Asthma

Asthma is a non-communicable and chronic inflammatory lung disease. Asthma causes problems in the airways of the lungs which leads to its inflammation. The symptoms of asthma may vary from person to person based on the different triggers.  Understanding asthma treatment and causes helps in managing symptoms and improving the quality of life of patients. In this article, we will discuss asthma – symptoms, potential causes, types, prevention, treatment and medication in detail. 

Asthma is a common and chronic lung disease that causes inflammation and narrows down the small airways present in it. It mainly affects our respiratory system. The condition also produces extra mucus in our lungs that blocks the airways and develops breathing problems. The symptoms of asthma may vary from mild to severe and can be managed with the proper treatment. 

Here are some major facts about asthma as mentioned below. 

• Asthma is a non-communicable disease. 
• There are some common symptoms of asthma that include cough, sinusitis, breath shortage, and irritation in the throat. But it is different from other diseases like normal cough and fever.
• There are many asthma triggers that may cause asthma attack including pollution, animal allergens, fragrances, different gases, smoking, and weather changes. 
• As per the Global Burden of Disease (GBD), there are 34.3 million Indian are affected with asthma, and 90 per cent of them neglect the symptoms that is why they do not receive the right medication. 
• Asthma can be more fatal and may develop the bronchitis in future. 

Read More: Difference between Dry Cough and Wet Cough 

There are many factors that can develop asthma. They can be genetic and external. Some of these factors are mentioned below:

• Asthma can be genetic. It means if your close relatives have asthma, you can be affected by it at a certain period of life. Children of asthmatic parents increase the risk of developing asthma as 3/5th of all asthma cases are caused by due to heredity. 
• People who have allergic conditions like eczema and rhinitis can be affected by asthma as well. 
• There are some other factors like low birth weight, premature birth, chain-smoking and air pollution that affect the lungs and increase the risk of the disease with viral infections in our respiratory organs. 
• Different environmental allergens and irritants like dust, moulds, fumes and mites also contribute to the development of asthma. 

Read More: Respiratory System Disorders

Different types of asthma can affect your body in different ways. Let us discuss the different types of asthma as mentioned below. 

• Allergic Asthma: This type of asthma is chronic and occurs when different allergens trigger the symptoms. 
• Aspirin-induced Asthma: It is a condition where asthma is triggered by aspirin or by NSAIDs drugs. In this, the drugs trigger the nasal polyps with rhinitis and chronic rhinosinusitis.
• Cough-variant Asthma: This condition develops with a dry cough only. In this asthma, people do not have symptoms like wheezing or breathing problems.
• Exercise-induced Asthma: This type of asthma takes place when the lung airways become narrow during the time of exercise. For this so many people feel difficulties in the process of breathing. 
• Night-time Asthma: It is a severe type of asthma that is very irritating. Breathing problem, chest pain, cough, and wheezing happens during the time of sleeping.

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Here are the major symptoms of the asthma as mentioned below.

• Pressure on the chest or chest tightness
• Increased mucus production
• Difficulties in breathing
• Continuous cough
• Blue lips and nails
• Rapid breathing
• Signs of fainting
• Headache
• Wheezing
• Anxiety
• Fever

Read More: Is Bronchitis Contagious? Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

There are certain processes by which doctors can detect asthma. There are some processes and techniques by which doctors can detect asthma very easily as mentioned below. 

• Spirometry: It is a test where doctors test how hard it is for you to blow in a plastic cylinder. It is an instrument which detects the intensity of the air blown into it. 
• Exhaled Nitric Oxide: It generally measures how much nitric oxide is present in a person’s breath. It is similar to the Spirometry test. 
• Challenge Tests: This is a process the patient inhales two types of chemicals in the form of powder i.e. mannitol and methacholine. These powders narrow the airways of our lungs if you suffer from asthma. If your lung activity decreases at this time, your Challenge Test will be declared as positive.

An asthma attack is a condition where the asthma symptoms become worse. It is a long-term condition where airways present in the lungs become narrow and create breathing difficulties. The asthma attack happens because the muscles present around the airways become more narrow.

Inflammation takes place in the airways. Airways produce more mucus which also prevents the air from entering the lungs which makes it difficult to breathe. 

Asthma Attack Symptoms

There are many visible symptoms of the asthma attack including coughing, wheezing, chest pain, and difficulties related to intake of more air for respiration. 

There is no permanent cure for asthma in modern medical science. But it is possible to detect different triggers which helps to follow the proper medications. Prevention and long-term controls are the main keys to preventing asthma attacks. Nowadays doctors provide different medications as mentioned below. 

• Inhalers: There are different types of inhalers with different doses that help to prevent asthma. These medicines help to relax the muscles that are present around the airways and help the patients breathe properly. 
• Anti-allergic Medication: These medicines are used to prevent allergic symptoms like runny nose, sneezing, and watery eyes to prevent allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis contributes to the development of asthma. 

There is no vaccine to prevent asthma. But preventing asthma involves adopting some lifestyle changes and avoiding triggers to reduce the risk of asthma attack. Here are some key strategies:

• Avoid Allergens: Identify and minimize exposure to common allergens like dust mites, pet dander, pollen, and mold.
• Manage Indoor Air Quality: Keep indoor environments clean and well-ventilated. Consider using air purifiers to reduce airborne irritants.
• Maintain a Healthy Weight: Obesity can worsen asthma symptoms so maintaining a healthy weight through regular exercise and a balanced diet is important.
• Quit Smoking: Smoking can trigger asthma attacks and worsen symptoms, so quitting smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke is crucial.
• Follow Asthma Action Plan: Work with your healthcare provider to develop an asthma action plan outlining steps to take in case of an asthma flare-up.

Asthma is a common and chronic lung disease that causes inflammation and narrows down the small airways present in it. It effects mainily our respiratory system. As per the Global Burden of Disease (GBD), there are 34.3 million Indian people are affected with asthma, and 90 percent of them neglect the symptoms that why they do not receive the right medication. Asthma can be more fatal and may develop the bronchitis in future. Asthma can be a genetic. It means if your close relatives have asthma, you can be affected by it at a certain period of life.

Also Read:

• Types of Diseases
• Deficiency Diseases
• Difference between Acute and Chronic Diseases
• NCERT Notes Class 11 Biology Chapter 14 – Breathing and Exchange of Gases
• Common Diseases In Humans
• Human Respiratory System
• List of Diseases Caused by Microbes
• Infectious Diseases – Types, Symptoms, Causes, Prevention

Which Treatment is Best For Asthma?

Inhalers, which are devices that let you breathe in medicine, are the main treatment. Tablets and other treatments may also be needed if your asthma is severe. Exposure to various irritants and triggers can worsen symptoms of asthma. Asthma triggers are different from person to person.

Can I Live a Normal Life With Asthma?

It is possible to live well with asthma if you manage it. That means you need a doctor trained to treat asthma, a treatment plan and to stick with that plan.

What is the Main Cause of Asthma?

The main cause of asthma is inflammation and narrowing of the airways due to triggers like allergens, irritants, and respiratory infections.

How do you Relive Asthma Symptoms?

Asthma symptoms can be relieved by using prescribed medications, such as bronchodilators and corticosteroids, and by avoiding triggers that worsen symptoms.

Is Asthma Curable?

Asthma is not curable, but it can be effectively managed with proper treatment, lifestyle modifications, and avoidance of triggers to control symptoms and improve quality of life.

Can Asthma Go Away?

No. Asthma is a lifelong disease. Some children may have fewer symptoms in their teens but they still have asthma. The pattern of wheezing seen in young children can make this issue confusing.