Dr.Souvik Banerjee, MD.

 

Asthma Overview

Asthma is a condition in which your airways narrow, swell and produce extra mucus leading to a difficulty in breathing. It can trigger cough, wheezing and shortness of breath.

Asthma can be a major setback for many people as it interferes with daily activities and can also lead to a life-threatening asthma attack. In children, it is one of the main reasons to miss school. It is a psychosomatic disorder - triggered as much by allergens as by dysfunctional relationships and stress. To treat asthma effectively, you need to treat its root cause.

Asthma - Symptoms

Some of the common asthma symptoms include:

·        Coughing, especially at night

·        Wheezing

·        Shortness of breath

·        Chest tightness, pain or pressure

However, not every person with asthma has the same symptoms. Your asthma symptoms may also vary from one asthma attack to the next, being mild during one and severe during another.

In some cases, people suffering from asthma may go for extended periods without having any symptoms, interrupted by periodic worsening of their symptoms called asthma attacks. Others might have asthma symptoms every day. In addition, some people may only have asthma while exercising.

Mild asthma attacks are generally more common. Usually, the airways open up within a few minutes to a few hours. Severe attacks are less common, but last longer and require immediate medical help. It is important to recognise and treat even mild asthma symptoms to help you prevent severe episodes and keep asthma under better control.

Asthma - Causes

Asthma is characterised by an extended expiratory [exhalation] and reduced inspiratory [inhalation] breathing phase. This is due to bronchial spasm — a condition caused by a combination of factors. The causes include allergy to a certain substance [allergen], perhaps certain foods such as eggs, prawns and shell fish; pollutants, physical exertion, viral infection, cold air, tobacco smoke, animal feathers and dander, and even certain conventional medicines. Other factors include chemicals and toxins as well as temperature changes and humidity.

The disorder could also be activated by irritation or infection of the respiratory tract or a gastrointestinal upset, which is typically a result of late or irregular meals, hyperacidity, faulty eating habits, dietetic indiscretion or junk food.

Certain emotional factors such as anxiety and emotional worries may trigger sudden bouts of asthma. Clinicians suggest that a constitutional predisposition could also trigger the disorder — this is supposedly related to desperate feelings of dependence. A child’s asthmatic attacks, for example, could be a call for help, or a subconscious appeal to his/her mother for attention.

Research confirms the occurrence of wheezing in certain individuals following a short period of exercise. It is also obvious that respiratory viruses can provoke bronchospasm [airway obstruction] in asthmatics. Age, likewise, is a significant influencing aspect — the first asthma attack reportedly develops before the age of 20.

Some medical researchers also feel that asthma is not entirely hereditary or familial; it is primarily swayed by weather and location changes.