Asthma is quite possibly one of the scarier respiratory illnesses and it affects approximately 20 million citizens of the United States. It affects both children and adults and the numbers have been growing steadily over the years. This process can be due to a wide variety of factors including dietary and physical fitness of the population in recent years. Much of medical research has also been focused on the possibility of environmental effects on our health, such as air pollution and materials used for construction. Yet another cause could be the processing our foods go through and the many additives, colors and preservatives that are added.
People who suffer from the condition of asthma tend to have attacks ranging in severity and frequency, called asthma attacks. This asthma attack can be induced by a variety of reasons but some include allergens (foreign substances that invade the body, and although relatively harmless, create an immune response). When one is exposed to these allergens, an allergic attack may stimulate the production of certain antibodies (more than usual) and this will proceed to constrict the passageways of breathing and increase the production of mucus. The variety of allergens that may cause asthma attacks are abundant, and must be evaluated if an asthma attack occurs in a certain situation. Most of these allergens are airborne, and can include tobacco smoke, dirty unventilated air, dust-mites, animals/pets, and certain natural allergens such as pollen and spores.
Other forms of asthma attacks may include non-allergic responses that create, in much the same way, allergic reactions, constriction of the trachea and nasal passageways and an over-all tightness in the chest. The patient will then suffer from an inability to breathe properly and could also have coughing and wheezing fits. This can be caused by a wide variety of reasons and it helps to try and determine what could be the possible cause for this happening. Many people also have anxiety attacks and end up hyperventilating, which can lead to an asthma attack as well.
In an asthma attack, the airways that carry air to and from the lungs get inflamed and this causes them to become constricted. This in turn means less air is drawn into the lungs making the person gasp for breath. The wheezing or whistling sound you hear in an asthma attack is the air making its way with difficulty through the constricted airways.
Well, all this might just scare anyone into having an asthma attack but you don’t have to worry. The best way to not get asthma attacks is to understand your risk factors and take preventative care so you don’t suffer from an attack. Asthma could in fact be a hereditary trait and is more common in families with certain genes. Those who live in the inner cities or Hispanic and African Americans, are also more prone towards getting an asthma attack. Remember, the preventative measures towards asthma are simple – all one needs to do is stay away from your allergens, if you know what they are and to take your preventive medication to ensure that the attack is over as soon as it begins. Very often, asthma comes on between the ages of two and six. In this case, it could be due to the allergens present in the environment and even the presence of dust mites could trigger an attack. Asthma could also occur because of cigarette smoke or other respiratory illnesses. In adults, the onset of asthma is usually after a respiratory illness after which the lungs are not as strong and resilient as they used to be.
Asthma has to be managed and controlled but it cannot be cured. However, it has been noticed that many children grow out of this condition when they are in their teens and while one does not know why this happens, it could just be the body’s way of getting over the allergy. In some cases, however, the condition gets progressively worse and stronger medication is needed in order to keep the attacks under control.
The doctor’s diagnosis of what kind of asthma you have will be based on the severity and frequency of your asthma attacks and this can be anything from severe persistent to mild intermittent. It could also be diagnosed as moderate persistent or mild persistent. Each of these levels of asthma may have their own treatment, so it is important to consult a medical expert and follow his advice well. A doctor would diagnose the asthma as being intrinsic or extrinsic. Extrinsic asthma is the more common of the two and affects 9 out of 10 cases. This is the one that typically begins in childhood and comes on due to allergies to certain substances. Intrinsic asthma is what develops in the later years, usually after thirty and is usually a result of a respiratory illness.