What is asthma?
Asthma is a chronic lung disease that involves tightening of the airways, or bronchial tubes, that keeps air from moving as freely, and causes you to have symptoms such as shortness of breath or wheezing. The bronchial tubes also become inflamed, which means that they are red and swollen. In addition, the airways are twitchier and infection, irritants, or allergens may trigger an asthma attack.
Who gets asthma?
Asthma is common – an estimated 14 to 15 million people in the United States have it. Most cases are diagnosed in childhood, but adults can also develop asthma. Often other family members have asthma too. It commonly occurs in people who also have allergies or eczema, or in whom these disorders run in the family.
Why Does Asthma Happen?
Sensitive airways can become affected by many things. These are called asthma triggers.
The first important step in controlling your asthma is to discover what allergens trigger
your asthma, and stay away from them!
If you can control your triggers, you can help keep your airways from becoming inflamed
and swollen.
What Causes Asthma ?
The causes of Asthma are different from
one person to another. The most common
causes of asthma are:
• dust,
• pollen,
• pet hair,
• cockroaches,
• cold,
• air pollutants like tobacco
smoke, car exhaust,
• cleaning products
and perfumes
• illness,
• cold and windy weather, and
• rigorous or hard exercise
(this does not mean people
with asthma cannot exercise).
How is asthma treated?
Your doctor will choose the proper medications depending on how severe your asthma is. There are quick-acting “rescue” medications that act to decrease the twitchiness and open up the airways immediately. There are also slow-acting medicines that help to control inflammation over the long term. In a severe attack your doctor may prescribe steroid pills for extra help getting inflammation under control.
What are symptoms of asthma?
Common symptoms of asthma are coughing, wheezing (or
whistling in the chest), chest tightness (feels like someone is
sitting on your chest) and shortness of breath. People with asthma
often have one or more of these symptoms.
How is asthma diagnosed?
Only your doctor can decide if your breathing problems are due to
asthma. Your doctor will:
Take a detailed medical history. You will be asked detailed
questions about you and your family’s medical histories and
your breathing problems.
Do a physical examination. This may include listening to
your lungs and checking inside your nose.
Test your breathing by using spirometry. Spirometry is
a quick, simple breathing test that measures how much air
you can blow out of your lungs. For this test, you’ll be asked
to blow long and hard through a tube attached to a small
machine. The machine will show how much air you can push
out of your lungs and how fast. Because spirometry takes
some coordination, children under five years old are not
usually asked to do this test.
Your doctor may order other tests:
a chest x-ray and lab tests
allergy tests: Your doctor may refer you to an allergist, who
will test for specific allergies and ask what your symptoms
are and when you notice them. Usually allergists use a “skin
prick” test. This may help to find out what allergies make
your asthma worse.
challenge tests: These tests are done in a hospital. They
help to tell the doctor how “twitchy” or hyperresponsive your
airways are.
Your doctor may also give you asthma medications to try. If these
medications make your symptoms go away, this may help to make
the diagnosis of asthma.
With a proper diagnosis, your doctor and asthma health-care team
can help you manage your asthma.