People with asthma will have the airways in their lungs become inflamed or swollen. This condition makes them vulnerable to different airborne irritants in the environment. They must often deal with a variety of asthma triggers. These triggers could be anything from pet dander to common cleaning chemicals, dust, smoke and more. It is important for people to understand asthma, its triggers and how people who have this condition can be helped. When a person with asthma experiences one of their triggers, it will cause their airways to become increasingly swollen. This will decrease the space available for air to move through their lungs. The muscles around their airways tighten. This makes breathing for them even more difficult. When this occurs, it is known as an asthma attack or asthma flare-up.
According to the American Lung Association, the exact cause for asthma has never been determined. Asthma is a condition that can develop in a person of any age.
It is known to affect entire families and could be inherited. There are also many different environmental factors that could influence people developing asthma. There are certain allergic conditions that are associated with people developing asthma. During the development of a child's lungs, they could experience respiratory infections. This has been shown to contribute to the development of asthma. When people in certain areas are regularly subjected to certain airborne irritants or different allergens, they are at a greater risk for developing asthma. People who are regularly exposed to certain types of dust, as well as airborne chemicals in their workplace, are more likely to develop asthma. Overweight or obese adults, as well as children, are at a significantly higher risk for developing asthma.
The symptoms of asthma are different for each person. Some people with asthma very seldom experience attacks. It may only happen in certain circumstances such as when they are under intense stress or during exercise. One of the main symptoms of asthma is the asthma attack. This could begin with a pain as well as tightness in a person's chest. They will experience shortness of breath. A person with asthma could struggle to sleep because of wheezing or coughing. They could experience a winded or whistling sound when they exhale. It is possible for a person to have wheezing or coughing attacks become worse when they have the flu, a cold or some other type of respiratory virus. A child who has asthma can begin to experience symptoms prior to reaching the age of 5. These symptoms can include breathing so quickly the skin around a child's neck or ribs is pulled tightly. Children with asthma often have colds that settle in their chest.
People with asthma should be aware of all the available medication used for the treatment of this condition. They will want to know about treatment costs as well as any possible side effects. A person with asthma will need to speak with an allergist to find the right medication for their individual situation. The goal will be to successfully manage a person's asthma and adjust a medications' dosage based on how a person's body reacts to it. Some people have success with medications that provide quick relief. Anticholinergics can be inhaled and both provide quick relief with minimal amounts of medication. These drugs are bronchodilators designed to expand the passageways leading into a person's lungs. There are also certain medications used for long-term asthma treatment. This is medication required to be taken daily even if a person is not experiencing any symptoms. They will decrease airway inflammation and help a person's body control asthma.
Asthma can make it harder for a person to move air in and out of their lungs. It is important for people to understand asthma is a chronic disease. There is no known cure. It is possible for asthma to be very serious and can be life-threatening. With the right medication, it can be successfully managed and people who have asthma can live a productive life.
