Asthma-Causes and Treatment
by Harleen Kaur - May 5, 2009
May 5: It has been derived from the Greek word ‘Panos’ which means panting. It is a chronic lung disease which causes breathing problems. It can become life-threatening if proper treatment is not provided. The breathing problems during asthma are generally referred to as asthma attacks.
According to an estimate of World Health Organization (WHO), more than 300 million people suffer from asthma throughout the world while more than 255000 people died of this disease in the year 2005. it is being feared that deaths from asthma are likely to increase in the coming ten years if proper medical intervention is not sought.
Common symptoms of Asthma- The most common symptoms or clues of asthma are cough, shortness of breath, wheezing sound during breathing and a tightness in the chest. Any one of these symptoms may be felt by the sufferer during an asthma attack or an asthma episode.
Asthma attack- Asthma has a strong link with allergy. During an asthma attack, the airways (also known as bronchi), which carry air in and out of the lungs, shrink or become smaller. So, when an asthma patient comes into contact with anything that results in an allergic reaction, the bronchi make the breathing process difficult leading to wheezing and shortness of breath.
Identify asthma triggers- Asthma triggers are the things found in environment that irritate the airways and lead to an asthma attack. Generally, triggers include pollens, smoke, molds, dust mites, fumes of paint, feathers, gases, viruses and other particles found in the air. Additionally, cold air, physical exercise and some medicines including beta-blockers, aspirin and non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs may trigger asthma in some people. Extreme emotions of anger and fear can also trigger asthma attack.
Control and prevention of asthma- Asthma is not completely curable. However, timely treatment can help bring the disease under control and enable the sufferer lead a normal life. It is good to consult your health care provider about your asthma.
You can control asthma by knowing the warning signs of asthma known as asthma triggers. Once you have identified your triggers, you can prevent your asthma attacks to a great extent. Living in a healthy and clean environment goes a long way in controlling asthma.
Treatment - Inhalers happen to be the most common treatment used to control asthma. Inhalers give immediate relief to the airways and there are no side-effects of using inhalers. Inhaled corticosteroids help in reducing the bronchial inflammation.
Apart from inhalers, physicians may prescribe use of steroids for a short duration (for e.g. prednisolone) to control a severe attack of asthma.
Conclusion- You can avoid asthma attack by analyzing the various triggers and staying away from them.
Last edited by Harleen Kaur on May 5, 2009 - 09:55 | Write to author: Harleen Kaur |
