Asthma is one of the world’s most common and well-known lung diseases. Asthma, also known as bronchial asthma, is a condition where your airways either get blocked by mucus, get too narrow, or swell up. Regardless of what happens with your airways, asthma always affects your lungs and causes shortness of breath, among other symptoms.
Asthma affects more than 100 million people worldwide, many of which are children. While asthma is a chronic condition that can’t be cured, it’s usually manageable with proper diagnosis and treatment. However, in severe cases, asthma can be life-threatening.
There are many different forms of asthma. No matter what type of asthma you have, you’ll always experience similar symptoms when you’re having an asthma attack or flare-up.
Most of the symptoms you’ll experience with asthma attacks involve your breathing. You’ll feel a rising panic if you struggle to catch your breath, which will compound the problem. For that reason, it’s important to consult a healthcare professional to know what to do when you’re having an asthma attack.
Unfortunately, doctors don’t know exactly why people get asthma, and it can affect anyone at any age. However, there are several known risk factors that increase your chances of developing asthma.
If you’re allergic to pollen, dirt, or other things you inhale, you have a greater risk of developing asthma.
People who smoke or who are overweight increase their chances of developing asthma.
Environmental factors are similar to allergies in how they cause asthma. By inhaling certain things in your environment, you can damage your lungs and increase your chances of getting asthma. Environmental factors include smoke, paint fumes, insulation dust, asbestos, and other toxins.
If you have a family history of asthma, there’s a greater chance that you, too, will develop it.
You’re also more likely to develop asthma if you have other pre-existing respiratory conditions or lung problems.
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Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Cryptogenic Organising Pneumonia (COP)
Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)
Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD)
Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)
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A physical exam is the first thing your doctor will do to you when diagnosing asthma. By listening to your lung sounds and respirations and getting a thorough family history, your doctor will know whether or not to look for asthma. They will then perform additional diagnostic tests if they suspect you have asthma.
This shows if you have a narrowing of the bronchial tubes, which is an indicator of asthma.
This test measures how much force you have when you exhale air. If your peak flow is low, it means there’s a good chance you have asthma.
Chest x-rays and other imaging tests will show if you have scarring of the lungs.
If your doctor isn’t sure if you have asthma, they may also perform a methacholine challenge, allergy tests, nitric oxide tests, or a sputum eosinophils test.
Asthma is a chronic condition for which there is no known cure. However, although incurable, asthma is very treatable and manageable. While your treatment will vary, here’s what it typically includes.
Corticosteroids, leukotrienes, theophylline, and other medications will help prevent and manage asthma attacks.
Bronchial thermoplasty is a rare and somewhat dangerous asthma treatment used only in severe cases. Using this treatment, your doctor will use an electrode to heat your airways, making it easier to breathe in and out.
An inhaler with corticosteroids is your first line of defense when you feel an asthma attack coming.
Asthma treatment will vary from doctor to doctor and according to the type and severity of your asthma. Additionally, if your asthma is related to allergies or environmental factors, you should avoid things that trigger your attacks.