All About Asthma Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, and Prevention

asthma is a lung disease where the airways are blocked. Severe asthma can lead to asthma attacks also. This chronic condition of asthma doesn’t go away but can be treated. World widely, approx 300 million people currently suffer from this chronic. Asthma is not that much danger in its early stages but can lead to death if left untreated.

Overview

Asthma is a state in which a person’s air passing canal gets swollen and narrow which produces mucus in a large amount making it very hard to breathe. The stage of asthma decides the amount of pain and problems one suffers from. For a few patients, it is minor and problems occur only sometimes but for a few, it is a severe disease.

Asthma attack –

Bronchospasm – muscles around the airways are tightened are air can not be passed FreelyInflammation – swollen linings that block the airway canal. Mucus production – mucus produced that clogs the airways.

If the following things are visible in one, he/she may be asthmatic –

Not every asthmatic have same symptoms, but if one finds some them or the majority of them in themselves, yes it is the case of asthma –

• Shortness of breathing while waking in the morning or sleeping during the night.
• Often flared up chest pressure.
• Suffering from certain respiratory infections.
• Dry cough with phlegm.
• Paled face, lips, and fingernails.
• The ribs pull inward when breathing.

Asthma treatment started at an early stage is far more beneficial than at a severe stage. Visit your doctor if the following symptoms are visible –

Symptoms

✔️ Problem with breathing

✔️ Chest pain

✔️Wheezing while exhaling

✔️ Pain while coughing

✔️Dry cough

✔️ Rapid breathing or shortness of breathing

✔️ Early awakening

✔️ Increased BP or heart rate

✔️ Throat itching

✔️Chest tightening mostly and breathing problems, especially during the night or early morning

✔️ Bluish skin

✔️ Difficulty in speaking, walking, running, etc

Asthma is not the result of one cause, it depends on many factors and the reason varies from person to person. It includes –

• Exposure to excess pollution and dirt
• Viral Respiratory infections sinusitis, flu and others
• Tobacco smoking
• Eradicated to certain kinds of allergies
• Certain intake of medications like painkillers and others
• Parental history or genetics
• Premature birth or birth by caesarean sections
• Excessive laughter
• Stress and excess anger and shouting issue
• Excessive weightlifting can also be a cause
• Always Playing empty stomach
• Overweight
• Weather changes
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease is also a cause of it
• Contacting certain kinds of food preservatives pickles, juices, wines etc.

Complications –
Complications for asthma include –

✔️ Permanent narrowing of bronchial tubes

✔️ Fatigue

✔️Respiratory failure

✔️ Lung atelectasis

✔️Dehydration

What are the risk factors for asthma?
Asthma is more likely to affect someone who –

• Your sex – boys are more likely to get affected by asthma than girls.
• Your race – asthma in the majority affects African and Americans
• Your genetics
• Your other body issues

Asthma control –
Asthma control includes the following –

• You have very mild symptoms of asthma
• You do not need to limit your work activities and can do everything finely
• You need an inhaler in a rare case
• You wake up and sleep without asthma attacks

How to prevent asthma

Since it is unpreventable, steps and measures can be taken to get rid of asthma attacks –

• Get vaccinated for influenza and pneumonia
• Monitor your breathing flow
• Get aware of your triggers and avoid them
• Get a proper plan with the help of your doctor
• Quit smoking if you do
• Make necessary diet changes
• Observe increased quick-relief inhaler use

How do doctors diagnose asthma?

The specialists start with physical exams, study the medical history of the patients including their parents and examine certain other tests. They may include –

• Spirometry – This is a breathing test that measures the rate of air how absorbed, the time taken, and the speed of it.
• Peak flow – it measures your lung capacity to push air.
• Ct scanners
• Certain allergy tests – blood tests, skin tests, and others.
• Sputum eosinophils – test the high level of white blood cells that are thrown out when you cough.
• Exhaled nitric oxide test and methacholine challenge
• Chest x-rays – scan your lungs and sinuses and determine your physical status and diseases of it.

Answer – it varies from person to person and the stage at which they are. Generally, it takes a few weeks or a few months or even years. Asthma can be reduced and managed but is not 100% curable.

What are the treatments available for asthma?

Asthma treatments include –

• Inhaled corticosteroids – this medication is really helpful in asthma control. They prevent swelling and remove the excess mucus that is the root cause. Inhalers are used for this medicine intake. Beclomethasone and budesonide are some of them.
• Leukotriene modifiers – this is a long term asthma medication that triggers asthma. Concern your doctor about its dosage.
• Oral and intravenous corticosteroids – it is a rescue inhaler during asthma attacks. They can also be directly injected into the veins.
• Long-acting beta-agonists and theophylline
• Short-acting beta-agonists and anticholinergics
• Combination inhalers can also be provided if needed
• Biologic medications like omalizumab and certain drugs like mepolizumab, benralizumab, etc. are available
• Changes in lifestyle – eating a healthy diet, exercising on a regular basis, avoiding asthma triggers, and other such home remedies can also help to a greater extent.

Note –
please concern your doctor before going for any medication.

Frequently asked questions –