Asthma

Several types of respiratory diseases and disorders deplete the respiration power of the patient. Among all respiratory diseases, asthma is a common chronic condition in human beings. It is one of the common respiratory disorders that affects many people around the globe. Approximately 300 million people are affected by asthma around the globe. One should be aware of the symptoms and driving factors of asthma. Read on to know more about asthma and its symptoms.

Asthma: Definition

Asthma is a chronic disorder that involves inflammation of the lungs. Asthma definition also includes the extra formation of mucus in the airways. The oxygen intake capacity of the lungs decreases significantly in an asthma patient. Due to asthma, patients experience trouble in doing physical activities. Asthma also affects the speech of the patient and usually involves a wheezing sound during respiration.

The airways in an asthma patient shrink and excessive mucus is produced. It results in breathlessness, coughing, and respiration, followed by a wheezing sound. From allergic substances to viral infections, there are many driving factors of asthma. The airways of asthma patients become highly sensitive. Even the smallest irritants like pollen can cause inflammation in the airways of an asthma patient. Cold and dry weather can also trigger an asthma patient and cause breathlessness. Let us have a look at the symptoms of asthma in human beings.

Asthma: Symptoms

The symptoms of asthma include:

• Shortness of breath or breathlessness.
• A feeling of tightness in the chest followed by pain.
• A wheezing sound follows after exhalation. It is usually seen in children that suffer from asthma.
• Sleeplessness due to shortage of breath and cough.
• Extreme coughing or wheezing triggered by several respiratory viruses. For example, if you have extreme coughing and wheezing during the common flu, you may be a patient of asthma.

For an asthma patient, several symptoms indicate the asthma is getting worse. Symptoms that indicate that your asthma is getting critical are as follows:

• All the above asthma symptoms become more frequent and troublesome.
• A peak flow meter measures the capacity of your lungs during exhalation. If your peak flow meter readings deplete, it indicates your asthma is getting critical.
• Asthmapatients use a relief inhaler when experiencing breathlessness. If you are using a relief inhaler more than often, it indicates your asthma is getting critical.

Asthma: Classification

Asthma classification is done based on certain activities/situations that make it worse. Types of asthma based on different situations are given below:

• Many people suffer from exercise-induced asthma. Exercise-induced asthma gets critical when cold or dry air flows.
• Some patients possess allergy-induced asthma. The common driving factors of allergy-induced asthma include pollen, skin particles, waste materials of cockroaches, and others.
• Some patients suffer from occupational asthmaby inhaling irritants over a long period. Irritants that can trigger occupational asthma are poisonous gases, dust particles, and chemical fumes.

Prevention from asthma

Some of the measures that can be taken to prevent yourself from asthma are as follows:

• If you are an allergic person, stay away from allergens. Asthma patients should also stay away from allergens as they worsen their situation. Allergens trigger an asthma attack and cause sudden inflammation in the airways
• Lower your exposure to tobacco smoke, candle fumes, fireworks, and incense. If you are an asthma patient, avoid smoking tobacco as it can worsen your situation
• Maintain a safe distance from people that have an excessive cold or flu. Make sure you wash anything that is previously used by a patient that suffers from any respiratory infection. Wash your hands after being in contact with someone suffering from excessive cold or flu

Contact a doctor for asthma

You can see a doctor for the following asthma-related problems:

• If you’re coughing and wheezing for more days than normal, you are showing signs of asthma. Contact a doctor immediately if you’re coughing or wheezing for more than a week. Treating asthma in the early stages can prevent you from long-term lung dysfunctions. Also, it is comparatively easy to treat asthma when in the early stages
• If you are identified as an asthma patient, stay in contact with your doctor for the long term. A doctor will provide long-term control over your asthma by giving you the necessary advice. Also, staying in touch with your doctor will prevent you from a life-threatening asthma attack
• If you are using a relief inhaler more than often, it means your asthma is getting critical. Your asthma is also getting serious if the early medications don’t work at all. In such a case, contact your doctor immediately for keeping your asthmaattacks under control. Do not take any medication for asthma without the doctor’s consultation. Overusing asthma medications can also make your situation even worse
• If you are an asthma patient, review your treatment by consulting with your doctors at regular intervals

Conclusion

Asthma is a chronic disease that requires lifelong medical treatment. It can be of various types, such as  Occupational asthma, Allergic asthma, Nocturnal asthma, Asthma of the bronchioles, Steroid resistant asthma, Asthma induced by exercise. Causes of asthma are not yet specified, but certain factors can lead to asthma, such as certain respiratory infections, air pollution, smoking, dust particles, vehicular emissions, certain allergies and some medication. The symptoms of asthma vary from individual to person. Some of the signs and symptoms of asthma are breathing problems, shortness of breath, wheezing or coughing. The techniques that can diagnose asthma are spirometry, exhaled nitric oxide and challenge tests. Asthma does not have any permanent treatment or solution, however, medication can help to control the symptoms to a large extent.