Asthma

Asthma is a chronic disease that affects the bronchial tubes. When the air passages are swollen or constricted (inflamed), less air flows through the lungs and results in difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, and/or chest tightness. When asthma symptom becomes worse, it is called an asthma attack. Serious asthma episodes can be life-threatening.

Asthma can be managed to reduce the severity and frequency of attacks. Asthma can affect all age groups.

Signs and Symptoms

Asthma symptom can range from mild to severe, and differ in how often they occur. Common asthma symptom includes:

• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Chest tightness
• Shortness of breath

These common symptoms also serve as warning signs for asthma attack. Recognizing the signs and early treatment can help prevent attacks or keep them from becoming worse.

Severe asthma episodes can be life-threatening. Call for emergency assistance if any of these serious symptoms occur:

• Extreme difficulty breathing or cessation of breathing
• Bluish color to the lips and face (called cyanosis)
• Severe anxiety
• Rapid pulse
• Ssweating
• Decreased level of consciousness (such as drowsiness or confusion)

More about Asthma

Causes and Risk Factors 

Asthma is caused by a combination of environmental and genetic factors. There is no known single cause to this disease.

Asthma can be hereditary. It can also be triggered by physical activities (exercise), allergens, irritants and other causes:

• Allergens, such as pollen, animal dander or mold
• Cockroaches and dust mites
• Air pollution
• Cigarette smoke
• Cold air or weather changes
• Strong odors or scented products
• Strong emotional expressions and stress
• Medicines like beta blockers, aspirin and other non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• Sulfites in food and beverages
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Infections like the common cold or sinusitis

Diagnosis

Diagnosing asthma can be difficult. The similarity of its signs and symptoms to other conditions like emphysema, early congestive heart failure or vocal cord problems makes it hard to establish.

Common diagnostic tools involve:

• Evaluation of medical history
• Physical examination, including blood tests, chest x-ray
• Pulmonary examinations (lung function tests) using spirometer and peak flow meter

Treatment Approach 

Asthma treatment and asthma medication depends on the kind of condition a patient has. Common asthma treatment includes:

• Avoidance of allergens, respiratory irritants and certain activities
• Long-term management through medications for the prevention of asthma attacks. This includes use of inhaled steroids, leukotriene inhibitors, anti-IgE therapy, long-acting bronchodilators, cromolyn sodium or nedocromil sodium, and aminophylline or theophylline.
• Quick-relief medications during an attack, such as short-acting bronchodilators and oral or intravenous corticosteroid treatments.
  

Medications

Asthma medication comes in the form of over-the-counter and prescription drugs. Depending on a patient's symptom or condition, the most common asthma prescription medicines are:

Asthma Medications

• Advair-discus
• Flixotide
• Pulmicort-TH
• Seretide-Diskus
• Serevent-Discus
• Singulair