Asthma commonly known as bronchial asthma is a chronic disease with an affliction to the lungs. This is a chronic disease that needs medical attention and intervention permanently and stabilized.
This respiratory disease is present in 25,000 000 Americans with 5,000,000 of them being school children. In some cases, asthma is fatal if not treated as required by the doctor and medical advice.
What is an Asthma Attack?
In general, the muscles surrounding the air passages are relaxed and therefore no constricted breath is observed. During an asthma attack, three main changes occur:
Bronchospasm: The movements of the smooth muscles cause contraction of airway walls and therefore the airways become narrower.
Inflammation: Even the tiny tubes and passages responsible for conducting air to lungs also become swollen reducing air passage even further.
Mucus Production: Causes include the fact that the body produces more mucus than usual that can block the airways.
These changes cause wheezing, which is a high pitched sound that you hear when breathing out. An asthma attack may also be called an asthma exacerbation or asthma flare which means the condition is poorly controlled.
Types of Asthma
Asthma can be classified based on the underlying causes and severity of symptoms:
Intermittent Asthma: Unlike other diseases, symptoms manifest themselves at irregular intervals, now and then enabling normal breathing.
Persistent Asthma: Days of normal life are spent with symptoms more often and of somewhat greater severity.
Asthma can also be categorized by its triggers:
Allergic Asthma: Precipitated by substances such as pollen, mold or animal fur.
Non-Allergic Asthma: They can be caused by any outside stimuli like exercise, stress or perhaps a change in climatic conditions.
Additional classifications include:
Adult-Onset Asthma: Asthma that starts in adulthood or emerges in adulthood.
Pediatric Asthma: Otherwise referred to as childhood asthma, the condition begins at or before 5 years of age but can fade with time in some young patients.
Exercise-Induced Asthma: Activated particularly by exercise or any other form of physiologic exertion.
Occupational Asthma: Develops in persons who come into direct contact with irritants or other agents in the workplaces.
Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome (ACOS): A condition where a patient has asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at the same time.
Who Can Develop Asthma?
Asthma can affect anyone at any age, but certain factors may increase the risk, including:
A history of allergies and presence of tobacco smoke not only, second hand or Third hand.
Gender: Research specifies that female-bodied individuals are also at a higher risk of asthma, and Black individuals are more vulnerable.
Causes of Asthma
While the exact cause of asthma remains unclear, several factors can heighten the risk:
Allergies: Following having an allergy, an individual is at a higher risk of developing asthma.
Environmental Factors: Contact with other allergens including pollutants, toxins and smoke is known to cause asthmatic conditions and are more prevalent in children.
Genetics: Being informed for a genetic predisposing factor such as having a family history of asthma consistently and significantly predisposes an individual to the disease and to allergic diseases as well.
Respiratory Infections: Some infections such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection can cause lung injury in a child.
Possible Causes of Asthma Attack
Asthma does mean of course that a person is limited to situations which can bring about an attacks that include; Common triggers include:
Air Pollution: Industrial gases, vehicles, and forest fires.
Dust Mites: Sensitizers are in this case referred to as dust mites and are mostly a microscopic bug located in homes.
Exercise: Some people get asthma triggered by physical activity.
Mold: In essence, growth in damp environments contribute to worsening of asthma.
Household Pests: Cockroaches and mice are examples of common things that could potentially set of an anxiety disorder.
Pets: Pets, as you know, can worsen symptoms in those affected by allergies.
Tobacco Smoke: Data demonstrates that exposure to smoke highly increases asthma probability.
Strong Chemicals or Odors: It is even known that stimuli such as some smells or chemical irritants may play the role of activators.
Occupational Exposures: Asthma can be caused by contact with particular agents at the workplace including cleaning materials or dust.
Symptoms of Asthma
Individuals with asthma often experience recognizable symptoms, which can mimic respiratory infections:
Chest discomfort, such as felt as tightness, pain or pressure.
Night cough being one of the most common .
Shortness of breath.
Wheezing during exhalation.
Signs and signs may differ with each asthmatic attack and not all patients may report each sign in similar manner.
Diagnosis and Testing
Asthma is diagnosed by having the patient discuss personal and/or family history and potential symptoms. Tests may include:
Spirometer: Used to assess the volume of air in the lungs for diagnosis of, and in monitoring asthma.
Others are chest x rays, full blood counts, skin tests etc.
management and Treatment
Asthma requires dealing with several aspects. Your healthcare provider may prescribe:
Bronchodilators: Drugs that open the airways so that it becomes easier to breathe and to remove the mucus.
Anti-Inflammatory Medications: These decrease inflammation and secretion of mucus to helps avoid these.
Biologic Therapies: For cases of asthma that cannot be managed by general treatment.
Work can be using inhalers, nebulizers or oral tablets.
Achieving Asthma Control
The primary goal of asthma therapy is focused on controlling the symptoms. Good asthma control means:
Extent of performing everyday tasks.
Minimal or no symptoms.
Rare use of rescue inhalers.
Uninterrupted sleep.
Monitoring Asthma Symptoms
Monitoring symptomes is overall beneficial for asthma control. Your provider may suggest you to perform peak flow measurement to evaluate lung capacity and make treatment modifications.
Preventing Asthma Attacks
Though there is no cure for asthma, people can learn what causes the disease and how to reduce the likelihood of an asthma attack. That is why, the client should consult his or her healthcare provider for the right and specific plan.
Conclusion
Asthma is a controllable illness, therefore; anyone who has asthma should be capable of leading a normal and full life. Knowledge of asthma, a possibility of recognizing symptoms, triggers and loyal management approach are central to controlling it effectively. If you think you may have asthma or are having difficulty controlling it, see your health care provider for advice.
