Asthma

Asthma (sometimes known as bronchial asthma) is a lung condition. It's a chronic (ongoing) ailment, which means it won't go away and requires ongoing medical treatment. When you breathe regularly, the muscles around your airways relax, allowing air to pass freely and softly. During an asthma episode, three things could occur:

• Bronchospasm occurs when the muscles surrounding the airways constrict or tighten. When they constrict, your airways become narrower. Air cannot pass freely via restricted airways.
• Inflammation is the lining of your airways swelling. Swollen airways let less air into and out of your lungs.
• During an assault, your body produces more mucus. This thick mucus blocks the airways.

When your airways become tighter, you emit a sound known as wheezing when you breathe, which is the same noise your airways make when you exhale. An asthma episode may also be referred to as an exacerbation or flare-up. It refers to when your asthma is uncontrolled.

Types of asthma

Asthma is classified into kinds based on the origin and severity of symptoms. Healthcare practitioners define asthma as:

• Intermittent: This type of asthma comes and goes, allowing you to feel normal in between flares.
• Persistent: If you have persistent asthma, you experience symptoms most of the time. Mild, moderate, and severe symptoms are all possible. The frequency of symptoms is used by medical professionals to determine the severity of asthma. They also take into account your ability to perform tasks during an attack.

Asthma has several causes:

• Allergic: Some people's allergies can lead to an asthma attack. Molds, pollen, and pet dander are all examples of allergens.
• Non-allergic: Outside factors can exacerbate asthma symptoms. Exercise, stress, illness, and the weather can all trigger a flare.

Asthma may also be:

• Adult-onset asthma: This type develops after the age of 18.
• Pediatric: This kind of asthma, also known as childhood asthma, typically develops before the age of five and can affect infants and toddlers. Children with asthma may outgrow it. You should consult with your provider before deciding whether your child requires an inhaler in case of an asthma attack. Your child's healthcare provider can assist you understand the hazards.

In addition, there are these types of asthma:

• Exercise-induced asthma: This type is caused by exercise and is also known as exercise-induced bronchospasm.
• Occupational asthma: This type of asthma primarily affects people who work with irritating substances.
• Asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS): This type develops when you have both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Both disorders cause difficulty breathing.

Symptoms

Asthmatic patients typically have evident symptoms. These signs and symptoms are similar to many other respiratory infections:

• Chest tension, pain, or pressure.
• Coughing (especially at night).
• Shortness of breath.
• Wheezing.

With asthma, you may not have all of these symptoms with every flare. You can have different symptoms and signs at different times with chronic asthma. Also, symptoms can change between asthma attacks.

Causes

The reason why some people develop asthma and others do not is unknown to researchers. However, several factors carry a larger risk:

• Allergies
• Environmental factors
• Genetics
• Respiratory infections

What frequently causes an asthma attack?

If you come into contact with irritating substances, you may experience an asthma attack. These drugs are referred to by healthcare providers as "triggers." Knowing what causes your asthma episodes helps you avoid them. For some people, a trigger can cause an attack right soon. For other people or at other times, an attack may occur hours or days later. Triggers might vary depending on the individual. However, typical triggers include air pollution, dust mites, exercise, mildew, pests, pets, tobacco smoke, harsh chemicals or odors, and some occupational exposures.

Diagnosis

Your healthcare professional will go over your medical history, including information about your parents and siblings. Your provider will also inquire about your symptoms. Your doctor will need to know if you have ever had allergies, eczema (a rough rash caused by allergies), or other lung disorders. Your doctor may order spirometry. This test monitors airflow through your lungs and is used to diagnose and track your progress during treatment. Your doctor may request a chest X-ray, a blood test, or a skin test.

Treatment

You have alternatives for managing your asthma. Your doctor may recommend drugs to help you manage your symptoms. This includes:

• Bronchodilators: These medications relax the muscles surrounding your airways. The relaxed muscles allow the airways to move air. They also allow mucus to travel more freely across the airways. These medications treat intermittent and chronic asthma by relieving symptoms as they occur.
• Anti-inflammatory medicines: These medications minimize edema and mucus production in the airways. They improve the flow of air into and out of your lungs. Your doctor may prescribe them for daily use to reduce or prevent chronic asthma symptoms.
• Biologic therapies for asthma: These are used to treat severe asthma symptoms that persist despite proper inhaler therapy.

You can take asthma medication in a variety of ways. You can inhale the medications with a metered-dose inhaler, nebulizer, or another type of asthma inhaler. Your healthcare practitioner may prescribe oral drugs for you to take.

Prevention

If your healthcare professional diagnoses you with asthma, you must determine what causes an episode. Avoiding the triggers may help you avoid an attack. However, you cannot prevent yourself from developing asthma.

Conclusion

With proper therapy and lifestyle changes, asthma can be managed. Understanding the triggers, symptoms, and available treatments allows people to take charge of their health and avoid consequences. People with asthma can live active and satisfying lives by working closely with their healthcare providers and following an asthma action plan. For information, visit SHALBY Sanar International Hospitals in Gurugram.