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Asthma - Cause, Symptoms, Treatment of Asthma
Asthma Overview & Information
Asthma is the most
troublesome of the respiratory diseases. Alternartive names known are
Bronchial asthma; Asthma - bronchial; Exercise induced asthma - bronchial; Reactive airways disease (RAD). It is
characterized by periodic attacks of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. Asthma usually begins in childhood, although onset in adulthood is not uncommon. About 20 million people in the United States have asthma. And more than 70 percent of people with asthma have allergies.
Treatment of asthma is aimed at avoiding known allergens and respiratory irritants and controlling symptoms and airway inflammation through medication.
Effective management of your condition can help you live a healthy and full life.
Asthma Symptoms
Common symptoms of Asthma include:
-
wheezing
- usually begins suddenly
- is episodic
- may be worse at night or in early morning
- aggravated by exposure to cold air
- aggravated by exercise
- aggravated by heartburn (reflux)
- resolves spontaneously
- relieved by bronchodilators (drugs that open the airways)
- cough with or without sputum (phlegm) production
- shortness of breath that is aggravated by exercise
- breathing that requires increased work
- intercostal retractions (pulling of the skin between the ribs when breathing)
Emergency symptoms:
- extreme difficulty breathing
- bluish color to the lips and face
- severe anxiety
- rapid pulse
- sweating
- decreased level of consciousness (severe drowsiness or confusion) during an asthma attack
Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:
- nasal flaring
- chest pain
- tightness in the chest
- abnormal breathing pattern, in which exhalation (breathing out) takes more than twice as long as inspiration (breathing in)
- breathing which temporarily stops
- coughing up blood
Causes of Asthma
The causes of asthma are unknown but there is abnormal airway sensitivity
to irritants. These may be:
inhaled, e.g., dust, acrid fumes, solvents or simply cold air, or
ingested, e.g., shellfish or eggs;
acute anxiety;
certain chest diseases, e.g. chronic bronchitis, acute viral or bacterial chest infection. Factors that can cause an Asthma include:
- Pollens.
- House dust mites.
- Cockroaches.
- Viral respiratory infections.
- Common cold.
- Smoking.
- Fumes.
- Air pollution.
- Exercise.
- Yelling.
- Crying.
- Laughing.
- Stress.
- Weather changes.
- Cold air.
- Certain medications.
- Pets.
- Birds.
- Car exhaust fumes.
Asthma Prevention tips and don't of asthma
- Clean the house at least once a week and wear a mask while doing it.
- Avoid pets with fur or feathers.
- Do not try home remedies or underestimate the severity of the attack.
- Wash the bedding (sheets, pillow cases, mattress pads) weekly in hot water.
- Encase the mattress, pillows and box springs in dust-proof covers.
- Replace bedding made of down, kapok or foam rubber with synthetic materials.
- Do not administer medications without knowing how to do so
- Unless liscensed as a health care professional, you may only 'help' the person having the attack with their medications, not 'administer them'
- Consider replacing upholstered furniture with leather or vinyl.
- Consider replacing carpeting with hardwood floors or tile.
- Use the air conditioner.
- Keep the humidity in the house low.
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