Understanding Asthma: what it is and its causes?
Asthma, also known as bronchial asthma, is a chronic lung disease that affects millions of people globally. Asthma is a major health problem worldwide, with increasing prevalence in many countries. According to the WHO, 300 million people suffer from asthma and 255,000 people died from asthma in 2005. More than 80% of these deaths occur in low-income and lower-middle-income countries. About 3% of India’s population (30 million people) suffer from asthma.
- Prevalence in adults: 2.4% of adults aged 15 years and above.
- Prevalence in children: 4% to 20% of children.
Asthma is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in rural India. So what is it? Asthma often causes airways to narrow and swell. This leads to increased mucus production. This makes breathing difficult and results in symptoms like coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. While asthma is a minor problem for some people, for others it can severely affect daily life and become very dangerous if left untreated.
Asthma cannot be cured, but symptoms can be managed with ongoing treatment. It is very important for people with asthma to see their doctor regularly to monitor their condition and adjust their treatment if necessary to control symptoms and prevent severe asthma attacks. Let us talk about the Tips to Control and Cure Asthma effectively.
Understanding the Causes of Asthma
- What causes asthma? The exact cause of asthma is unknown and varies from person to person. Asthma often develops during childhood when the body’s immune system is still developing, but some people do not develop asthma until adulthood, which is called adult-onset asthma.
- Factors that can cause asthma include:
- Environmental triggers: Allergens such as cigarette smoke and certain bacteria that you are exposed to as an infant or toddler.
- Viral infections: Infections that affect breathing can cause asthma.
- Family History: If a parent, especially the mother, has asthma, your risk increases.
Other factors that may increase your risk of asthma include: –
Source: Asthma Triggers
- Allergies: Asthma is often associated with other allergies, such as to food or pollen.
- Obesity: Being overweight can increase your risk and severity of asthma.
- Race or Ethnicity: Puerto Rican, black, or African American people are at higher risk for asthma. Black and Hispanic children are more likely to die from asthma than non-Hispanic white children.
- Gender: Boys are more likely to develop asthma in childhood and women are more likely to develop it than adults.
- Workplace Hazards: Exposure to chemicals and dust in the workplace can cause asthma.
- Climate Change: Air pollution and changing weather patterns can increase exposure to asthma triggers.
What are the Various Symptoms of Asthma?
The most common symptom of asthma is wheezing, which is a squeaking or whistling sound when breathing. But with the help of various Tips to Control and Cure Asthma one can easily manage and live a healthy life. Other symptoms include:
- Coughing: Occurring especially at night, when laughing, or during physical activity.
- Chest tightness: Feeling of tightness or pressure in the chest.
- Shortness of breath: Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
- Speech disorder: Speech disorder due to shortness of breath.
- Anxiety or Panic: Feelings of fear or panic. Often due to difficulty breathing.
- Fatigue: Fatigue especially during or after a bout of illness.
- Chest Pain: Discomfort or pain in the chest.
- Rapid Breathing: Breathing faster than normal.
- Common Infections: Increased susceptibility to respiratory infections.
- Sleep Problems: Sleep problems due to breathing problems.
Important Note: The symptoms you experience depend on the type of asthma you have. Some people have symptoms all day, while others find that certain activities make their symptoms worse. Not all asthma patients experience all of these symptoms.
How to Recognize an Asthma Attack?
Even if your asthma is well controlled, you may still have occasional attacks.
Symptoms of an asthma attack include:
- Cough
- Wheezing
- Throat clearing
- Difficulty sleeping
- Chest pain or pressure
- Fatigue Often, fast-acting treatments such as inhalers can relieve the symptoms of an asthma attack.
Go see a doctor if your symptoms doesnt go away.
Diagnosis and Monitoring of Asthma
The diagnosis of asthma involves a combination of tests to measure lung function, identify triggers, and rule out other conditions. Spirometry is an important diagnostic tool, but other tests may provide additional information. Diagnostic approaches may differ between children and adults due to differences in symptom presentation and testing feasibility.
Spirometry for Asthma: You take a deep breath and blow forcefully into a large tube before and after using a bronchodilator such as albuterol. It is done to measure breathing patterns and lung function to determine if there is reversible airway obstruction characteristic of asthma. It is the diagnostic test of choice for asthma and helps monitor response to treatment.
Other Breathing Tests for Asthma
- Methacholine Challenge
- Fractionated Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO)
- Peak Flow Meter
- Allergy Testing for Asthma
- Stress Testing for Asthma
- Blood Tests for Asthma
- Acute Exacerbations
Effects of Asthma on the Lungs
Asthma affects the lungs when the body’s immune system overreacts to harmless substances like pollen and mold. This overreaction causes inflammation, which makes the airways swollen, sensitive, and overly narrow when exposed to triggers. This is what happens in the lungs during an asthma attack:
- Inflammation: The airways become swollen and inflamed.
- Hypersensitivity: Your airways become hypersensitive and very narrow.
- Mucus production: Your airways produce additional mucus, narrowing the passages even further.
- Muscle tension: The muscles around your airways tense up, making breathing even more difficult.
- Thickening of Airway Walls: Over time, the walls of your airways can thicken, worsening your condition.
Top 10 Tips to Control and Cure Asthma
1 .Identify your asthma triggers
Understanding your asthma triggers is important to effectively treat the condition. Common triggers include: –
- Air pollution
- Allergies
- Cold air
- Viral infections (cold or flu)
- Exercise
- Sinusitis
- Smoke
- Perfume
- Pets
- House dust mites
- Cockroaches and other pests Keep an asthma diary to track symptoms and record possible triggers.
2. Avoid Allergens: Limit your exposure to allergens to reduce airway inflammation.
3. Avoid Smoke: Avoid all sources of smoke, including cigarettes, incense, candles, and fires. Quit smoking as it worsens asthma symptoms.
4. Preventing Colds: Minimize contact with people who have a cold or flu to prevent asthma symptoms from worsening.
5. Make Your Home Allergy-Proof:
- Wash bedding weekly in hot water.
- Maintain indoor humidity levels between 30% and 50%.
- Remove carpeting from bedrooms.
- Control pests by eliminating food sources and sealing cracks.
- Avoid using sprays and nebulizers.
- Choose a smoke-free environment.
6. Get Vaccinations: Get vaccinated annually against the flu and any recommended pneumonia and other diseases to prevent respiratory infections.
7. Consider immunotherapy with allergy shots: Immunotherapy can help prevent allergy symptoms and asthma attacks by desensitizing the body to allergens.
8. Take your asthma medications as prescribed: Take your asthma medications regularly and long-term to prevent symptoms and control inflammation.
9. Follow your asthma action plan: Follow your asthma action plan, take your prescribed medications, and see your doctor if your symptoms worsen.
10. Use a Home Peak Flow Meter: Monitor your lung function with a peak flow meter to detect early signs of asthma worsening and take appropriate action by following your asthma action plan.
By following these Tips to Control and Cure Asthma you can easily help you effectively manage your asthma and minimize the risk of flare-ups.
When to Seek Medical Attention
See a doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms of an asthma emergency:
- Severe difficulty breathing
- Shortness of breath
- Confusion
- Pale or blue lips or nails
- Dizziness
- Difficulty walking or talking
If you think your symptoms may be related to asthma, schedule an appointment with your doctor. Proper diagnosis and treatment are crucial to controlling the condition and preventing severe attacks.
Summing up,
Asthma is manageable with the right approach and care. Understanding the causes, identifying the symptoms and implementing effective treatment strategies are key to leading a healthy and active life despite the disease. The 10 Tips to Control and Cure Asthma helps in controlling and potentially reducing the impact of asthma. Communicating regularly with your healthcare provider, following an individualized asthma action plan and making informed lifestyle choices are essential steps to optimally control asthma.
