Asthma Helpline contains full information about
asthma attack, asthma symptoms, asthma diagnosis and asthma treatment
along with FAQs. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of airways of the lungs, 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 WHO 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 proper diagnosis and treatment, it's
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 causes symptoms and asthma attack.
Asthma FAQ of the day
What are asthma symptoms during asthma
attack:
Full-blown attack of asthma attack 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.
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. Proper
asthma diagnosis is
necessary for treatment.
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 and is most common
chronic disease affecting children.
Here are some important facts about asthma:
1. Asthma is not a communicable disease.
You cannot get infected and get asthma by any asthmatic 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. Go to
diagnosis >>>.
5. Viral respiratory infections are one of the most important
causes of asthma symptoms and 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.
Diagnosis is also made by Peak flow meter.
8. Asthma is not a contraindication for doing exercise. Many
great athletes suffer from asthma symptoms and attack. Read
Exercise Induced Asthma. Proper
diagnosis and treatment is necessary in Exercise induced asthma.
9. Two main categories of
asthma medication and treatment are
Reliever
(used to treat symptoms and exacerbations or acute attacks) and
Preventer medication.
10. Inhaled route is the most preferred way to provide asthma
treatment 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.
Proper diagnosis and symptoms control is necessary.
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.
