Asthma – causes,symptoms and preventive measures.

DEFINITION-

Asthma is an inflammatory disorder of the airways, which causes attacks of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing.

SYMPTOMS-

Cough with or without sputum (phlegm) production
Pulling in of the skin between the ribs when breathing (intercostal retractions)
Shortness of breath that gets worse with exercise or activity
Wheezing
Comes in episodes
May be worse at night or in early morning
May go away on its own
Gets better when using drugs that open the airways (bronchodilators)
Gets worse when breathing in cold air
Gets worse with exercise
Gets worse with heartburn (reflux)
Usually begins suddenly
Emergency symptoms:

Bluish color to the lips and face
Decreased level of alertness such as severe drowsiness or confusion, during an asthma attack
Extreme difficulty breathing
Rapid pulse
Severe anxiety due to shortness of breath
Sweating
Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

Abnormal breathing pattern –breathing out takes more than twice as long as breathing in
Breathing temporarily stops
Chest pain
Nasal flaring
Tightness in the chest

PREVENTION-

Asthma symptoms can be substantially reduced by avoiding known triggers and substances that irritate the airways.

Bedding can be covered with “allergy proof” casings to reduce exposure to dust mites. Removing carpets from bedrooms and vacuuming regularly is also helpful. Detergents and cleaning materials in the home should be unscented.

Keeping humidity levels low and fixing leaks can reduce growth of organisms such as mold. Keep the house clean and keep food in containers and out of bedrooms — this helps reduce the possibility of cockroaches, which can trigger asthma attacks in some people.

If a person is allergic to an animal that cannot be removed from the home, the animal should be kept out of the patient’s bedroom. Filtering material can be placed over the heating outlets to trap animal dander.

Eliminating tobacco smoke from the home is the single most important thing a family can do to help a child with asthma. Smoking outside the house is not enough. Family members and visitors who smoke outside carry smoke residue inside on their clothes and hair — this can trigger asthma symptoms.

Persons with asthma should also avoid air pollution, industrial dusts, and other irritating fumes, as much as possible.

CAUSES & RISK FACTORS-

Asthma is caused by inflammation in the airways. When an asthma attack occurs, the muscles surrounding the airways become tight and the lining of the air passages swell. This reduces the amount of air that can pass by, and can lead to wheezing sounds.

Most people with asthma have wheezing attacks separated by symptom-free periods. Some patients have long-term shortness of breath with episodes of increased shortness of breath. In others, a cough may be the main symptom. Asthma attacks can last minutes to days and can become dangerous if the airflow becomes severely restricted.

In sensitive individuals, asthma symptoms can be triggered by breathing in allergy-causing substances (called allergens or triggers).

Common asthma triggers include:

Animals (pet hair or dander)
Dust
Changes in weather (most often cold weather)
Chemicals in the air or in food
Exercise
Mold
Pollen
Respiratory infections, such as the common cold
Strong emotions (stress)
Tobacco smoke
Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) provoke asthma in some patients.

Many people with asthma have an individual or family history of allergies, such as hay fever (allergic rhinitis) or eczema. Others have no history of allergies.

COMPLICATIONS-

The complications of asthma can be severe. Some include:

Death
Decreased ability to exercise and take part in other activities
Lack of sleep due to nighttime symptoms
Permanent changes in the function of the lungs
Persistent cough
Trouble breathing that requires breathing assistance (ventilator)