Learn About Asthma - The Causes, Symptoms, Prevention and Treatment

Introduction to Asthma

Chronically hyperactive and over-excited airways are the major causes of bronchial asthma, and such conditions further punctuate acute episodes of reversible narrowing of the airways. As the reasons for this disorder have not yet been understood completely, it is usually considered that those suffering from asthma usually experience irritant to dust, viral infections and smoke in particular. These irritants are responsible for the contraction of muscles within the bronchi a condition referred as "Bronchospasm", and these even initiate the excessive production of mucus. Thus such conditions make the situation even more severe and the sufferer is not able to breathe appropriately. Nature of the attacks can be different and can vary in time period as well. There is no specific age for this disorder to occur as every person of any age can be the victim.

Major Causes

Asthma is generally caused due to some kind of allergy to irritating particles like dust or smoke whereas in some cases some other factors are also found to be responsible for this condition. Generally the irritants which are responsible for this condition include smoke, viral infections, dust particles, specific kinds of drugs, pollen and intake of certain kinds of food. There are some other diseases which are associated with asthma and ultimately become the cause of asthma which are generally hay fever or eczema. Some other factors such as any emotional excitement, stress or unnatural way of exercise may also become a cause of asthma.

Possible Symptoms

Difficult breathing, rapid episodes of breathing, wheezing, coughing with production of yellow or clear sputum, a sense of suffocation, painless tightness in chest, shallow breathing which is usually relieved by sitting and relaxing and sweating during breathing. These are the typically observed symptoms.

Now those symptoms which are observed in severe cases are an inability to speak, excessive sweating, sensation of anxiety, stretching of the muscles of neck and rapid pulse rate.

During emergency when the conditions are extreme the blueness of face or lips, confusion in behavior, extremely labored breathing or sense of extreme exhaustion is observed.

How can Asthma be Prevented?

One should be really careful about a few things in order to refrain from the severe situation. First one should identify all those irritants that cause problem then create an environment free of such irritants. Those carpets which are not really easy to clean should be out of the house and the house should be cleaned regularly. One should strictly refrain from smoking and also avoid the company of those who smoke.

One should drink at least eight glasses of water each day, to keep your airways hydrated for the loose excretion of mucus. One should practice deep and relaxed breathing each morning in order to give some exercise to the air ways, it would keep them active. As exercise may also prove to be harmful in such situations thus one should consult a doctor in this respect and practice the prescribed exercise.

How can Asthma be Treated?

A very common device known to every one is the "Bronchodilator"; through it a specific medicine is inhaled which can instantly relieve a severe attack, the medicine which is used in this inhaler is prescribed by the doctor. This treatment, although is instant and quite effective as well, should not be used excessively as the patient will begin relying upon it all the time. Corticosteroids, if inhaled regularly, can help prevent the underlying over-excitement. If the attacks become quite frequent then the oral bronchodilator drugs or an anti-leukotriene agent may prove to be very helpful in reducing the frequency of attacks and may prevent from severe cases. It is recommended that the inhalers should be used with the spacer, this spacer ensures the arrival of the medicine into the lungs properly and thus make the treatment effective.

A "peak airflow meter" is a device which is very helpful for the patients suffering from asthma as it can alert the patient well before time about an upcoming attack, therefore it is mostly recommended by doctors. Corticosteroid pills are generally prescribed by doctors for severe situations, and if the doctor is able to identify the specific allergens then he/she will most probably give you desensitize injections.

In extreme cases if no treatment is working at home then you should immediately call the ambulance.