Asthma
Asthma is an inflammatory disease that affects the lungs. The airways get narrow and swell, which may produce extra mucus. It causes difficulty breathing and a wheezing or whistling sound.
Asthma is everywhere in the world, but it is very common in developed countries.
Worldwide, asthma affects more than 300 million people. but in developed countries is more common like the U.S., 25 million people have the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Asthma is more common in female adults than in male adults. Around 9.8% of female adults suffer from asthma, compared to 6.1% of male adults. and 5.1 million children suffer from asthma under the age of 18. One out of every 12 children in America has asthma.
Asthma treatment is possible, but in untreated people, asthma can lead to life-threatening complications Let's know more about: What asthma is: Symptoms cause and treatment
Symptoms
Asthma can't be cured, but its symptoms can be controlled, symptoms very person to person.
Common symptoms include:
• Shortness of breath
• Tightness in the chest and pain
• Difficulty to speaking
• Chest pain
• Rapid breathing
• Frequently infection
• Trouble Sleeping
• Anxiousness or panic
• Fatigue
• Coughing or wheezing at night
• Coughing while exercising
• Coughing during exercise
Severe symptoms.
• Blue lips and fingernails
• Severe shortness of breath
• Pale lips or fingernails
• Dizziness
• Difficulty to talking and walking
Causes of asthma
The causes of asthma are many, including allergies, pollution, viruses, and bacterial infections.
Physical activity: Physical activity like exercise, pollution allergies can cause asthma.
Environment factors: environment factors also cause asthma, like for some people going out in the sun and going to cold areas.
Allergies: In some people, allergies can cause asthma. Some asthma patients' immune systems overreact to substances like pollen grains, mold spores, dust, and pet dander.
Air population: Air pollution may also cause asthma, such as from smoke, factor emissions, and car exhaust. All these things trigger asthma because there are many small particles present in the air that can pass through your nose or mouth and get into your lungs, causing asthma.
Genetic: Asthma can also be passed from parents to children; if someone in your family has it, you may also have it. Most research has shown that more than 100 genes can cause genetic asthma.
Dust mites: Dust mites can trigger asthma symptoms. because so many types of tiny mites live in your house dust. Dust mites affect your immune system, and your body produces antibodies against the normally harmful substances. Symptoms of dust mite asthma include sneezing, running nose, watering eyes, and breathing problems.
Mold: Some types of mold species can cause asthma. that mold cannot be seen with the naked eye, mold spores that go into your lungs while you breathe will trigger asthma symptoms like shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, wheezing, and coughing.
Exercise: When patients exercise, their airways get narrow, which causes shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing.
Respiratory infection: Respiratory infection is also a cause of asthma. These asthma attacks affect your lungs; some are caused by viruses. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).
Pests: Some pets, like cockroaches, mice, and rats, can cause asthma.
Pets: Some animals can trigger allergic asthma symptoms in some people, like cats, dogs, and birds, etc.
Smoke and Tabaco: If someone smokes a cigarette in front of you, you have a higher risk of developing asthma symptoms; if you also smoke and take tobacco, you may also get asthma or lung problems in the future. So you should stop smoking and taking tobacco.
Perfumes: Asthma symptoms can be triggered by perfumes in some people; if you have perfume or scent allergies, you should avoid using these products.
Chemical: Some chemicals can cause asthma, like paint, cleaners, adhesives, pesticides, and air fresheners.
Virus: Some types of viruses can cause asthma. Rhinovirus (RV) Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common virus causing asthma.
Food: Some foods also cause asthma in some people, like pickles (fresh and frozen), wine, dried fruits, yogurt, smoked meats, eggplant, shellfish, fermented beverages, peanuts etc. All these types of foods can trigger your asthma symptoms. because our bodies produce the histamine chemical.
Other factors like.
• Dyes
• Rubber latex
• Farming
• Textiles
• Overweight
• Certain medications
• Emotions and stress
Asthma Prevention
• Avoid contact: Avoid contact if you have allergies to some chemicals like paint, cleaners, adhesive pesticides, and air fresheners.
• Obesity: Excess weight can also be the cause of asthma, so you should manage your weight.
• Stop smoking: you smoke cigarettes, then you leave it. because smoking increases lungs disease, which also includes asthma.
• Stress: In some asthma patients, stress can trigger asthma symptoms, so do not take stress.
• Exercise: Exercise can be a trigger for asthma symptoms. Wear a face mask when you are exercising, especially in cold and dry weather. Do not do heavy exercise. You should warm up before exercising.
• Healthy diet: Take healthy foods like vitamin D-rich foods, green vegetables, and magnesium-rich foods such as spinach, pumpkin, seeds, bananas, tofu, and legumes.
• Avoid place: Avoid going there if you have allergies: to dust or mold, bugs, or pets; those places trigger your asthma symptoms.
• Get vaccinated: Some viruses and bacteria cause infections in the lungs. due to which the symptoms of your asthma come out, so take a vaccine or medicine if you have the flu.
Asthma diagnosis
There is not a single test for diagnosing asthma.
Spirometry: A spirometer is the most common test to diagnose asthma; this is a pulmonary function test. It measures lung function by measuring the airflow in and out of the lungs. A spirometer is useful in identifying conditions such as asthma and lung disease by assessing breathing patterns.
Nitric oxide test: Nitric oxide testing is a simple and safe way to diagnose asthma. It measures the amount of nitric oxide in your breath. If you have a high amount of nitric oxide in your lungs, this indicates asthma.
Imaging test: This test helps to view the anatomical image of your body. X-rays (high-energy radiation), ultrasound (high-energy sound waves), radio waves, and radioactive substances are all used in imaging tests. X-rays are mostly used in asthma to check for abnormalities and infection in your lungs.
Provocation test: In this test, check how sensitive your lungs are. These tests may also be called challenge tests or trigger tests.
Sputum eosinophils: In this test, the doctor checks the WBC in your mucus during coughing and a cold.
Methacholine challenge test: Methacholine challenge test (also known as a bronchoprovocation test), a doctor diagnoses bronchial airway hyperreactivity or asthma. This medicine works by either narrowing your lungs or not.
CBC Test: in this test absolute counts of total white blood cells (WBC) and their constituents (lymphocytes, eosinophils, neutrophils, basophils, and monocytes) are shown in the differential CBC results. abnormally high levels of eosinophils in the peripheral blood of asthma patients.