Feeling out of breath all the time? Feeling chest pain or tightness during any physical exertion? Getting frustrated by constant coughing? Hearing a whistling or wheezy sound in your chest while you breathe? You may feel perfectly normal at times with symptoms showing up occasionally. But in reality, it may not just be the case. There is a chance that you may be suffering from asthma. What is asthma you ask? Simply put, it is a chronic condition that causes inflammation and narrowing of the bronchial tubes, or the airways of the lungs.
As mentioned above, those are some of the symptoms of asthma. It is known to be a combination effect of genetic and environmental factors. Some of the environmental factors include exposure to air pollution, dust and allergens. There are also many medications that may trigger asthma in many patients such as aspirin or beta blockers. If you have asthma, the airways are always inflamed, swollen, and muscles around can tighten when something triggers the symptoms. It makes air passage difficult through the bronchial tubes. This is the answer to what is asthma.
Members of a family are more prone to asthma when they have a family history of allergies or asthma. Many people having asthma also develops allergies over time, and is called allergic asthma. Many often get occupational asthma, which is caused by inhaling fumes, dust, gases, etc. Asthma can also be classified according to the frequency of the symptoms. For a detailed report on what is asthma you may consult any allergist or immunologist.
Childhood asthma affects thousands of children every year. It is seen that most children who develop asthma, develop it before the age of five. It is a serious chronic disease and yet is often difficult to diagnose. Some early symptoms may be wheezing, coughing, rapid breathing, laboured breathing, chest pain, and lack of energy, tendency to get tired or weak easily. Some children often experience these symptoms only when playing a game or sport. Allergies, family history of allergies or asthma, frequent respiratory infections, low birth weight, exposure to second hand smoke(before or after birth), etc. are some of the factors that can increase the risk of asthma in children. Childhood asthma just like asthma in adults cannot be cured, but with the right medications and treatment, the symptoms can be kept under control.
Staying active is an important way to remain healthy, so don’t let asthma slow you down. To control the symptoms of asthma, one must visit the allergist, and follow the prescribed medication religiously. Controller medications are taken daily which includes inhaled corticosteroids, mometasone, ciclesonide, funisolide and beclomethasone. Combination inhalers contain an inhaled corticosteroid plus a long-acting beta-agonist, commonly called as LABA. Quick-relief or rescue medications are used to quickly relax and open the airways and relieve symptoms during an asthma flare-up, or are taken before exercising if prescribed. These include short-acting beta-agonists. These are solutions to keep the asthma in check but there is no asthma cure as such.
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