Asthma - Causes and Caution Tips

Today million of people are suffering from asthma. Thousands of them lose their lives every year; about 20% of the total death cases are children. Let us take some preventive measures, which can help save lives of our dear ones.

Asthma is a chronic lung condition that can develop at any age. Asthma is an inflammation of airways that makes it difficult to breathe. It is one of the most common respiratory disease in children and adults as well and more than 10-15% children are suffering from this disease and statistics are getting worse every year. There is an increase in deaths recorded due to asthma every year. Today, asthma is emerging as an epidemic.

Normally, when we breathe, the muscles which are wrapped around our air tubes (also known as airways) are loose and in relaxed state, and the lining inside the airways is very thin, allowing the airways to open up very wide which makes it easy to get air in and out of the lungs (air sacs) i.e. when everything is normal, the muscles wrapping the airways are thin and loose, the airways are wide open to allow more air pass through them and we can breathe easily.

During an asthma attack, the muscles around the airways tighten and the lining inside the airways swell or thicken, and gets clogged with thick mucous. This narrowing or obstruction of the airways makes it harder to move air in and out of the air sacs, which in turn makes difficult to breathe. The air gets trapped in lungs and it becomes very difficult to breathe out.

Initially, the narrowing or obstruction of airways causes one or combinations of symptoms, which are: wheezing, shortness of breathing, coughing, chest tightens, uneasy feeling etc.

In medical terms related to asthma, anything that causes an asthma attack is called a trigger. Some known triggers causing asthma attack are: dust mites, cold air, exercise, air pollutants, animals, smoke, intense emotions, pollens, molds, viral infections (viral infection is one of the most common cause of asthma in people) etc. It is observed that a person diagnosed with asthma may respond to the above-enlisted triggers in different manner than the other person having asthma.

It is always better to stay in a clean environment and stay away from the triggers that cause asthma attack. If it is found that anything or any animal is acting as a trigger in asthma attacks, then that thing or animal should be removed from your environment at the earliest.

If you find it difficult to breathe and suspect to have asthma symptoms, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. Visit your doctor regularly and ask for proper guidance if you are diagnosed with asthma. Your doctor will prescribe you medications and will guide you according to the severity of your asthma. There are several tests that you will have to undergo. Your doctor may conduct several tests like Spirometry, Peak flow test, Chest X-Rays, Allergy Tests, Skin Prick Tests, Blood Tests, Physical Examinations etc. to understand a detailed picture of your condition.

People who are diagnosed with asthma can live a normal, healthy and an active life with the help of proper medications, changing living habits and lifestyle. Take your medications regularly as directed by your doctor, to keep asthma under control. Prepare an action plan, which will help you understand what you should do when you get an attack and when your condition gets worse. People staying with asthma patients should also learn which steps they have to follow in case of emergencies.

There is no cure for asthma, but it is always possible to bring asthma under control and asthma attacks can be prevented. You just need to be careful, alert and play your role as per the situation.

Article By Shalaka Bhosale