Asthma – All About Life Threats and Physical Reverses

Asthma or AZ-ma is the inflammation of airways, which causes shortness of breath, cough, wheezing and tightness of chest. Airways are tubes carrying air in and out of lungs. When these are inflamed, they even react to the substances that enter the region while breathing in. With this reaction, the airways constrict and so air supply to lungs is reduced. Eventually there is difficulty in breathing. This can grow worse with mucus formation, as it further contracts the airways. Symptoms of asthma can happen each time when the airways will be affected.

Origin of Asthma:

The specific cause of asthma is still not known, but it is a combination of various factors that cause it. The factors are:

• Hereditary factors- if parents have a history of asthma
• Infections in the respiratory system during early phase of life
• Developing allergies known as atopy, which is also inherited
• Exposure to airborne allergens during childhood
If history of asthma is prevalent in the family, then exposure to house dust mites, dog or cat dander, smoke or tobacco can turn the airways reactive to the stuff when we breathe.

Different symptoms of asthma:

• Coughing makes it very difficult to sleep as it generally strikes during the night or dawn.
• Feeling out of breath is another symptom of asthma
• Chest tightens giving a feeling of uneasiness
• While breathing a whistling sound may appear

Not all asthma patients exhibit these symptoms. These symptoms can worsen due to factors like allergens, certain medicines, common cold, pollution and presence of sulfites in food and drink. Asthma can get worse due to some other factors like reflux disease, sinus infection or even psychological stress.

Diagnosis of Asthma:

Asthma can be diagnosed by certain physical exam, medical history and some other tests. The doctor detects whether the asthma is mild, intermittent, reasonable or severe. If one has a family history of asthma and the symptoms of asthma occur, doctor asks a series of questions regarding the occurrence. Various signs of asthma are diagnosed by listening to breathing or spotting allergies. A lung function test is also carried out to check the density of air breathed in and out. If the results improve by taking medicines then the patient is diagnosed with asthma. Some other tests include a bronchoprovocation test, chest x ray or EKG or allergy test.

Treatments of Asthma:

Asthma can be controlled if the patient avoids factors that can aggravate the condition. There is no sure shot cure of asthma but still regular medicines can keep a check on it, if taken properly. Two types of medicines that help to treat asthma are long-term control and quick relief medicines. Long-term medicines are helpful in decreasing inflammation of the airways, while avoiding asthmatic symptoms. Whereas, quick-relief medicines are rescue medicines that immediately help to reduce asthma symptoms from flaring up. These can be carried along as inhalers. If asthma symptoms are due to allergies, then allergy shots are administered though that does not guarantee cure.

Manage and prevent asthma:

Living with asthma can get difficult, as it is a long-term disease, which needs a lot of care. In order to manage asthma, you can chalk out an asthma action plan that will help you take medicines properly and also tackle with it during worse situation. Regular checkups help monitor the various levels of asthma and accordingly the doctor can adjust the treatment. If you see that your symptoms of asthma are recurring quite often then you should start taking care. Various age groups of people are treated differently in asthma and they can lead normal lives as well.