Asthma, often known as bronchial asthma, affects the lungs. Your airways become constricted, bloated, and obstructed due to an abundance of mucus. These symptoms can be treated with medication.
What Exactly Is Asthma?
Lung illness, commonly known as bronchial asthma, damages your lungs. It is a chronic condition, which means that it requires ongoing medical care. Your airways may narrow, swell, and create additional mucus if you have asthma. This may make breathing challenging and cause coughing and wheezing when you exhale with shortness of breath. Asthma can be a minor issue for some people. Others may experience a serious issue that hinders daily activities and could result in a potentially fatal asthma attack.
What Are the Different Types of Asthma?
The types of asthma are as follows:
Exercise-induced asthma: Also known as exercise-induced bronchospasm, is a form of asthma that is brought on by physical activity.
Occupational asthma: People who spend a lot of time around irritants at work are more likely to develop this type of asthma.
Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome (ACOS): When you have both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, you have what is known as the asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS) (COPD). Breathing becomes challenging in both conditions.
What are the causes of Asthma?
The exact causes of asthma are a mystery to researchers. However, some elements increase the risk, including:
Allergies: Allergic asthma development is more likely in people who have allergies.
Environmental factors: People who are exposed to things that irritate their airways may develop asthma. Allergens, poisons, gases, and second- or third-hand smoke are some of these things. These can be particularly dangerous for babies and young children whose immune systems are still maturing.
Genetics: Your risk of acquiring asthma or an allergy disease is higher if your family has a history of the conditions.
Respiratory infections: The developing lungs of young children can be harmed by some respiratory diseases, including the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
What Are the Symptoms and Signs of Asthma?
Following are the symptoms and indicators that can be similar to other respiratory diseases:
- Pressure, pain, or tightness in the chest
- Coughing (especially at night)
- Respiration difficulty
- Wheezing
You might not experience all of these symptoms with every asthma attack. When you have chronic asthma, your symptoms and indicators can change over time. The asthma symptoms might also alter between asthma attacks. A pulmonary function test, blood test, lung function test, or chest X-ray can be prescribed by your doctor to diagnose asthma disease.
How is Asthma Treated?
There are methods you can use for asthma treatment. To control symptoms, your doctor may recommend drugs. These consist of:
Bronchodilators: These drugs ease the muscles that surround your airways. The airways could move since the muscles were loosened. They also make it easier for mucus to pass through the airways. These medications are used to treat both intermittent and chronic asthma and provide temporary symptom relief.
Anti-inflammatory drugs: These drugs lessen airway edema and mucus production. They facilitate the flow of air into and out of your lungs. Your healthcare provider may prescribe them to take every day to control or prevent your symptoms of chronic asthma.
Biologic therapies for asthma: When symptoms of severe asthma persist after adequate inhaler medication, biologic medicines are considered.
Asthma medications can be taken in a variety of ways. Using a nebulizer, metered-dose inhaler, or another type of asthma inhaler, you can breathe in the medications. You can be given oral drugs by your doctor.
Even with asthma, it's still possible to have a highly successful life and take part in sports and other activities. Your doctor can assist you in controlling symptoms, identifying your triggers, and preventing or controlling attacks.
Agilus Diagnostics, a subsidiary of Fortis Healthcare Limited
