What is Asthma

Health and Wellness » Respiratory Care in India » What is Asthma

Most of the newly diagnosed patients have common question like what is asthma exactly. Asthma is an unending lung disease, causing difficulty to breath. Symptoms of asthma are basically caused due to constriction, inflammation, tightening of the muscles surrounding the airways, swelling, soreness and irritation of the airways in the lungs. Asthma is illness which is not curable. However, if you timely treat it and manage it, then definitely you can live a normal and active life.

What is Asthma

What is Asthma Attack?

An asthma attack is something when you see the symptoms more than the usual ones. The attack can come suddenly and it can be severe, mild or moderate.

What Happens During an Asthma Attack?

  • Less air flows through the airway
  • The muscles around your airways tighten up, which make the airway narrowing.
  • Mucus gets produced in the airways, undermining air flows even more
  • There is an increase in the airways and inflammation increases, further narrowing the airway.

Causes of Asthma

Allergic Reactions: People with asthma have to face some allergy of certain substances, causing allergic reactions which can be a major trigger. Things like dust mites which are microscopic bugs living in the dust, pollen, molds, animal dander, and cockroaches can create allergic reactions.

Weather: Cold air can sometimes show asthma symptoms in most of the people, as extreme heat or humidity affects the people. Other than this, some common causes are:

  • Obesity
  • Exposure to cigarette smoke
  • Allergic rhinitis
  • Atopy, or an inherited tendency to develop allergy
  • Exposure to viral infections during childhood while immune system is not properly developed.
  • Other allergens like animal dander
  • Airway hyper reactivity

It has been noticed that the rate of asthma patients has increased dramatically over the last several decades. As till now, the fact cause of asthma is not known; however, consulting a doctor and taking preventive measures can definitely lessen the risk factors of asthma.

Symptoms of Asthma: The common asthma symptoms are:

  • Wheezing
  • Coughing
  • Tightness in the chest
  • Shortness of breath

Not everybody gets all of such symptoms. Most people experience them from time to time; and few experience these symptoms all the time.

Visit your Doctor: By any chance if you think that you are facing asthma symptoms, then make sure that you visit your doctor. He will give you some advice on how to take preventive measures to avoid such symptoms. He will also give you some medicines which you must follow to manage your asthma.

Once you understand how to avoid asthma symptoms, you will automatically keep yourself away from things that irritate your airways. By effective control on asthma, you can definitely live a normal life and perform everyday activities.

Diagnosing Asthma: To diagnose asthma, you need to have 2 specific criteria:

  1. Presence of symptoms that show asthma
  2. Objective measurement of less airflow in lungs by using certain measurements like peak expiratory flow.

Your doctor will usually take a brief family history about you and perform some physical examination. You will have to go through certain tests to diagnose asthma presence. These tests include:

  • Chest x-ray
  • Pulmonary function testing
  • Blood tests

Asthma is an incurable problem. Even though you feel that you are fine, understand that this problem can come up anytime. However, due to advance technology and improved treatment, many people are able to manage this illness. Though some symptoms are still present, they live an active and normal life without any interruption from asthma. To manage your asthma, make sure you play an active role. Do not loose hopes and build a strong communication with your doctor.

Treatment for Asthma

Curing asthma is not at all possible, but treating it in a proper way can definitely help you live an active life. This treatment involves three primary components like:

  • Monitoring your peak expiratory flow and symptoms of asthma
  • Triggers avoidance
  • Treating with medicines

If you try to keep your asthma under control, you will definitely live a better quality of life and can do things that you want. By carrying a careless attitude will definitely make you less likely to take part actively and have fun.