Asthma
Asthma comes from an ancient Greek word meaning panting or short-drawn breath. Essentially it is a chronic inflammation of the airways in the lungs that result in obstruction of air flow. Asthma usually begins in childhood, although onset in adulthood is not uncommon.
Description
Asthma is a long-lasting inflammatory lung disease, characterized by:
Constriction of the airways in the lungs
Swelling of the lining of the bronchial tubes in the lungs
Secretion of excessive amounts of thick mucus
This can cause minor wheezing to severe difficulty in breathing. In some cases, the breathing may be so labored that an asthma attack becomes life-threatening.
Asthma is commonly divided into a number of different types: allergic, non-allergic/intrinsic, exercise-induced, nocturnal, occupational and steroid-resistant asthma.
Pediatric Asthma
Children's airways are narrower than those of adults. This means that triggers may cause much more serious responses in children. For this reason, it is important that asthma be diagnosed and treated correctly. For some children, this may mean taking daily medication even during times when the child is not having symptoms of asthma.
Symptoms of Asthma
Warning signs and symptoms of asthma in adults may include:
- Increased shortness of breath or wheezing
- Disturbed sleep caused by shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing
- Chest tightness or pain
- Increased need to use bronchodilators - medications that open up airways by relaxing the surrounding muscles
- A fall in peak flow rates as measured by a peak flow meter, a simple and inexpensive device that allows you to monitor your own lung function
- Children often have an audible whistling or wheezing sound when exhaling and frequent coughing spasms.
Risk factors of Asthma
Asthma is probably due to a combination of environmental and genetic factors.
The following are common things that trigger asthma symptoms:- Allergies, which may be caused by weather conditions, smoke, perfumes or other irritants
- Smoking and Passive smoking
- Respiratory infections
- Common cold, Sinusitis
- Physical exertion, including exercise
- Strong emotions and stress
- Cold air
- Certain medications, including beta blockers, aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition in which stomach acids back up into your esophagus.
Treatment of Asthma
There is no specific method to prevent asthma attacks. The best way to minimize the number of attacks is to follow the asthma plan that you develop with your doctor or pediatrician and to eliminate triggers as discussed above.
Two basic kinds of treatments include:- Quick-relief medicines in pill form or by means of a device called an inhaler when your symptoms are severe enough to cause trouble breathing.
- Prevention of symptoms, by a combination of managing triggers (eliminating dust, for example) and medications.
Prevantion of Asthma
These guidelines may help to keep asthma under control:
Avoid smoke from cigarettes, cigars, pipes, barbecues, and fireplaces
Exposure to dust mites and mold can be reduced by lowering indoor humidity.
Stay indoors during the humid season or the change of seasons especially when the pollen count is high.
Avoid dusting or using fans in closed and dusty places. Mopping could be used for cleaning.
Exposure to dust mites can be removed by encasing mattresses and pillows in allergen-impermeable covers, removing carpets from bedrooms, and by vacuuming regularly
Do not use a vaporizer or humidifier unless it is thoroughly cleaned.
Do not have close contact with pets. Pet owners should bathe their pet weekly.
The doctor should be contacted in case the medicines are not effective in keeping the breathing comfortable.