Asthma is a lung condition that affects the way your lungs work. It can cause breathing difficulties, but with treatment and good management, it can lead to a normal life.
What Is Asthma?
Asthma is a lung condition that causes breathing difficulties. It’s called asthma because the airways in your lungs become blocked and it makes it harder to breathe.
Asthma Triggers
Asthma can be triggered by allergens, cold air, or exercise (like running). If you have asthma, you might notice:
- shortness of breath when you walk or run
- wheezing after an asthma attack
- coughing when exercising
What Are The Warning Signs Of Asthma?
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness (or chest wall pain)
- Breathing difficulty (difficulty breathing)
If you have any of these symptoms, it's important to seek medical help immediately. The sooner you get treatment and make adjustments to your asthma medications, the better chance you have at avoiding an asthma attack that could lead to death if left untreated
How is Asthma Treated?
Treatment of asthma depends on the severity of the condition, but may include:
- Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are the first-line therapy for asthma. These drugs help reduce inflammation in the airways and can be taken by mouth or by injection. They're often combined with other medications to treat symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing. Side effects include weight gain or loss, high blood pressure, fluid retention, acne, and hair loss.
- Long-acting beta agonists (LABA) are an alternative to ICSs because they don't cause as many side effects.
- Leukotriene modifiers work by reducing the amount of leukotrienes produced during an attack.
- Anticholinergics block histamine receptors on cells lining your lungs so that you breathe better when you need it most.
- Long-acting muscarinic antagonists relax smooth muscle around bronchial tubes allowing them to widen so that more air can flow through them.
How Is Asthma Diagnosed?
If you have asthma, your doctor will ask about your symptoms and may do a physical exam. Your doctor may order tests to confirm the diagnosis of asthma or rule out other conditions that could possibly be causing your symptoms. In some cases, they may prescribe medications to help control asthma.
Asthma is diagnosed by a healthcare professional based on an assessment of the patient's symptoms, physical examination, and laboratory results. The healthcare professional will likely ask questions about the patient's medical history, including any previous hospitalizations or surgeries that may have occurred. The patient should be asked if they have any allergies. If the healthcare professional suspects asthma, they may perform a complete physical examination of the patient. During this exam, they will check for signs of wheezing and breathing difficulty (such as increased use of accessory muscles). They might also test the patient's blood pressure with a cuff on their arm. If you are having difficulty breathing or wheezing during your visit to the doctor, you should call ahead so that an appointment can be scheduled for you with one of our nurses who can help diagnose your illness and make appropriate treatment recommendations.
If you're concerned about someone's asthma diagnosis, there are a few things you can do to help them. First, make sure they know what it is—that they have asthma, not allergies.
If they're allergic to something, they'll usually be able to tell you exactly what it is. For example, if they have hay fever or ragweed allergy, they might start sneezing and coughing after being exposed to grass pollen or weed pollen.
If they have asthma and think they don't know why they're having trouble breathing, take them out of any indoor environments where there's a lot of dust or mold—they may need more fresh air than usual.
Also, try to avoid things that trigger your own allergies—if you're allergic to cats or dogs, for example, you'll want to stay away from them until their symptoms subside.
Asthma is a common, chronic disease that causes inflammation of the airways. It's caused by an overreaction of the body's mucus-secreting cells, called cilia. The cilia beat more vigorously in response to inflammation and fluid forms in the airways that can make breathing difficult.
Asthma is diagnosed based on symptoms, such as wheezing or tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, coughing, or chest pain. Doctors will also check for other signs of asthma like increased mucus production or increased sweating.
If you're worried about your asthma symptoms, talk to your doctor about testing to rule out other problems like allergies or infections that could cause similar symptoms.
Asthma is diagnosed by a doctor who will do a physical exam and ask you to breathe into a tube. If the doctor sees that you have trouble breathing, they'll often give you an asthma inhaler to help you breathe better.
Can Asthma Be Prevented?
Asthma can be prevented. This means that you avoid triggers and use your inhaler correctly, get checked by a doctor if you have asthma or other lung diseases, follow your asthma action plan when you need it, and take your medication as prescribed by the doctor.
credit: iStockAsthma Attack
Not all asthma patients experience asthma attacks During an asthma attack, also known as an asthma exacerbation, a person's airways become swollen and inflamed. The muscles of the airways begin to contract and produce excess mucus, causing the bronchial tubes to narrow.
What Triggers An Asthma Attack?
Asthma triggers vary from person to person, but common symptoms include:
- Allergies
- Cold air (especially after physical activity)
- Respiratory infections, such as the flu or cold
When Should A Person Go To The Hospital For An Asthma Attack?
If you have asthma, and your symptoms get worse:
- If you are using a rescue inhaler but it doesn’t help control your asthma.
- If you have difficulty breathing or shortness of breath when taking an asthma action plan (AAP) treatment.
If you are having an asthma attack:
- Call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room immediately if any of these occur after starting treatment for your condition:
- You cannot breathe at all
- You feel like passing out
- Your throat is swollen and makes it difficult for you to talk
- Your lips turn blue
Asthma is a lung condition that causes breathing difficulties. It can be managed with treatment and lead to a normal life.
Asthma is a common condition that affects people of any age and it's not always easy to tell if you have asthma or not. However, there are some symptoms of asthma that could indicate your child has the disease:
- Wheezing (breathing in short bursts)
- Coughing more often than usual
- Difficulty sleeping because they keep waking up at night coughing
Conclusion
Asthma is a lung condition that causes breathing difficulties. It can be managed with treatment and lead to a normal life.
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