300 million people worldwide suffer from asthma. Asthma can occur due to a number of reasons. While some might be genetically pre-disposed to atopy and hyperresponsiveness, asthma may also depend on factors such as obesity and sex. Further, environmental factors may include allergens, occupational sensitizes, infectious diseases, tobacco smoke, outdoor/indoor air pollution, and diet. Thus, asthma is not solely induced by inhalation of noxious gases and fumes alone.
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways in which the chronic inflammation of the airway causes a hyper-responsiveness that leads to recurrent episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness and coughing, especially at night or in the early morning. These episodes are caused due to variable obstruction in airflow, and can be resolved, either spontaneously or with treatment.
Triggers of asthmatic symptoms
A number of elements could trigger asthmatic attacks, including:
- Medications: Certain medications such as aspirin, beta-blockers, and ACE inhibitors may trigger an asthmatic reaction. Those with asthma are advised to look into medicines before taking them by availing the opinion of a physician, even if a medicine has not caused a reaction before.
- Weather: Cold air, high altitudes, and changes in humidity may cause an asthmatic attack or episode.
- Heartburn: Severe heartburn may accompany asthma and vice-versa. 89% of asthmatic patients suffer from heartburn, especially during the night, when stomach acids build up after a meal. Heartburn may induce asthma at a later stage in life, and this may be managed through medication and change in diet and lifestyle.
- Smoke, air pollution, and chemical irritants: Cigarette smoke, industrial smoke, air pollution, and chemical irritants or fumes could trigger an asthmatic attack as these tend to irritate the airway and lungs, causing the airway to constrict or causing a coughing fit which becomes an asthmatic attack. Allergens, whether chemical or environmental may cause allergic rhinitis which may exacerbate asthmatic symptoms.
- Environmental allergies: 80% of asthma patients tend to be allergic to elements in the air such as pollen, mold, animal dander, dust mites, and insect droppings. Treating underlying allergies and avoiding them in daily life could lower the risk of suffering from asthmatic attacks. Thus, it might be prudent to visit an allergist to determine the allergies one has if you’re suffering from symptoms of asthma.
- Allergies to food and food additives: A number of foods could trigger a fatal reaction called anaphylaxis, which might include an asthmatic attack. Common foods that may cause this are soy, seafood, peanuts, wheat, and eggs.
- Exercise: 80% of asthmatic patients reportedly find that asthmatic attacks occur after physical exertion and exercise.
- Smoking: Frequent smokers are more likely to develop asthma, and pregnant women who smoke may cause wheezing to occur in their babies. Smoking and inhaling smoke can also trigger an asthmatic attack for those suffering from the same since childhood.
- Respiratory infections: Sinusitis, bronchitis, cold, and flu can cause further inflammation of the airways and lungs, causing an onset of an asthmatic episode.
Asthma is essentially the inflammation of the bronchial tubes which constricts the airway and makes it difficult for a person to breath. In asthma, the airway inflammation is persistent, and the relationship between airway inflammation and severity of disease is not determined. The inflammation occurs in all respiratory tracts including the upper respiratory tract and nose. This inflammation is also similar in all clinical forms of asthma, whether triggered by genetic factors or allergens.
Early symptoms
- Frequent coughing, especially in the mornings and at night
- Shortness of breath and breathlessness
- Extreme fatigue and weakness during physical exertion
- Coughing or wheezing after exercise
- Moodiness, irritability, and general fatigue
- Decreases or changes in lung function (diagnosed by a physician through a flow meter)
- Persistent symptoms of a cold or allergies
- Insomnia
Symptoms of Asthmatic Attacks
The symptoms of an asthmatic attack can include:
- Heaviness in the lungs or chest
- Rattling in the lungs or chest
- Attacks of coughing or wheezing, which become worse when one gets a flu or a respiratory virus
- Coughing, especially in the morning or in the night
- Breathlessness and shortness of breath
- Labored breathing
- Wheezing when one exhales, which is especially noticeable in children
- Tightness in the neck or throat
- Difficulty walking or talking
- Panic
Symptoms of asthma may present differently in different individuals, and even in different episodes. Some episodes may be more severe, while some may be mild. Additionally, some may experience symptoms everyday while some may experience them only at the time of physical exertion or in response to allergens.
Conclusion
Your general physician may be best equipped to make a diagnosis for asthma based on imaging, medical history, and symptoms. Asthma is a chronic condition which may never be cured. However, the predicament can be managed with lifestyle changes and treatment, such as lessening exposure to air pollution, smoke, and other irritants and use of quick-action rescue inhalers. Cigarette smokers would benefit from quitting.