Asthma Helpline website contains full information about
asthma symptoms, asthma diagnosis and asthma treatment
along with asthma FAQs. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of airways of the lungs. Asthma is often linked
to heredity and environment. Asthma is considered as a major public health problem in many countries. Asthma is one
of the most common chronic disease affecting both adults and children.
According to World Health Organization an estimated 300 million people worldwide suffer from asthma, with 250,000
annual deaths attributed to the disease. Asthma attack is characterized by sudden attacks of labored breathing,
chest constriction and coughing. Traditionally, asthma is considered to be a condition characterized by narrowing of
airways where in the patients would gasp for breath. Despite the availability increasing treatment, asthma-related
morbidity and mortality continues to rise.
The prevalence of asthma is increasing in developed as well developing countries through the world. The current
prevalence is estimated to be 5 to more than 10%. In a normal individual, various airborne allergens (triggers)
stimulate the production of antibodies and other chemicals in controlled quantity, which destroy the allergen but
don’t harm the body. But in allergic individual who have asthma there is over production of antibodies and other
chemicals which cause inflammation of the airways, which is hallmark of
asthma attack.
Asthma FAQ of the day
What are asthma symptoms during asthma
attack:
Full-blown attack of asthma is usually episodic and has
following symptoms:
1. Wheezing
A high-pitched whistling sounds when breathing out—especially
in children. (Lack of wheezing and a normal chest examination do
not exclude asthma).
2. Coughing (specially in night).
3. Recurrent breathlessness or
Shortness of breath.
4. Tightness of the chest, pain or
pressure.
Symptoms of asthma vary from
person to person. Some may have all the above symptoms and some
may have few of them. Severity may vary in each attack.
Things which every body must know about
asthma:
Asthma affects millions of people
worldwide. It is one of the disease where the incidence of
disease is increasing year by year. It is also the most common
chronic disease affecting children.
Here are some important facts about asthma
that everybody must know:
1. Asthma is not a communicable disease.
You cannot get infected and get asthma by any asthma patient.
Asthma is disease where genetic and environmental factors play
role.
2.
Asthma is caused by the chronic
inflammation (swelling) of airways of lungs.
3. Airway inflammation contributes to airway hyper
responsiveness, airflow limitation (obstruction), epithelial;
damage and long term structural remodeling of the airways
causing respiratory symptoms.
4. Atopy, the genetic predisposition for the development of an
IgE-mediated response to common aeroallergens, is the strongest
identifiable predisposing factor for developing asthma.
5. Viral respiratory infections are one of the most important
causes of asthma exacerbation and may also contribute to the
development of asthma.
6. The main
symptoms of asthma are
wheezing, coughing, recurrent breathlessness or shortness of
breath, tightness of the chest, and pain or pressure on the
chest.
7.
Diagnosis of asthma is made by
detailed medical history, physical examination focusing on the
upper respiratory tract, chest and a test called spirometry.
8. Asthma is not a contraindication for doing exercise. Many
great athletes suffer from asthma. Read
Exercise Induced Asthma to know
more.
9. Two main categories of
asthma medication are relievers
(used to treat symptoms and exacerbations or acute attacks) and
preventer (agents for long-term control, used to achieve and
maintain control of persistent asthma) medication.
10. Inhaled route is the most preferred way to deliver asthma
medication as it delivers drugs directly to lung airways. This
makes the action of the drug faster with lower or negligible
side effects.
11. Asthma is one of the most common potentially
life-threatening condition complicating pregnancy. Read
pregnancy and asthma.
12. Asthma causes
lots of financial burden to the society. This is principally
related to the
drug therapy,
medical cost of hospitalization and emergency care. loss of work
days and school also contributes indirectly to this. According
to Weiss and Sullivan,2 in 1998, asthma resulted in more
than $5.3 billion in indirect costs: $1.2 billion for lost
school days, $1.5 billion in lost workdays, $840 million in
caregiver/housekeeping costs, and $1.8 billion in mortality
costs. The financial cost of asthma to the UK is over £2.3
billion per year.
13. Remember that asthma is a treatable disease and you can live
a healthy and productive life like any body else with proper
treatment. Any query go to
asthma
FAQs.
Note:
Asthma Helpline has been specially made to answer queries
arising in the minds of millions of people suffering from
asthma. Contents of Asthma Helpline are written and edited by
medical expert in Respiratory Medicine. The content is for
informational purpose only. It is not intended to replace
evaluation and advice by a physician. The information provided
on Asthma Helpline is designed to support, not replace, the
relationship that exists between a patient / site visitor and
his/ her health professional.
