Let's Discuss About Asthma - How to Deal With It and What to Expect

Asthma is a potentially life-threatening disease that strikes the airways of people with asthma. It's also known as bronchitis, or the inflammation of the air passages. Symptoms of asthma usually appear between the ages of 10 and 18, but it can strike at any age.

The most common symptoms are majorly include coughing up mucus Increased breathing frequency and severity (wheezing) Wheezing can be heard throughout a person's house, especially at night time when the air is dry and less humid. If you or someone you know has asthma, it's important to recognize how the disease affects them. Once you understand its causes and signs, you'll be equipped with the best information to help control your own condition and prevent future attacks.

What is asthma?

Asthma is a condition in which the airways get inflamed. The inflammation produces mucus and produces a wheezing sound. It's often triggered by exercise or certain foods, but it can also occur without any apparent reason. As with most "diseases," the cause is unknown. Most experts believe that there are three main types of asthma: type I, which develops in children; type II, which is more frequent in older people; and type III, which affects about 1 in 5 people.

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The three types are different in what effect, if any, symptoms they produce. Type I asthma is the "reactive" type and is likely to respond well to medication and therapy. Type II is the "proliferative" type and is more likely to cause problems. Type III is the "remission" type, which is the norm and by which most people measure themselves. As we age, our airways become less efficient. This can cause increased mucus production and a decrease in bronchodilators, which is why people with asthma often need to use stronger medications during cold and flu season.

During the rest of the year, people with asthma can develop the "reactive" type of the disease, which is characterized by frequent cough and sputum growth. During an asthma attack, the person may not be able to get enough air into their lungs to adequately clear mucus. If the inflammation is severe enough, cells in the lining of the airways are damaged, leading to scarring and shortening of the airways.

The inflammation also leads to narrowing of the airways, which can be detected using a special asthma monitor. The lessening of responsiveness to bronchodilators is the first step toward development of asthma.

Symptoms of Asthma

As we grow older, our airways get more restrictions. This can cause increased mucus production and a decreased ability to clear mucus from the airways.

It can also result in HPA-axis alterations. This means people with asthma often have symptoms that begin close to the HPA-axis. This is the portion of the brain that regulates breathing and is closely associated with symptoms like shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness.

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Some studies have even suggested that the HPA-axis is regulated by the brainstem instead of the cortex. Cough been the most obvious symptom of asthma, cough is caused by increased airway responsiveness. Cough occurs both when the airways are constricted (from asthma) and when they are un-constricted (as with a cold or flu).

Wheezing - This is the movement of air in and out of the lungs that is heard with the mouthpiece of a phonograph or with a hand-held air conditioner. In asthmatics, the cough may be accompanied by a wheezing sound (low-frequency wheezing) that is not heard in people without the condition. This sound is called a "vibration."

Risk Factors for Development of Asthma

If one part of our bodies is allergic to another, it can cause inflammation in our airways. Obesity - Body fat is an important barrier against allergens. Regulated body temperature and the secretion of hormones related to appetite keep our airways clear.
If we gain weight, however, it can become harder to keep our airways free of mucus.

Aging - The airways become less elastic and less responsive to stimulation. The walls of our airways become thicker, reducing the amount of air that can get into the lungs. The symptoms of asthma are usually mild and defined by the patient's appearance, rather than the severity of the attack. This means that people with mild asthma aren't immediately recognizable as having an asthma attack.

A parent or loved one may not be diagnosed with asthma because they don't realize that they have the condition. It's important to get your asthma diagnosis (and any other health exam) done as soon as possible, so you can have access to the best possible care.

What to Expect in an Asthma Attack

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An attack of asthma is characterized by the patient's wobbly breathing, which may be followed by a coughing fit. Some people also develop wheezing during an asthma attack. People with asthma should experience an asthma attack once every several months, if not more often.

Generally, an attack will last from a few seconds to a few minutes, but some people can have a very sudden and intense asthma attack without warning. The walls of our airways become thicker, reducing the amount of air that can get into the lungs. Increased number of allergies - Allergies are Houses of Many Hearts. If one part of our bodies is allergic to another, it can cause inflammation in our airways.

This is the portion of the brain that regulates breathing and is closely associated with symptoms like shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness. Some studies have even suggested that the HPA-axis is regulated by the brainstem instead of the cortex. As we grow older, our airways become less efficient.

This can cause increased mucus production and a decrease in bronchodilators, which is why people with asthma often need to use stronger medications during cold and flu season. It can also result in: Aging - The airways become less elastic and less responsive to stimulation.

The walls of our airways become thicker, reducing the amount of air that can get into the lungs. Increased number of allergies - Allergies are Houses of Many Hearts. If one part of our bodies is allergic to another, it can cause inflammation in our airways. Increased susceptibility to infections - During an asthma attack, people with the disease are more likely to be sick with a cold or flu.

• Links Consulted

(1). https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/asthma

(2). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma/symptoms-causes/syc-20369653

(3). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/6424-asthma

(4). https://www.healthline.com/health/asthma#causes



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