What is Asthma?
Asthma is a condition where there is difficulty in breathing due to inflammation in bronchitis. Due to swelling, there is difficulty in passing air through the muscles and there is a wheezing sound. Along with this, there is also shortness of breath, chest tightness and cough. There is no cure for this disease, but it can be controlled by making some lifestyle changes.
Before knowing about asthma, it is necessary to know about the elements related to your breath. Normally when we breathe, air passes through our nose or mouth and goes into the throat and airways. After this, in the end, it gets absorbed in the lungs.
There are many such small passages in our lungs, which help oxygen to meet the blood stream. When the airways become inflamed or the muscles around them become stiff, it is a sign of asthma. After this, mucus fills the airways, which reduces the air access to the lungs.
This condition can lead to an asthma attack. Cough and tightness in the chest are generally considered to be symptoms of asthma.
How common is asthma?
It is a very fast spreading disease. Around 300 million people around the world suffer from asthma. It affects people of all ages, but the chances of infection are high in childhood.
What is an asthma attack?
An asthma attack occurs when your symptoms suddenly get worse. In this condition, your airway becomes filled with swelling, mucus, and stiffness.
However, not everyone with asthma has the same general symptoms of an asthma attack. You may feel different symptoms at different times. Along with this, the symptoms may be more or less severe in the second attack than in the first attack.
Asthma Symptoms of Asthma
The symptoms of asthma are found to be different in every person. You can have an asthma attack several times, but its symptoms appear only at certain times. Like when exercising or all the time.
Asthma Common symptoms of asthma include:
- Cough especially at night and in the morning.
- Sound when breathing.
- Difficulty in breathing
- Chest tightness.
- Sleeplessness due to cough and tightness.
Types of Asthma
The symptoms of asthma generally depend on the type of asthma. Asthma There are many different types of asthma. The most common of these is bronchial asthma which affects the bronchi of the lungs.
Other main types of asthma include asthma in children and asthma in adults. Asthma symptoms in adults begin to appear after the age of 20.
So let us now know about other types of asthmatic asthma, on the basis of which the symptoms of the person can be identified –
- Allergic Asthma – Allergies to animals, food, mold, pollen, and dust
- Nonallergic Asthma – Fire, smoke, air pollution, perfumes, air fresheners and cold air
- Occupational asthma (occupational asthma) – exposure to dust, rubber latex, animal protein, gas, and industrial chemicals
- Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction – asthma that occurs during or shortly after exercise
- Aspirin-induced asthma – caused by aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- Nocturnal asthma - caused by dust mites, pets, or heartburn
- Dry cough asthma – this condition also includes shortness of breath or chills
When should I see a doctor?
In an emergency you may see the following signs and symptoms –
- persistent shortness of breath
- No improvement in condition even after using an inhaler
- Shortness of breath during normal or moderately tiring physical activities
- Severe asthma attacks can be fatal. If you see any of the above-mentioned symptoms, then see a doctor immediately because the older the disease, the more the pain will increase.
If you are suffering from Asthma and looking for Asthma Treatment in Jaipur, then must consult with Dr. Rahul Mathur (MD - Gold Medalist). He has more than 9 years of experience in providing advanced treatment for Asthma, Allergy, Jaundice & Diabetes etc.
Cause of Asthma
To date, the exact cause of asthma is not known. Scientists also fail to confirm why some people develop asthma and others do not.
There is no one exact reason for this. However, there are some triggers that can cause asthma. It is usually genetic and depend on the environment around the person –
- Dust, animal fur, cockroaches, mold and pollen from trees, grass and flowers
- Cigarette smoke, dust, dirt, sprays (such as hairspray)
- Medicines such as aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and nonselective beta-blockers
- cold breeze
- Sulfates in foods and drinks
- stress
- Viral infection such as cold
- exercise
Asthma attacks can be caused by exposure to allergens, such as trees, grass or weeds, dust mites, cockroaches or animal dander. Other common triggers are those found in the air, such as smoke and chemical fumes. Strong odors such as perfumes.
Certain illnesses – particularly the flu, sinusitis or even a respiratory infection – can trigger an asthma attack, as can intense exercise, extreme weather, and emotions that alter normal breathing patterns.
What are the things that can increase the chances of asthma?
Asthma Asthma affects people of all ages, but the risk of asthma increases in childhood.
Asthma These are some common causes of asthma;
- Family history: If someone in your family has asthma, you are 6 times more likely to have it than other people.
- Viral respiratory infections: Respiratory problems during infancy and childhood can cause wheezing. Some children who experience a viral respiratory infection may fall prey to it later.
- Allergies: Having allergies such as eczema or allergic rhinitis.
- Smoking: Smokers are more likely to get it. The possibility of developing asthma in a baby whose parents smoked during pregnancy cannot be avoided.
- Obesity: Obese people are more likely to develop asthma. However, the reason why this happens is still not clear.
Triggers in children
Certain triggers particularly affect children with asthma and can make lung inflammation worse. The common cold is one of the most common triggers for asthma attacks in very young children. Others include:
- Smoke
- Exposure to allergens (such as animal scents and dander, dust mites)
- Strong fragrance (perfume or other scent)
- Change in weather; cold breeze
- Run or play more
- Cry or laugh
If your child has asthma, an allergist will help you discover triggers that bring on symptoms or make them worse. The first step to control the symptoms is to wean your child away from things that cause cough and phlegm.
Prevention of Asthma
Asthma and its attacks cannot be completely prevented. However, you should work with your doctor to create a step-by-step plan. In this plan, you can get advice about changes in your lifestyle and nearby places. Your doctor will tell you at which stage you may be more prone to asthma and how to avoid it.
To reduce the risk of asthma attack, take special care of the following things –
- Follow the plan made by the doctor
- Use the flu and pneumonia vaccine correctly
- What places and substances make you prone to asthma? Identify them and avoid them.
- Take care of your breathing – You will feel some changes in your ability to breathe when you have an asthma attack or show its symptoms. Identify them immediately and use inhalers or other medicines. Along with this, also keep in mind that in which places you have difficulty in breathing. like home or office.
How can asthma be diagnosed?
It is detected by looking at the patient's medical history or by breathing test. This shows how well the lungs are functioning. Your doctor can find out whether you have asthma or not by listening to your heartbeat and looking at some other symptoms.
The doctor may do some tests some of which are as follows;
Spirometry: This test is used to find out how fast and how you breathe.
Bronchoprovocation test: This test is used to find out how sensitive the airway is.
A test is done to know if you have any other disease like asthma.
A chest X-ray or an EKG (electrocardiogram): This test is done to see if a foreign factor is causing your asthma.
In this article, we have tried to tell you the important things related to What is asthma. If you want to know the answer to any other question related to this disease, then definitely ask us. We will try to provide your questions answered.
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