Asthma is a respiratory system condition that leads to the narrowing of air passageways due to swelling and extra mucus production. The common signs in an asthma patient include difficulty in breathing due to which coughing attacks are also triggered, a wheezing sound when breathing and dyspnea.
The severity of the disease varies per individual. Where it may be a minor nuisance for some individuals, it can be a severe issue for some making normal daily life activities difficult for them. The latter is also at the risk of an asthma attack.
Although asthma cannot be cured, its regular treatments involve controlling its symptoms. The individual needs to cooperate with their physician since the signs and symptoms may change over time.
Your health professional will help keep track of the symptomatic changes and will adjust your treatment plan accordingly. They may prescribe you different medicines in your treatment program. Try the Numan Clinic to learn more about the drugs provided for asthma treatment.
Causes of the Condition
Although it is not clear why some individuals develop asthma, it is believed that asthma is caused due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The triggering factors for asthma vary from individual to individual.
Signs and Symptoms
As mentioned earlier, the symptoms vary from individual to individual and depend on the severity of the disease. The common signs and symptoms include
- Dyspnea
- Chest tightness with pain
- Wheezing when exhaling; is a common symptom in children suffering from asthma
- Trouble with staying asleep since due to the shortness of breath and coughing, the individual keeps on waking up
- Coughing fits that are further worsened by respiratory conditions like the cold or flu
The worsening of the symptoms, as mentioned earlier, characterizes more severe stages of asthma. Usually, when asthma proceeds towards severity, the individual faces the following;
- The pre-existing signs and symptoms of the condition occur more frequently and are bothersome for the patient
- The levels of difficulty in breathing also increase. This is checked using a device called a peak flow meter.
- The individual may feel the need to use a quick-relief inhaler more often.
When can the Condition Flare-up?
There are a few incidents where asthma may flare up suddenly due to environmental or other causes. Some of them include;
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Exercise-Induced Attack
When the patient performs exercises that are exertive for them, they may suffer from severe coughing attacks and difficulty breathing. This can worsen if the environment they were working in had dry and cold air.
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An Attack due to Occupational Sites
If an individual suffering from asthma works in an environment where they are exposed to irritants, their pre-existing condition might worsen. Common irritants that cause the symptoms to flare up include chemical fumes, gasses, and dust.
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Allergy-induced Attack
Individuals suffering from this condition may also experience the flaring of symptoms due to environmental allergens. These allergens most commonly include airborne substances, cockroach waste, mold spores, dried skin particles, and pet dander. Pet dander is a term that describes dried saliva shed by pets.
