ASTHMA

WHAT IS ASTHMA?
   Asthma is a common lung condition that affects the airways and causes occasional difficulties in breathing. The airways are tubes that carry air to and from the lungs. If you have asthma, the inside walls of your airways become narrow, sore and swollen, and this makes breathing difficult and also triggers coughing and shortness of breath.
   Asthma affects people of all ages and often starts in childhood. It is a long-term condition for many people,particularly if it first develops in adulthood. For some people, asthma is a minor nuisance, for others, it can
be a major problem and may lead to a life-threatening asthma attack.  People who suffer from long-lasting or recurrent asthma attack are said to be asthmatic.
   There's currently no cure for asthma, However, with good treatment and management its symptoms can be controlled, and most people will have normal and active lives, although some people with more severe asthma may have persistent problems. Since asthma often changes over time, it is important that you work with your doctor to track your symptoms and adjust treatment as needed.

CAUSES OF ASTHMA
   Asthma is caused by inflammation  of the  tubes that carry air to and from the lungs. This swelling or inflammation makes the airways highly sensitive to irritations and increases the susceptibility to an allergic reaction. The tubes may also sometimes become clogged with sticky mucus.
   Asthma is due to a combination of environmental and genetic (inherited) factors. Exposure to various irritants and substances that trigger allergies  can trigger symptoms of asthma. Common asthma triggers include:
- Allergens such as ragweed, dust mites, animal fur, mold, spores, pollens or particles of cockroach waste.
- Irritants in the air such as cigarette smoke, chemical fumes , gases or strong odors.
- Physical activity.
- Respiratory infections, such as the common cold or flu.
- Extreme weather conditions.
- Certain medications such as aspirin and beta blockers.
- Display of strong emotion that affects normal breathing patterns such as shouting, crying or laughing.
- Stress.

SYMPTOMS OF ASTHMA
   Asthma symptoms can appear at any time. Mild episodes may last only a few minutes and may be resolved  with medication. More severe episodes can last from hours to days. Asthmatics usually experience these symptoms most frequently during the night and the early morning. Any asthma symptom is serious and can become deadly if left untreated. The most common symptoms of asthma are:
- Difficulty in breathing and shortness of breath.
- Coughing especially at night, during exercise or when laughing.
- Wheezing (a hissing sound while breathing).
- Chest tightness, which may feel like a band is tightening around it.
- Frequent colds that settle in the chest.
- Trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath, wheezing or coughing.

WHAT IS AN ASTHMA EPISODE OR ATTACK ?
   When asthma symptoms or signs become worse than usual, it's called
an asthma attack. They can come on suddenly and can be mild, moderate or severe. Severe asthma attacks may require emergency care, and they can be fatal.

TYPES OF ASTHMA
1. Adult- Onset Asthma: Adult-onset asthma is when a person develops asthma after reaching 20 years of age. It affects women more than
men, and can also be triggered by some allergic material or an allergy.

2. Child - Onset Asthma: This asthma begins during childhood. It usually occurs because a child becomes sensitized to common allergens in the environment  most likely due to genetic reasons.

3. Exercise - Induced Asthma: As the name implies,  it occurs during or after physical exercise. As with other types of asthma, a person with exercise-induced asthma will experience difficulty in getting air to and from the lungs because of inflammation of the airways tubes  and extra mucus. However,  with proper treatment, a person who suffers from exercise-induced asthma does not have to limit his/her athletic goals.

4. Occupational Asthma: This type of asthma is triggered by something in the patient's place of work. Allergens and factors such as chemicals, pollen, gases, smoke, humidity and temperature,molds, dust, or other particles can trigger asthma. Stress can also trigger asthma.

5. Nocturnal Asthma:  This asthma occurs between midnight and 8 AM. It is
triggered by allergens in the home such as dust or by sinus conditions.

6. Cough - Induced Asthma: In this case the coughing occurs alone, without other asthma symptoms being present. The coughing can happen at any time of day or night. It is one of the most difficult asthmas to diagnose.

RISK FACTORS OF ASTHMA
   Factors that may increase your chances of developing asthma include:
- Having a blood relative (such as a parent or sibling) with asthma.
- Exposure to occupational triggers such as chemicals fumes, gases or dust. - Having another allergic condition.
- Smoking.
- Being overweight.
- Exposure to airborne substances, such as pollen, mold spores, cockroach waste or pets dander.
- Exposure to exhaust fumes or other types of pollution.

COMPLICATIONS OF ASTHMA
   Although asthma can normally be kept under control, it can cause a number of complications. Asthma complications include:
- Lung infections (pneumonia).
- Persistent tiredness.
- Permanent narrowing of the  airway tubes that affects how well you can breathe.
- Absence from work or school during asthma flare-ups.
- Psychological problems such as stress, anxiety and depression.
- Delays in growth or puberty in children.
- Side effects from long-term use of some medications used to stabilize severe asthma.

TREATMENT FOR ASTHMA
   While there's currently no cure for asthma, there are a number of treatments that can help control the condition. However, the right medications for an individual depend on a number of factors like, age, symptoms, asthma triggers and what works best to keep your asthma under control.
  Asthma is treated with two kinds of medicines:
1. Quick-relief (rescue) medications to stop asthma symptoms and for rapid short-term symptom relief during an asthma attack or before exercise if your recommended by a doctor. Types of quick- relief medications include:
- A quick-relief inhaler
- Ipratropium (Atrovent).
- Oral and intravenous corticosteroids
- Short-acting beta agonists.
2. Long-term control medications to prevent symptoms. They help reduce the inflammation in the airways that leads to symptoms. Long -term asthma control medications, are the cornerstone of asthma treatment. They are taken daily. Types of long-term control medications include:
- Inhaled corticosteroids.
- Leukotriene modifiers.
- Theophylline.
- Combination inhalers.
- Long-acting beta agonists.