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Asthma prevalence in India is around 3%, with a prevalence of 2.4% in adults aged above 15 years and between 4% and 20% in children. Bronchial asthma is a lung condition. It's a chronic ailment and requires long-term medical care. Asthma can be life-threatening if left untreated. In this blog, you’ll learn:
- What leads to asthma?
- What triggers asthma in adults?
- What are the symptoms of asthma?
- Asthma diagnosis and management
- What is the best treatment for asthma?
Synopsis
What Leads to Asthma?
Researchers are uncertain about the reasons why some individuals have asthma while others do not. However, specific factors increase the chance:
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Allergies can elevate the risk of asthma.
- Exposure to irritants can lead to asthma development. These irritants are allergens, toxins, fumes, and second- or third-hand smoke. They can be harmful to young children and infants whose immune systems are developing.
- A family history of asthma or allergic conditions increases the risk of developing the disease.
- Respiratory infections such as respiratory syncytial virus can harm the lungs of young children.
What Are Common Triggers for Asthma Attacks?
Asthma attacks can be triggered by exposure to irritating substances. Identifying your asthma triggers can prevent attacks. Common triggers include the following:
- Outdoor pollutants like factory emissions, car exhaust, and wildfire smoke
- Microscopic bugs at home
- Physical activity
- Mould growth in damp environments
- Pests like cockroaches and mice
- Strong chemicals or odours
- Cleaning products, flour dust, or chemicals
If you're allergic to pet dander, exposure to pets can lead to asthma attacks. Inhaling smoke increases the chances of asthma attacks. Smoking should be avoided indoors, and quitting smoking is the best solution. What triggers an asthma attack can vary from person to person, so consulting your doctor to ensure safety is the best solution.
What Are the Symptoms of Asthma?
Asthmatic patients have evident symptoms. These signs and symptoms are similar to other respiratory infections:
- Chest tension, soreness, or pressure
- Coughing (particularly at night)
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
With asthma, you may not have all these symptoms throughout each flare. Chronic asthma symptoms and indicators vary from time to time. Also, symptoms vary between asthma attacks.
Asthma Diagnosis: How Is it Done?
Your input is vital for the doctor to understand the situation. The asthma diagnosis process involves:
Medical History and Symptoms
- Your doctor will inquire about past breathing difficulties you experienced and a family history of asthma, allergies, eczema, or lung diseases. Provide detailed descriptions of your symptoms, frequency and timing.
Physical Examination
- Your doctor will examine you to rule out respiratory infections or COPD conditions. They'll ask about your symptoms and health.
Lung Function Tests
- Spirometry measures how much air you can exhale and how fast, indicating bronchial tube narrowing.
- Peak flow measures how forcefully you can exhale. Low readings suggest worsening asthma.
Bronchodilator Test
-
Before and after using a bronchodilator, lung function tests are done, and improvement after using the bronchodilator suggests asthma.
Additional Tests
- Methacholine uses an asthma trigger to check airway response.
- Imaging tests like X-rays look for structural issues or infections.
- Allergy tests identify allergens like pet dander or pollen.
- Nitric oxide test checks for airway inflammation.
- The sputum eosinophils test looks for specific white blood cells in coughed-up mucus.
- Provocative tests assess airway obstruction after exercise or exposure to cold air.
Treating Asthma
Prevention and long-term control are crucial for preventing asthma attacks. Treatment involves:
Recognising Triggers
- Identify what triggers your asthma.
- Take steps to avoid these triggers.
- Monitor your breathing to ensure medications are effective.
Medications
- The medications depend on your age, symptoms, triggers, and what works best for your asthma control.
- Long-term control medications reduce inflammation in the airways and prevent symptoms.
- Quick-relief inhalers open swollen airways during flare-ups.
Types of Long-Term Control Medications
- Inhaled corticosteroids reduce inflammation
- Leukotriene modifiers relieve symptoms and include montelukast.
- Combination inhalers contain a long-acting bronchodilator and corticosteroid.
Quick-Relief (Rescue) Medications
- Short-acting beta-agonists give quick relief during episodes.
- Anticholinergic drugs rapidly relax the airways.
Other Treatments
- Oral/intravenous corticosteroids reduce airway inflammation but are used short-term due to side effects.
- Immunotherapy and biologics can be used to treat allergies causing asthma.
Asthma: Lifestyle Management
The following are the lifestyle management approaches for asthma therapy:
- Monitor your lung function with a peak flow meter to track changes and adjust treatment accordingly.
- Identify your asthma triggers, such as allergens, infections, exercise, or occupational hazards, and take preventive measures or use rescue inhalers as needed.
- Take prescribed asthma medications as directed by your doctor, as well as controller medications to manage inflammation and prevent symptoms.
- Include antioxidant-rich foods like spinach, broccoli, strawberries, and tomatoes to reduce asthma symptoms.
- Follow an anti-inflammatory diet, focus on healthy food choices, control portions, and avoid fatty or fried foods.
- Stay physically active, as regular exercise can improve the chances of asthma how to prevent and health.
Asthma Emergency Care
In an emergency room for an asthma attack:
- Oxygen therapy is delivered through a nasal tube if oxygen levels are low.
- Quick-relief medications are administered via inhaler or nebulizer to open airways.
- Corticosteroids are given orally or through injection to reduce inflammation.
- Mechanical ventilation, if the attack is severe, assists breathing and provides oxygen. It can be a breathing mask or, in critical cases, intubation with a tube into the windpipe.
Observation or treatment continues in the emergency room until stable breathing is achieved.
Individuals with asthma can live fulfilling lives. Several elite athletes with asthma have achieved remarkable feats in their respective sports. Your doctor assists you in finding an effective treatment to manage your asthma.
FAQ's
To answer what is the best treatment for asthma, it is unfortunate, that there is no acknowledged cure for asthma. However, with medical care, the symptoms can be managed to have minimum impact on your daily life.
Asthma triggers vary from person to person. Identifying and avoiding triggers can help reduce symptoms and improve lung function. Common Asthma Triggers are:
- Tobacco Smoke
- Exercise
- Stress
- Cold Air
- Pollen
- Mould
- Animal Dander
- Dust Mites
- Cockroaches
- Diesel Exhaust
- Air Pollution
- Isocyanates
- Dyes
- Formaldehyde
- Wood Dust.
Go to the emergency room right away if you experience:
- Drowsiness or confusion
- Severe shortness of breath at rest
- A peak flow measurement of less than 50%
- Severe chest pain
- Bluish colour to the lips and face
- Extreme difficulty breathing
- Rapid pulse.
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