changes. Doctors should consider discontinuing the drug if patients exhibit any of these symptoms.
Omalizumab (Xolair) is FDA-approved for patients age 12 and older. It should be considered only for children over 12 years who have moderate-to-severe persistent asthma related to allergies and for adults who have severe asthma and allergies. Omalizumab is a biologic drug that targets and blocks the antibody immunoglobulin E (IgE), a chemical trigger of the inflammatory events associated with an allergic asthma attack.
Omalizumab is given by injection every 2 to 4 weeks. It is used only to treat patients whose symptoms are not controlled by inhaled corticosteroids.
Side Effects and Complications. About 1 in 1,000 patients who take omalizumab develop anaphylaxis (a life-threatening allergic reaction). Patients can develop anaphylaxis after any dose of omalizumab, even if they had no reaction to a first dose. Anaphylaxis may occur up to 24 hours after the dose is given.
Omalizumab should always be injected in a doctor's office and health care providers should observe patients for at least 2 hours after an injection. Patients should also carry emergency self-treatment for anaphylaxis (such as an Epi-Pen) and know how to use it. With an Epi-Pen, or similar auto-injector device, patients can quickly give themselves a life-saving dose of epinephrine.
Anaphylaxis symptoms include:
The FDA is currently reviewing whether omalizumab may be associated with increased risk for heart and vascular problems (ischemic heart disease, arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy, heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and blood clots).
Theophylline relaxes the muscles around the bronchioles and also stimulates breathing. Since the introduction of inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta2-agonists, theophylline is not used as often for asthma treatment. It may still be used in some circumstances, such as for treating severe or nocturnal asthma. Theophylline is available in tablet, liquid, and injectable forms. Theophylline should not be used by people with peptic ulcers or GERD, and should be used with caution by anyone with heart disease, liver disease, high blood pressure, or seizure disorders.
If a child is taking theophylline on an ongoing basis, the doctor should monitor the drug level at the start of therapy and at regular intervals thereafter.
Children older than 6 months should receive an influenza vaccination every year. All children should receive pneumococcal vaccination. The pneumococcal conjugate vaccination (PCV13) is recommended for children younger than 5 years old. Children age 2 years and older who are at high risk for pneumococcal disease should also get the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23).
Treatment of allergies and sinusitis can help control asthma.
Patients with asthma and chronic allergic rhinitis may need daily medications. Patients with severe seasonal allergies may need to start taking medications a few weeks before the pollen season, and to continue them until the season is over.
Immunotherapy ("allergy shots") may help reduce asthma symptoms, and the use of asthma medications, in patients with known allergies. They may also help prevent the development of asthma in children with allergies. Immunotherapy poses some risk for severe allergic reactions, especially for children with poorly controlled asthma, so it is important that the doctor carefully evaluates the child's asthma condition.
Researchers are studying an oral form of immunotherapy that uses a sublingual (under-the-tongue) tablet. Recent studies indicate that sublingual therapy may be helpful for asthma. However, many questions remain including dosage and duration of treatment. Sublingual therapy has recently been FDA-approved for allergic rhinitis. At this time, it is not approved for asthma treatment in the United States.
Respiratory infections, including the common cold, can interact with allergies to worsen asthma. People with asthma should try to minimize their risk for respiratory tract infections. Using alcohol-based hand rubs and washing hands are simple but effective preventive measures. Vaccines are also very important for prevention.
Children with obvious symptoms of reflux (heartburn) or children who have difficulty managing asthma may consider the following lifestyle changes:
Many people with asthma turn to alternative therapies including high-dose vitamins, homeopathic remedies, probiotics, and herbal supplements. There is no evidence that any of these treatments are helpful for asthma.
However, because stress can worsen asthma symptoms and make breathing more difficult, alternative therapies that focus on relaxation and stress reduction may be helpful. These modalities include:
Acupuncture, hypnosis, and biofeedback are alternative ways to control pain. Acupuncture involves the insertion of tiny sterile needles, slightly thicker than a human hair, at specific points on the body.
The more allergies a child has, the more severe the asthma. Making lifestyle changes to reduce allergy attacks and other triggers is extremely important.
Asthma action plans create a written document for patients and parents to manage asthma during stable times and to more easily identify when asthma is worsening. Important components of a home program include:
A peak flow meter is a handheld plastic device for measuring peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR). PEFR measures how fast you can expel air out of your lungs and is an indication of lung functioning. Changes in the PEFR may indicate problems with asthma control even before symptoms appear. If your child's PEFR is lower than normal, it may mean that rescue medications are needed.
It is a good idea to keep a written record of your child's peak flow meter readings. This data can help the doctor adjust medications and recognize problems before they become serious.
To use a peak flow meter, set the meter to zero and have your child stand or sit upright, take a deep breath and exhale hard and fast into the meter. Write down the number that appears on the meter.
House dust is a reservoir for pollen and dust mites. It is important to control household allergens and pollutants in the home.
Controlling for Dust. Spray furniture polish is very effective for reducing both dust and allergens. Air purifiers and vacuum cleaners with High Efficiency Particular Air (HEPA) filters can help remove particles and small allergens found indoors. Neither vacuuming nor the use of anti-mite carpet shampoo, however, is effective in removing mites in house dust. In fact, vacuuming stirs up both mites and cat allergens. If possible, avoid carpets and rugs.
Controlling Pets. For children who have an existing allergy to pets:
Bedding, Curtains, and Bedroom Environment.
Exterminating Pests (Cockroaches and Mice).
Reducing Humidity in the House. Living in a damp environment is counterproductive. Humidity levels should not exceed 30 to 50%.
Many of the same substances trigger both allergies and asthma. Common allergens include pollen, dust mites, mold, and pet dander. Other asthma triggers include irritants like smoke, pollution, fumes, cleaning chemicals, and sprays. Avoiding exposure to known allergens and respiratory irritants can substantially reduce asthma symptoms.
Preventing Exposure to Cigarette and Cooking Smoke. Parents who smoke are strongly urged to quit. Studies indicate that exposure to second-hand smoke in the home increases the risk for asthma and asthma-related emergency room visits in children. Even smoky cooking can worsen asthma.
Avoiding Outdoor Allergens. The following are some recommendations for avoiding allergens outside:
Parents should make sure that their child's school has a copy of the written asthma action plan. The plan should contain a list of medications the child takes (including which ones need to be taken during school hours), identified asthma triggers, and emergency contact numbers. Parents should also make sure that the school staff is trained in the steps to take in case of an asthma attack.
Asthma is no reason to avoid exercise. Historically, about 10% of Olympic athletes have asthma. Some studies indicate that long-term exercise may help control asthma and reduce hospitalization. Exercise can help control weight, which can help with asthma symptoms.
Encourage children with asthma to swim and play sports, such as baseball, that will be less difficult for them. Intense activities lasting less than 2 minutes, such as sprinting or competitive swimming, may cause fewer problems than longer-lasting exercises.
Young people who enjoy running should probably choose an indoor track to avoid pollutants. Swimming is excellent for people with asthma. Yoga, which uses stretching, breathing, and meditation techniques, may also have particular benefits.
Patients should consult their doctors before starting any exercise program. Exercise-induced asthma (EIA) is a limited condition that has specific recommendations.
Hints for Reducing Exercise-Induced Asthma (EIA). EIA occurs only after exercise and is more likely to occur with regular paced activities in cold, dry air. The following are some suggestions for reducing its impact:
Medications for EIA.
Treatment guidelines for exercise-induced asthma recommend:
Asthma can trigger a difficult emotional-physical cycle:
Caregivers must first focus on reducing their own anxiety, which can heighten a child's own fears. The next step is to help the child relax. One method for this is as follows:
This exercise both relaxes the child and discourages shallow, oxygen-poor breathing. Massaging the child in gentle circles on the chest is relaxing and may also loosen mucus.
Other recommendations to provide relief include:
Home visits by a nurse or other healthcare provider may be helpful if your family is having trouble managing your child's asthma or following prescribed treatments. It is also a good idea to have your home evaluated for allergic triggers.
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Our marketing area includes: Appleton, Belfast, Camden, Cushing, Friendship, Hope, Lincolnville, North Haven, Northport, Owls Head, Rockland, Rockport, Saint George, Searsmont
South Thomaston, Thomaston, Union, Waldoboro, Warren, Washington, and many other surrounding communities. We specialize in waterfront, ocean front, river, pond, harbor, and
lake front properties including homes on Penobscot and Muscongus Bays. We have sold more homes over the past thirty years than any other agency.


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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., Oct. 14 (UPI) -- The friends of teenage romantic partners significantly influence the frequency of drinking and how much is drunk, U.S. researchers found.
Derek Kreager, associate professor at Pennsylvania State University, and Dana Haynie, a professor of sociology and director of the Criminal Justice Research Center at Ohio State University, said teenage alcohol consumption may be influenced more by a date's friends than his or her own friends.
"Dating connects adolescents to new groups and that connects them to new behaviors, such as drinking," Kreager said in a statement. "The theory is that you are already like your friends, so you may already have similar drinking behaviors than them, but you can't pick your romantic partner's friends."
Friends of partners have no real incentive to change for you, but you have an incentive to change for them, to strengthen the romantic relationship, the researchers suggested.
The researchers analyzed data on the drinking behaviors of 449 couples taken from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, a survey of adolescents enrolled in grade 7 through 12 in the 1994-1995 school year.
The findings, published in the American Sociological Review, found a partner's friends were more influential on the drinking habits of adolescents than their friends and their romantic partners.


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Radson Named Dean of Business and Economics
By Marcia Goodrich | Published
Darrell Radson, head of the Department of Decision Science in Drexel University's LeBow School of Business, in Philadelphia, has agreed to serve as dean of the School of Business and Economics at Michigan Technological University, effective Aug. 1.
Radson, an associate professor, was previously the associate dean of the Boler School of Business at John Carroll University, near Cleveland, Ohio, and was on the business faculty of the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee from 1991 to 2003.
He holds PhD and MS degrees in Industrial and Operations Engineering, as well as MA degrees in Statistics and Political Science, from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. His BA in Political Science is from Northwestern University, in Evanston, Ill.
Radson's skills offer a particularly good fit for the University, President Glenn D. Mroz said. "Our strategic plan calls for us to educate our students in the business of innovation and to support entrepreneurship and technology transfer," he said. "That will require increased collaboration across academic units, and Darrell's strengths in these areas will be key as we move toward achieving those goals."
"Darrell has a strong background in both business and engineering and an operations research perspective that links to many areas of high interest at the University," said Provost Lesley Lovett-Doust. "He speaks good 'engineer,' and that's a significant asset for the business dean at a technological university. I am very pleased that he is planning to develop and launch a strong online MBA program, something our alumni have been requesting for some time. He will also help identify opportunities for growth in graduate study and collaborative research, perhaps through interdisciplinary doctoral programs. The search committee did a great job and have found someone who is an excellent fit for Tech."
She also praised outgoing dean Christa Walck's accomplishments. "Christa has done a wonderful job of building the faculty complement and the resource base for the School of Business and Economics, and her generous and thoughtful contributions to the administration, including her collaborative contribution to the development of the Strategic Hiring search process, are much appreciated," Lovett-Doust said.
Radson received awards for both teaching and research at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and earned the Best Teacher Award for the MBA program at Drexel University. He has published numerous articles in Quality Engineering, Production and Operations Management and other leading research journals.
Among his accomplishments, Radson redesigned the curriculum of Drexel's BS in Commerce and Engineering to better align it with changes in the business and engineering curricula both at Drexel and across the country, particularly by adding an emphasis on innovation and entrepreneurship. He developed and co-taught a Six Sigma quality implementation course in the MBA program and began a pilot program to integrate business students into College of Engineering Senior Design teams.
"The future of many engineers is in business, so having a business school within a technological university is a great advantage," said Radson. "Engineers need a solid foundation in business, and business students need a firm technological background as well. The future for our students and our economy is the successful introduction of new technological and innovative products and services into our economy."
"With my background in both fields, I'm excited to be coming to Michigan Tech," he said. "I hope to see the School of Business and Economics integrated in many areas across campus, so the scientists and engineers are better educated in business, and the business students have a better understanding of science and engineering. It's a win-win situation."
On a personal note, Radson, a Chicago native, said he was happy to be coming back to the Midwest. "My wife grew up in Three Rivers, Mich. I met her in Ann Arbor and lived in Ann Arbor for many years, so I have an affinity toward the state. I'm happy to return to Michigan after being away for such a long time."
Michigan Technological University is a public research university, home to more than 7,000 students from 54 countries. Founded in 1885, the University offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, and social sciences. Our campus in Michigan's Upper Peninsula overlooks the Keweenaw Waterway and is just a few miles from Lake Superior.


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Bialetti: The Classic Italian Coffee Maker
- Location: online only
- Website: bialettishop.com
Store History
- Founded by: Alfonso Bialetti
- Headquarters: Brescia, Italy
Even if the brand name Bialetti doesn't ring a bell, you probably recognize the little aluminum stovetop coffee maker shown above. Included in the Museum of Modern Art's permanent collection, the 'Moka Express' was originally designed in 1930 by Alfonso Bialetti and it remains in production today. The Bialetti company proudly states, "You will find this little stovetop coffee maker in 90 percent of Italian homes."
The Moka Express consists of two chambers separated by a basket. To make coffee, you fill the bottom chamber with water and the basket with coffee grounds. Turn on the stovetop burner, which forces the hot water upwards through the basket. As the coffee maker heats up, the top chamber collects the coffee.
While many people call the Bialetti an espresso maker, it could also be described as a percolator that makes very strong espresso-like coffee. Most electric espresso makers force water through the coffee at a higher pressure than the stovetop version, and the type of coffee you make with your Bialetti also depends on how finely ground it is.
Advantages of the Bialetti include its small size, straightforward design, and affordable price point. (The Moka Express starts at $20 and sells through most major kitchen retailers, as well as online via Bialetti's US webshop.) Disadvantages? It's too small to make coffee for a large group, and mastering the coffee-making process can take some time if you're used to automatic drip coffee makers. While you can buy larger models, I feel that they're not as proportionally beautiful as the small-scale stovetop version.
Bialetti also makes cups, cookware, and other kitchen tools. Any first-hand reviews? Add them in the comments below.
• Italian Limited Edition Bialetti Moka Express
• Italian Bialetti Dama Nuova
• Bialetti Moka Express, starting at $20
• Mini Express, $25
• Bialetti Cookware