Asthma

Introduction 

In asthma breathing becomes challenging. Airflow into and out of the lungs is hampered by the inflammation and narrowing of the airways and symptoms like wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath result from this. A mix of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle variables can contribute to asthma development. All ages are affected by the illness, however children and young adults are more frequently affected. People with asthma can live full, active lives with the right care.

What is Asthma?

A chronic respiratory condition called asthma causes the airways to become inflamed and constricted. Many things, including cold air, exercise, allergies, stress, or exposure to environmental irritants like cigarette smoke or air pollution, can cause these symptoms, which are frequently worse at night or in the morning.

A mix of drugs, environmental controls, and lifestyle modifications can be used to manage asthma, which can range in severity from moderate to severe. Both immediate-relief bronchodilators, like albuterol, and long-term control medicines, like inhaled corticosteroids or leukotriene modifiers, are frequently used to manage the symptoms of asthma.

Types of Asthma

Asthma is classified into various types based on its duration, cause, and severity of symptoms. 

For example, the classification of asthma based on duration includes:

1. Intermittent asthma: a person typically has no restrictions on regular physical activity and only occasionally experiences symptoms, usually no more than twice a week.
2. Persistent asthma: It is characterised by the requirement for daily care, constraints on regular physical activity, and symptoms occurring more than twice a week.

Classification based on the cause includes:

1. Allergic asthma: triggered by an allergy to substances such as pollen, dust mites, or pet dander.
2. Non-allergic asthma: not triggered by an allergy, and its cause is unknown.

Classification based on severity includes:

1. Asthma that is mild and persistent is defined by symptoms that appear more than twice per week but do not disrupt daily life.
2. Moderate persistent asthma is characterised by symptoms that are frequent, bothersome, and may cause nighttime awakenings in the patient.
3. Severe persistent asthma: characterized by frequent and severe symptoms that limit daily activities, may wake the patient up at night and are difficult to control with standard treatments.

Causes of asthma

Although the precise cause of asthma is not entirely known, it is believed to be a result of both hereditary and environmental factors. The following are a few of the most typical asthma causes and triggers:

1. Allergies: Allergic asthma is triggered by exposure to allergens such as pollen, mold, pet dander, or dust mites.
2. Respiratory infections: Viral infections, such as the common cold or flu, can trigger asthma symptoms.
3. Airborne irritants: Exposure to substances such as tobacco smoke, air pollution, or strong odors can trigger asthma symptoms.
4. Physical activity: Exercise-induced asthma can be triggered by physical activity, especially in cold weather.
5. Stress and emotions: Stress and strong emotions can trigger asthma symptoms in some people.
6. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): Asthma symptoms can be brought on by GERD, a condition in which stomach acid rushes back into the oesophagus.
7. Hormonal changes: Hormonal changes, such as those that occur during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, or menopause, can trigger asthma symptoms in some people.

Asthma symptoms

The symptoms of asthma include:

1. Wheezing: a high-pitched whistling sound when breathing, especially during exhalation
2. Shortness of breath: feeling out of breath or unable to catch your breath
3. Chest tightness: a feeling of tightness or pressure in the chest
4. Coughing: a persistent cough, especially at night or early in the morning
5. Rapid breathing: breathing faster than normal
6. Difficulty breathing: feeling like you can’t get enough air, even when trying to take deep breaths

In some cases, asthma symptoms can also include:

1. Chest pain or pressure
2. Fatigue: feeling tired or worn out from breathing difficulties
3. Trouble sleeping: being unable to sleep due to asthma symptoms
4. Trouble speaking: being unable to speak in full sentences due to shortness of breath.

Conclusion

Inflammation and narrowing of the airways are two features of the chronic respiratory disease known as asthma, which can cause episodes of coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. These symptoms can be brought on by several things, including cold air, exercise, allergies, stress, or exposure to environmental irritants like cigarette smoke or air pollution. They are frequently worse at night or in the morning. Exposure to allergens like pollen, mold, pet dander, or dust mites can cause allergic asthma. Viruses that cause the flu or the common cold can exacerbate asthma symptoms.

 

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. Mention some of the medications that should be given to treat asthma. 

The following are some of the medications that are used to treat asthma:

1. Quick-relief medications (also known as rescue or reliever medications): These medications provide rapid relief from symptoms during an asthma attack and include albuterol, levalbuterol, and terbutaline.
2. Controller medications: These medications help to prevent asthma symptoms from occurring and are taken daily. Examples include inhaled corticosteroids .

2. How is asthma diagnosed?

Diagnosing asthma typically involves a combination of medical history, physical examination, and tests. Some of the most common tests used to diagnose asthma include:

1. Lung function tests: These tests measure how well your lungs are working, such as by measuring the amount of air you can breathe out, and how quickly you can breathe it out.
2. Allergy testing: This may include skin or blood tests to determine if you have allergies to substances such as pollen, dust mites, or pet dander.
3. Challenge tests: These tests may be used to determine if certain substances, such as cold air or exercise, trigger your asthma symptoms.
4. Imaging tests: These tests, such as chest X-rays or CT scans, may be used to rule out other conditions and to help diagnose asthma.

3. What is the acute and chronic asthma? 

Acute asthma refers to a sudden worsening of asthma symptoms that can occur without warning. It is often triggered by environmental exposure to allergens, cold air, exercise, or viral infections. Chronic asthma, on the other hand, is a long-term condition characterized by persistent symptoms is often associated with more severe and frequent asthma attacks.