Bronchial asthma is a disease that affects the lungs. It’s a chronic condition a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that causes periodic “attacks” of coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness.
Asthma can be life-threatening if not treated on time.
Asthma is also to other respiratory diseases such as chronic sinusitis, middle ear infections and nasal polyps.
Excess growth of mast cells, eosinophils, and T lymphocytes is found in bronchial asthma.
Mast cells are the allergy-causing cells that release chemicals like histamine, a substance that causes nasal stuffiness and running nose in cold or hay fever, constriction of airways and itchy areas in skin allergy.
WHAT IS AN ASTHMA ATTACK?
Whenever a person breathes normally, muscles around the airways relax letting air move easily and quietly. During an asthma attack, three things happen:
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- Bronchospasm: The muscles around the airways constrict (tighten). When they tighten, it makes airways narrow and then air cannot flow freely through constricted airways.
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- Inflammation: The lining of the airways are swollen and they don’t let much air to pass in or out of the lungs.
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- Mucus production: During asthma attack, body creates more mucus and this thick mucus clogs the airways.
COMMON TRIGGERS THAT CAUSE ASTHMA:
Triggers can be different for each person. Some common triggers include:
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- Air pollution: Air pollution includes factory emissions, car exhaust, wildfire smoke and more.
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- Dust mites, Pests, pets : Cockroaches, mice, bugs, pet dander (dried skin flakes) can cause asthma attack.
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- Mold: Molds grow in damp places and they can cause problems to person having asthma.
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- Smoking : Either in active form or passive form, smoking can cause asthma.
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- Strong chemicals or smells: These things can trigger attacks in some people.
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- Certain occupational exposures: Exposure to certain chemicals either at home or office like cleaning products, dust from flour or wood, or other chemicals can all act as triggers. .
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- Weather changes : Variations in weather change can also act as trigger.
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- Severe exercise, pain killer medicines can also act as triggers
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SYMPTOMS OF BRONCHIAL ASTHMA:
Some of the common symptoms that people have are :
1. Shortness of breath – a person feeling shortness of breath while doing any physical activity or in severe condition even at rest.
2. Wheezing – a typical sound while breathing.
3. Coughing especially at night.
4. Tightness of chest.
A person may have different symptoms and signs at different times with chronic asthma. Also, symptoms change between asthma attacks.
DIAGNOSIS OF ASTHMA:
Depending on the signs and symptoms, doctor may ask to do some tests to measure lung function and to rule out other possible conditions, such as a respiratory infection or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The lung function tests performed to determine the quantity of air moving in and out while breathing are –
1. PEAK FLOW TESTING – It’s a simple device that measures the breathing capacity of the patient. The lower peak flow readings indicate some abnormality in functioning of lungs.
2. SPIROMETRY – This test gives detailed assessment of the breathing capacity and estimates the narrowing of bronchial tubes by checking how much air a person can exhale after a deep breath.
3. CHEST XRAY – Xray is done to rule out possibilities of any respiratory infection other than bronchial asthma.
4. BLOOD TESTS – In some selected patients blood test is recommended and a specific test IGE level is also checked.
TREATMENTS FOR ASTHMATIC BRONCHITIS:
Treatment for Bronchial Asthma are :
1. Use of inhalers – such as MDI – metered-dose inhaler, DPI – dry powder inhaler, Nebulizer.
2. Medicines of inhalation therapy – Bronchodilators and Inhaled corticosteroids. Steroid content used in inhalers are in less quantity, having no side effects.
Medicines used for the treatment are Montelukast, Theophylline, Doxophylline and Mucolytics.
Dr. Rajendra Kesarwani, chest physician , Director Amey Hospital has shared some of his experiences and valuable information about inhalers.
According to him inhalers are the main treatment for asthma. Right dose of inhalers taken in a correct way are the most effective way of treating and controlling bronchial asthma. The prescribed medicine directly reaches the lungs and helps in controlling the infection at the earliest.
Patients using inhaler need to follow the right technique / steps which are available on various portals, you tube channels to get the maximum benefits.
Many people have misconceptions about inhalers like
1) They may get addicted to inhaler.
2) They said medicines were more effective than inhalers.
3) They didn’t know how to use inhalers.
Dr. Rajendra Kesarwani sir cleared out all the misconceptions by saying that the inhalers were more effective and medicines directly reached the lungs thereby giving more effective treatment. They were non addictive also.
Therefore inhalers were used to control bronchial asthma.
Further he discussed about non pharmacological treatment to be followed by the patients to avoid bronchial asthma which are controlling the factors in environment like fumes, smoke from incense sticks, mosquito coils, perfumes, pets, dusty atmosphere.
Stress control is another important aspect to be considered and should be controlled by performing meditation, yoga, relaxing techniques.
To increase lung capacity, simple breathing exercises can be performed like blowing out the candles, balloons, deep breathing techniques which helps in controlling asthma.
Vaccination against Streptococcus pneumoniae and influenza virus are available which provides protection against infections caused due to these organisms.
BRONCHIAL ASTHMA ATTACK PREVENTION:
As said prevention is always better than cure. The action taken against the attack will help in controlling asthma and they include
1. Knowing the trigger factors and staying away from them.
2. Following doctor’s instructions and taking medications on time.
3. Having the right knowledge about the treatment to be taken
4. Getting vaccinated at the right time under doctor’s guidance.
