Asthma Information

Asthma is condition where the bronchial tubes become inflamed and irritated, making it difficult to breathe. Asthma is a chronic condition, and can be induced by allergies, exercise, and other sources. Asthma can range from mild to severe, and is on the rise in the United States. Asthma needs to be treated, as it can become life threatening if not treated properly. Even treated asthma can become life threatening under the right conditions.

Symptoms of asthma include a tight feeling in the chest, airway constriction, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain, sleep that is disturbed by wheezing or an inability to breathe, coughing, an increased need for medications which open the chest, also called bronchodilators, and a fall in peak flow meter readings, which is a device which measures an individual’s ability to exhale with force based on age and weight.

Asthma can be caused by any number of factors, and worsened by a combination of numerous factors. Exposure to irritants like cigarette smoke, allergies, sinusitis, physical exertion, strong emotions, stress, cold air, medication such as beta blockers, respiratory infections, cockroaches, dust mites, gastroesophageal reflux disease, sulfites, animal dander, and mold. Nearly any irritant can trigger asthma reactions, although not all irritants can cause asthma.

Asthma affects approximately 6 million children and about 14 million adults and older adolescents. Prior to puberty, boys are more likely to develop asthma than girls, however, after puberty more girls develop asthma than boys. Risk factors for developing asthma include having at least one parent with asthma, living in urban and highly polluted areas, or areas where the pollen count is perpetually high, exposure to second hand smoke, smoking, low birth weight, obesity, respiratory infections in early childhood, exposure to occupational triggers such as chemicals which are likely to affect the lungs, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Asthma can often mimic other diseases such as emphysema, vocal chord conditions, and the early stages of congestive heart failure. A physical examination is required in order to diagnose asthma. In order to narrow down the possibilities for the reason for the symptoms, a physician is likely to administer a few different tests. One test involves a peak flow meter, which measures the force of exhaled air. A spirometer, measures the narrowing of bronchial tubes during breathing. These tests can help determine whether the symptoms presented are asthmatic of have another source. If there is still difficulty in determining whether or not the symptoms presented are asthma related, a test known as a methocholine bronchial challenge may be administered, which basically forces the patient to inhale known asthma triggers in an attempt to induce an asthma attack.

Asthma can result in missed school or work days, can involve emergency room visits several times per year, and may even lead to a deadly asthma attack. It constricts the patient’s ability to roam outdoors and often prevents them from participating in sports or other physical activities that they normally enjoy. Asthma can inhibit a person’s ability to really live life. Some of the medications used to control asthma have an equal risk of complications as the asthma itself. Severe attacks often require steroids, and the chronic use of steroids have serious side effects.

Asthma is usually treated on two different levels, chronic control and immediate relief. Rescue inhalers are used for sudden attacks while other medications are used to help eliminate the sudden attacks. Inhaled medication helps to open up constricted airways while some oral and inhaled medications work to keep airways open despite triggers. Medications are only effective when used properly, and need to be used daily in order to control and to prevent serious asthma attacks.

The elimination or reduction in known triggers can make a serious difference in the life of an asthmatic. Keeping homes and environments clean and dust and dander free can allow an asthmatic to breathe easier. Asthmatics should be tested for allergies to help eliminate lesser known triggers and to allow for an asthmatic to clean their environment of many triggers. However, people with controllable asthma can still live happily with pets provided that an effort is made to keep the environment very clean.

It may take years to find an appropriate mix of medication to help control asthma, but it can be done. Asthmatics have a chance at living a full and active lifestyle provided they see their physician regularly and keep on top of their medical needs.