What is Asthma

Asthma is quite a common problem affecting a large number of people in our country – age being no bar.

Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory disorder of the respiratory air-passage. Although symptoms do not exist all the time; but during an asthma attack, normal air passage through the blocked and narrow airways becomes difficult, resulting in breathing problems, panting, coughing, or other associated symptoms.

What happens during an asthma

The inside wall of the airways become narrow and inflamed. They bloat up and get filled with fluid and mucus cells. Obstruction is further caused by tightening of muscles that surround the airways. This situation is called bronchospasm. In some people with asthma, the mucus glands in the airways produce thick mucus in large quantities, further obstructing the airways.

Chronic inflammation is considered to be the major cause of an asthma attack. The inflammation may last for weeks following an attack. Most people with asthma have some degree of inflammation all the time.

When inflammation occurs in the airways, they become sensitive. When the airways are more sensitive, a person is more probable get an asthma attack when exposed to things that trigger asthma.

What are the warning signs and symptoms of asthma?

Early warning signs are usually experienced before the outbreak of an asthma attack, and by recognizing these signs, early treatment can be started. These signs are unique to each person. Some early warning signs may be noticed only by the individual, while some may be noticed by other persons.

Some common warning signs include:

Coughing - this often becomes worse at night or early in the morning.

Wheezing - breathing with a squeaky sound and with great difficulty.

Shortness of breath - due to insufficient supply of air

Fast and/or noisy breathing along with panting.

Common symptoms of asthma include:

Sneezing

Mood swings

Headache

Stuffy and blocked nose

Coughing

Chin/ throat sensitivity and itching

Feeling of tiredness

Trouble in sleeping

Symptoms vary from one person to another, and they also differ in severity from person to person. Sometimes symptoms can be so serious that they become life threatening.

What are the causes of asthma?

Although the actual cause of asthma is not known, studies have shown that several factors can lead to the outbreak of asthma. These factors include hereditary, development and growth of a person's lungs and immune system, infections, allergies and his response to the environment.

It is difficult to conclude as to what causes asthma. We can generally say that a person is prone to asthma if-

there is a family history of asthma, eczema or any type of allergy.

many aspects of modern lifestyles – such as changes diet, surrounding environment, pets staying in the same house.

smoking during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of the child developing asthma

children whose parents smoke are more likely to develop asthma in the long run

environmental pollution can make asthma symptoms worse

asthma may also develop after a viral infection or any other type of infection.

irritants or triggers found at home or workplace may lead to a person developing asthma .

Is asthma a genetic disease?

Although not necessarily genetic, but in most cases it is widely accepted that asthma is a disease that can be inherited if there is a family history.

What activates an asthma attack?

Asthma can be triggered by anything and everything. It is usually flared by allergens such as cold air, exercise, and other factors.

Possible asthma triggers include:

Pollen, dust, smoke, and other allergens

Strenuous exercise or any other physical activity.

Smoke from burning wood or tobacco

Viral infections, cold, flu, bronchitis, pneumonia

Strong odours, perfumes, deodorants, cleaning sprays, and chemical fumes

If you are suffering from sinusitis, hay fever

Laughing or crying loudly causing strain

Sudden changes in weather, especially cold air, moisture and rain

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

哮喘是种常见疾病，在我国，大量人群（无论任何年龄段）,患有哮喘。

哮喘是呼吸道炎症的慢性疾病。尽管症状并不是长期表现出来。但哮喘发作时，气道变狭窄，正常量的空气很难通过有阻碍的呼吸道，就产生了呼吸困难的状况：气喘、咳嗽或其他相关的症状。

哮喘发作的状况

呼吸道内壁受到感染，变窄；呼吸道膨胀，充满液体与粘液细胞；呼吸道肌肉收缩，使呼吸进一步受阻，这叫支气管痉挛。有些患者发作时，粘液腺分泌出大量稠粘液，进一步堵塞呼吸道。

慢性炎症一直被视为哮喘发作的主要病因。疾病发作后，炎症会持续数个星期。大部分哮喘患者长期患有某种程度的炎症。

呼吸道受感染后，变得很敏感。此时，一旦接触某些会引发疾病的物质，就很容易发作。

哮喘发作的信号与症状是怎样的？

哮喘发病前通常会有早期的信号，如果意识到这些信号，就可以进行预防治疗。每个患者的信号都不一样。有些发病信号，只有患者自己能察觉，而有些要靠其他人来察觉。

常见的发病信号包括：

咳嗽--通常在早晨或夜间加重。

喘息--呼吸时带有萧鸣音且呼吸困难。

呼吸急促--这是由于空气供应不足引起的。

急促而带有萧鸣音的呼吸，气喘。

哮喘的普通症状包括：

打喷嚏

情绪急躁

头痛

鼻塞

咳嗽

下巴/喉咙敏感，发痒

疲劳感

难以入眠

每个患者的症状各异，病情的轻重程度也不同，有时症状严重到危及生命。

哮喘的病因

尽管哮喘发病的准确原因尚不得知，研究显示哮喘的发作确与这些因素有关：遗传、患者肺部和免疫系统的发展状况、炎症、过敏以及他对周围环境的反应。

要总结出哮喘的病因很困难。我们通常说如果一个人存有以下状况，容易患哮喘。

患有家族性的哮喘，湿疹及任何类型的过敏史。

各种现代生活方式：如多变的饮食、包围式的环境、养宠物。

怀孕期间抽烟会增加孩子患哮喘的危险性。

从长远来看，如果父母吸烟，孩子易患哮喘。

环境污染会使哮喘症状更严重。

病毒感染或其他类型的感染均有可能发展为哮喘。

在家或工作场所中，刺激性的物质或病源都导致人们发展为哮喘。

哮喘是遗传疾病吗？

虽然哮喘不一定会遗传，但通常，人们普遍认为如果有哮喘的家族史，那么它是可遗传的。

什么会诱发哮喘？

许多事物甚至任何事物都有可能引发哮喘。通常由一些过敏源引起，如：冷空气，运动及其他因素。

以下物质皆有可能引发哮喘：

花粉、灰尘、烟及其他过敏源。

过度激烈的运动或其他体育活动。

抽烟

病毒感染、冷空气、流感、支气管炎、肺炎

刺激性的气味、香水、除臭剂、清洁剂及化学气体。

患过鼻窦炎、花粉热。

大声地笑或哭，使肌肉紧张。

天气突变，尤其冷空气来袭、潮湿和下雨。

非固醇类抗炎药。