Asthma Explained
Millions of individuals around the world suffer from the condition of asthma on a daily basis. This particular disease is considered to be chronic. This means that an individual does have a certain level of control over the illness, but that the disease does not have a cure. The airways of an individual with asthma normally experience an uncomfortable inflammation. This inflammation leads to a constriction which reduces the amount of air that can get to the lungs.
In order for an individual to be diagnosed with asthma, there are normally a few factors that must be present. The first factor is a sensitivity of the airways, then inflammation, and the last is an obstruction in the airway. In this article, you will learn more about these three factors, as well as the symptoms that are associated with this chronic disease. I will even touch on a few of the most common treatments for asthma.
When an individual experiences asthma, the airways are normally quite sensitive. Asthma patients are quite familiar with the concept of "triggers". Triggers are things that irritate the airways and result in the onset of asthma symptoms. The triggers that result in the onset of an asthma attack are specific to the individual that suffers from them. Asthma triggers can be found on the inside of structures, as well as the outdoors. The following lists some of the most common triggers in asthma:
- Smoke is a common trigger for patients with asthma. This may include smoke from cigarettes, smoke from various types of fires, and even smoke that emits from the exhausts on automobiles and various types of structures in industrial facts.
- Emotional stress has been found to be a trigger in many asthmatic patients.
- Mold is a definite trigger for asthma patients.
- Various types of products that have a strong smell or odor, such as perfumes, air fresheners, detergents, body soaps, paints, and similar items have been determined to be very common asthma triggers.
- Various types of foods can result in the onset of an asthma attack. Normally these foods are those which the sufferer is allergic to, or they have a strong odor to them.
- Many allergens that are common triggers for an attack of asthma include dust and the mites that feed off of dust, pollen, the dander that results from different kinds of pets, as well as various types of pollutants that invade the breathing space of the asthmatic individual.
- Many insects, such as cockroaches, can irritate the airways of an individual with asthma and result in a devastating attack.
When a trigger is introduced to the breathing space of an individual with asthma, it normally results in the inflammation of the airways. This means that the airways experience swelling and become extremely irritable. Once this begins to occur, the individual may find that they experience difficulties in breathing appropriately. This tightening of the muscles that help to control and line the airway results in obstruction. Normally, individuals who experience this will start to display a physical symptom of wheezing. This is the stage in which the asthma attack officially occurs.
Many physiological and psychological symptoms occur when an individual experiences an asthma attack. The following outlines these complications:
- The asthmatic individual may feel as if they cannot breathe normally. Many individuals may start to panic or experience an anxiety attack at this time as a result of the physical sensations experienced.
- There are many individuals who feel a heavy pain in the area of the chest.
- The muscles in the chest, and/or those that are in the neck may begin to tighten and cause discomfort to the individual.
- Wheezing and coughing may be experienced during an asthma attack.
There are a number of treatments available for individuals that experience asthma. These treatment methods allow the asthmatic to effectively regain some level of control over the symptoms experienced with this condition. They include:
- Bronchodilators - These are often prescribed in the form of an inhaler. The inhalers help an individual to experience quick relief from some of the common symptoms of asthma, such as wheezing, chest pain, and the inability to breathe properly.
- Drug treatment therapy with anti-inflammatory prescriptions is often prescribed to asthmatics to ensure that the airways do not inflame on a consistent basis. Normally, this drug treatment therapy helps to reduce the sensitivity to the common triggers to asthma.
- Many individuals with asthma also benefit from over-the-counter medications and health-related equipment. This may include allergy type medication and a humidifier.
While self-management is an important role when it comes to asthma, having the assistance of a doctor can be extremely beneficial. If you find that you are suffering from the symptoms associated with asthma, it is important to discuss your symptoms with a medical professional. This individual will assist you in determining the level of care that is required, and will support you during treatment.
