Asthma - Facts And Triggers

• Asthma is a chronic lung condition where the airways are constricted due to inflammation resulting in breathing diffculty.
• During an asthma attack, the lining of the airways (bronchial tubes) swell, become inflammed, the muscles (known as bronchospasm) of the bronchi tighten and extra mucus (or phlegm) is produced which makes the airways more cramped.
• When air flow has to struggle its way through the bronchial tubes, it causes a wheezing or whistling sound.
• Asthmatic symptoms include : tight feeling in the chest, breathing difficulty, shortness of breath, wheezing, sweating, dizziness and in severe cases, areas around the lips turn blue, pulse rate races and sweating takes place.
• Asthma can be very mild to life-threatening. Mild asthma (slight breathlessness and cough) can usually be helped using breathing techniques and medications on the spot while for severe asthma attacks, emergency medical attention has to be called for immediately if symptoms persist longer than 10 minutes.
• Even though asthma is commonly linked to allergens yet not all asthmatics have allergies and neither do people with allergies have asthma.
• Allergens entering an asthmatic’s sensitive airways are known to cause an attack.
• People who are asthmatic and allergic to allergens have an antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE) in their body. This antibody is found exclusively in people with allergies because it is produced by the body in response to allergens.
  IgE activates special cells called mast cells (also known as immune cells) to release chemicals called mediators, such as histamine which will cause redness and swelling.
  With a high intake of Vitamin E, the IgE levels will decrease, thus reducing risk of an asthma attack.

• Asthma attacks may be prevented if triggers are identified and avoided.
• Asthmatics are more likely to experience heartburn (acid reflux) whereby stomach acid goes back up into the esophagus (food pipe) which in some cases may cause asthmatic symptoms. To help prevent this problem, stop eating or drinking several hours before going to bed. It may be helpful to elevate the head of the bed.
• Though asthma usually begins in childhood, it can still start later at any age. Some children do outgrow asthma as they grow up due to a change in the anatomy of their lungs and bronchial tubes.
• A child whose parents has an allergy or is asthmatic stands a 60-70% of inheriting asthma.
• An adult who has never gotten asthma may get it after pneumonia or severe bronchitis.
• It is believed that children who are less exposed to infections and dirt have a weaker immune system which makes them prone to develop allergies.
• The modern diet of processed foods could be responsible for the onset of asthma. So is carpeted, sealed doubled-glazed windows and centrally heated homes.
• There are 2 main types of medication; relievers and controllers (or preventers). These medicines can be taken orally (tablets or syrups) or breathed in using an inhaler for a faster relief (young children can use an inhaler with a spacer).
• Bronchodilators are relieving medicines as they relax muscles surrounding the airways while steroid inhalers help to reduce airway inflammation to prevent asthma attacks.
• A peak flow meter (PFM) measures how fast a person can blow (exhale) air out of the lungs. A narrowing of the airways will reveal a low peak flow rate.
• The exact cause of asthma is not known and it is not contagious.

Triggers

• ALLERGENS
  Pollen, house-dust mites (very tiny bugs invisible to the eye), feathers, furry pets, cockroach droppings, drugs (e.g. penicillin, aspirin) and foods (e.g. diary products, wheat, perserved foods which usually contains sulfites, food dyes, monosodium glutamate, nuts, oranges, seafood and cold drinks).

• IRRITANTS
  Cigarette smoke, scented products such as deodrants, perfumes, makeup and toiletries containing formaldehyde, hair spray, paint and cleaning solvent fumes, insecticides, exhaust fumes and rubber latex.

• EMOTIONAL STRESS
  Expressing intense emotions such as crying, shouting, excitement and anxiety can tighten airways and start an asthma attack.

• WEATHER
  Extreme changes in temperatures, excessive humidity and cold air from an air-conditioner.

• BACTERIAL and VIRAL INFECTIONS
  Flu, sinusitis and bronchitis.

• OVEREXERTION
  Exercise or heavy physical work.

• HORMONES
  For some women, asthma symptoms may worsen before their periods.

  Subscribe to my RSS feed for regular updates.