What is Asthma

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a condition that narrows and causes swelling in your airways and adds extra mucus. You will experience difficulty in breathing which triggers a whistling sound and coughing when your asthma manifests. Asthma hits people differently because, for some people, it’s a nuisance, but for others, it can be fatal.

Managing your symptoms is usually the way to go because to date no cure for asthma exists. Asthma is a condition that changes over time, and you need to work with your doctor to stay ahead of the condition. 

Symptoms

Your symptoms of asthma may vary from other people. You may experience symptoms only during certain times or have infrequent asthma attacks. Symptoms may occur when you exercise or when you go about your daily life.

Here are the symptoms of Asthma:

1. Shortness of breath
2. Wheezing whenever you exhale
3. Tightening of your chest and pain
4. Wheezing or coughing made worse by a respiratory virus
5. Sleeping problems because of coughing, shortness of breath, or wheezing  

Here are a few signs that your Asthma is getting worse:

1. Your symptoms of Asthma are more bothersome and occur more frequently.
2. The inhaler you own sees more use for relief.
3. Breathing is more difficult for you and requires a device to measure how well your lungs are doing.

Here are some of the reasons your asthma may flare up:

1. Exercising may worsen your asthma when done in cold and dry places.
2. Occupational asthma is caused by workplace irritants such as gasses, chemical fumes, or dust.
3. Allergy-induced asthma triggers when you are exposed to airborne substances such as mold spores, pollen, skin particles, etc.
4. Stress can also cause you to experience an asthma attack. 

When to see a doctor

Get emergency treatment when you suffer from a severe asthma attack. Work with your doctor to help you manage your symptoms. 

Contact emergency services when the following happens:

1. You feel no relief from using your inhaler
2. Rapid and worsening shortness of breath or wheezing
3. Experiencing shortness of breath when you do some minimal physical activity

Contact your Doctor

When you suspect you have asthma from frequent wheezing or coughing for more than a few days. 

Monitor your asthma with your doctor after being diagnosed. You need help from your doctor to keep it under control to prevent life-threatening attacks.  

When your symptoms get worse, contact your doctor immediately to get help. Your inhaler being ineffective is another sign to get help. 

Only take your medication as prescribed because not following your doctor’s instructions may worsen your illness.  

Review your treatment because asthma often changes with time.

Causes

There is no clear reason why some people get asthma, and others don’t, but it may be due to environmental and genetic factors. 

Asthma Triggers

Getting exposed to certain irritants and substances may trigger asthma symptoms

Here are some triggers for asthma:

1. GERD
2. Cold air
3. Physical Activity
4. Pollen, spores, and dust
5. Preservatives and sulfites
6. Stress and strong emotions 
7. Air pollutants such as smoke
8. Medications such as aspirin and ibuprofen
9. Respiratory infections such as the common cold

Risk Factors

Here are some factors that may increase your risk of developing asthma:

1. Smoking
2. Pollution
3. Being overweight
4. Exposure to chemicals
5. Exposure to exhaust fumes
6. Your blood relative experiencing asthma
7. Second-hand exposure to smoking
8. Having other allergy conditions such as atopic dermatitis

 

Complications

Complications for Asthma include: 

1. You take sick days whenever your asthma flares-up
2. Your symptoms interfere with your sleep and daily life
3. Side effects from long-term use of asthma medication
4. Emergency room visits when you have an asthma attack
5. Permanent narrowing of your tubes which carry air to and from your own lungs

Prevention

There is no way to create a foolproof plan to prevent asthma from manifesting, but your doctor can design a plan that may help prevent asthma attacks.   

1. Treat your attacks early to prevent them from getting worse.
2. Try to identify what triggers your asthma attacks and avoid them.
3. Take your medication as instructed to prevent unwanted side effects
4. Consult with your doctor when you find yourself using your inhaler too much
5. Monitor your breathing to check for the warning signs of an impending attack.

Follow the lifestyle advice from your doctor to ensure you get your asthma under control. Call your doctor if anything changes in your condition.

Diagnosis

Physical exam

Your doctor will give you a physical exam to disprove other possible conditions such as COPD or respiratory infections. Give detailed answers to your doctor’s questions about your signs and symptoms to help them identify your condition.   

A lung function test can determine how much air moves in and out of your lungs as you breathe. 

Tests to measure lung function

A test to check how much air comes into and out of your lungs as you breathe will be administered. 

Other tests may include:

1. Imaging tests to check for abnormalities 
2. Using asthma triggers to check if you have asthma
3. Exercise test to check how exercising affects your body
4. Allergy test to check for possible triggers for your asthma

Treatment

You need to exert long-term control over your asthma to prevent future attacks. The usual treatment involves recognizing your triggers and avoiding them. Check your breathing and your medications to ensure everything goes well.   

The medication you need depends on a few factors such as triggers, age, and symptoms. 

Here are some of the most simple treatments. 

Medications can help with preventive long-term care and reduce the inflammation of your airways to help you breathe easier.

Please note that you must never use medications without your doctor’s approval or you may endanger your health. 

Quick-relief medication, otherwise known as rescue medication, is needed for rapid short-term symptom relief when experiencing an asthma attack. Inhalers provide a quick way to ease your symptoms in an emergency. The medicine quickly opens up your swollen airways to help you breathe.  

Allergy Medications can help lower your risk of getting an allergic reaction to minimize your chances of suffering from an asthma attack.  

Lifestyle changes may be recommended by your doctor to help you manage your condition.  

1. You may be asked to perform certain exercises under the right conditions.
2. Buy air filters to keep certain substances out of your home. 

 

Natural Treatments

Try natural treatments to help boost the effects of your asthma treatments. 

Please note there is no substitute for asthma medication, and you will need a doctor to help you pick the right medication. Do not forget to alert your doctor should you choose to take natural treatments for asthma.  

Note you need a doctor specializing in natural treatments to ensure you get the right natural treatments. Dr. Cook has decades of experience in both acupuncture and herbal prescriptions to offer you lasting relief from asthma.

Examples of natural treatments

Herbal Prescriptions

Your asthma attacks may be caused by an allergic reaction, but you can control your allergies to lower your risk of suffering from an asthma attack. Strengthening your immune system may prevent your body from being so reactive to the substances contributing to your asthma attacks. Dr. Cook has decades of experience in using herbal medicines to help you get the best herbs for your physiology. 

Acupuncture

Acupuncture uses thin needles that will not cause you pain to help your body experience relief. These thin needles will encourage your body to produce more endorphins to help you relax. These endorphins are your body’s natural painkillers which means they will not cause side effects. Acupuncture can be used to offer you pain relief from the painful symptoms of asthma.