Asthma. Cause, symptoms,, treatment

 Coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and dyspnea are frequent long-term symptoms of asthma.

Each person experiences these symptoms differently, varying in severity. Most people can manage their asthma effectively most of the time, while some people may experience more severe issues.

Sometimes, asthma symptoms can progressively worsen or suddenly get worse. Although medical professionals occasionally use the phrase "exacerbation," this is referred to as a "asthma attack."

Although uncommon, severe attacks may necessitate medical care and pose a life-threatening risk.

Why does asthma develop?

Inflammation of the tiny tubes, known as bronchi, which transport air into and out of the lungs, results in asthma. The bronchi will be more sensitive and irritated than usual if you have asthma.

Your airways constrict, the muscles around them tighten, and more sticky mucus is produced when you are exposed to something that irritates your lungs, or a trigger (phlegm).

common causes of asthma include:

Animal fur, house dust mites, and pollen

viral infections are exacerbated by tobacco smoke

Substances (allergens or chemicals) inhaled while working can also cause asthma. If you believe your symptoms are worse at work and improve while you are on vacation, talk to your doctor.

the explanation for why certain people.

Those impacted who?

Approximately 5.4 million people in the UK are now receiving asthma therapy.

That translates to one in twelve adults and one in eleven kids. Adult women are more likely than adult men to have asthma.

how to treat asthma?

There are numerous therapies that can aid in controlling the condition even though there is no known cure for asthma.

Two key objectives that form the foundation of treatment are:

reduction of symptoms

preventing future attacks and symptoms

For the majority of people, this will require the occasional – or, more frequently, daily – use of drugs, typically inhaled. However, it's also crucial to recognise and stay away from potential triggers.

Your doctor or nurse should have helped you create a personal asthma action plan that details the medications you must take, how to recognise when your symptoms are growing worse, and what to do if.

Asthma symptoms:

Mild to severe asthma symptoms are possible. While a few people will have issues most of the time, the majority of people will only sometimes suffer symptoms.

Asthma's primary symptoms include:

wheezing (a whistling sound when you breathe) (a whistling sound when you breathe)

a tight chest that may feel like a band is tightening around it, shortness of breath, coughing

In particular, if the illness is not adequately controlled, these sensations are frequently worse at night and in the early morning hours. They might also get worse or develop in reaction to a specific stimulus, like physical activity or an allergen exposure.

For further details on probable triggers, visit our page on asthma causes.

asthma flare-ups?

An asthma attack, also referred to as a "acute asthma exacerbation," occurs when asthma symptoms become noticeably worse.

Although certain asthmatics are prone to sudden, unanticipated severe attacks, asthma attacks sometimes take a few days or longer to become serious. Early detection and appropriate response to attacks are critical.

The symptoms listed above may worsen during an asthma attack, and if you're currently receiving treatment, your inhaler medicine may not function as well as it usually does.

Your peak expiratory flow may have decreased while you were using a peak flow metre to track your asthma. To learn more, read about diagnosing asthma.

signs of an especially bad case of asthma.

Who is in danger?

Although there is no known cause of asthma, there are a number of factors that have been linked to an increased risk of the condition. These consist of:

having another atopic condition having a family history of asthma or other allergic illnesses (referred to as atopic conditions), such as eczema, food allergies, or hay fever

being exposed to tobacco smoke as a child, especially if your mother smoked while she was pregnant, having bronchiolitis as a child, being born prematurely, especially if you needed a ventilator to support your breathing after birth, or having a low birth weight due to constrained growth in the womb.

Asthma triggers

In persons with asthma, the tiny tubes (bronchi) that carry air in and out of the lungs become irritated and more sensitive than normal.

This means that when you come into contact with a trigger (anything that irritates your lungs), your airways constrict, the muscles surrounding them tense up, and more sticky mucus is produced (phlegm).

Numerous factors can cause asthma symptoms, including:

airborne irritants such as cigarette smoke, chemical fumes, and atmospheric pollution respiratory tract infections, especially infections affecting the upper airways, such as colds and the flu, allergens such as pollen, dust mites, animal fur, or feathers, and medications, especially the class of painkillers known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which includes aspirin and ibuprofen, and beta-blockers.

identifying asthma?

Your doctor can usually diagnose asthma if you exhibit typical symptoms.

They'll ask you when the symptoms occur, how frequently they occur, and whether you've noticed anything that might cause them.

Your doctor could also inquire about any allergic (atopic) illnesses you may have, such as eczema and hay fever, which frequently coexist with asthma.

The diagnosis can be verified using a variety of tests. Below is a description of these.

Asthma in children can be challenging to diagnose because so many other illnesses in infants can manifest similar symptoms. The exams listed below are not necessarily appropriate for kids.

Therefore, your doctor may occasionally advise giving your child an inhaler for asthma a try.