About Asthma & Asthma Symptoms

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Anybody - Children or Adults - caused problems by Asthma have airways that are supersensitive to certain substances or environmental conditions that do not bother others who those do not have asthma. Such characteristics are called 'Triggers'. As soon as a person comes in link with these triggers; asthma attacks upshots. Let us indentify the general causes leading to asthma attacks.

The common irritants which could trigger off an asthma attack comprise of the following:
1. Perfumes and hair sprays
2. Wood smoke
3. Chemical fumes
4. Cleaning agents (such as phenyl)
5. Cigarette smoke
6. Strong odor while cooking, particularly frying
7. Atmospheric pollution (industrial, automobiles exhaust fumes)

The usual allergens (i.e., elements that may cause an allergic reaction in a person sensitive to them) which may lead to an asthma attack consist of the following:

1. Plant pollen
2. Household dust
3. Moulds
4. Cockroaches
5. Animal fur or skin (belongs to cats, dogs, horses etc,).

Breathing in even very small amounts of these allergens can trigger off an asthma attack in a child who is sensitive to them. Short-term attacks may follow 8 to 10 hours afterwards.

Physical exertion may also reason for an asthma attack. For example, uptight exercise or strenuous activities on the sports field may trigger off on attack. Brief attacks may trail the main attack, but frequently pass fairly quickly and can be easily prevented with appropriate medication. This type of asthma is identified as Exercise-Induce Asthma.

Sudden changes in weather, for example, due to a storm or could burst (leading to excess humidity) can cause lengthy asthma attacks.

Drugs such as aspirin and Ibuprofen may cause asthma attacks in particular individuals. So, caution needs to be exercised while using such drugs.

We still do not know why only certain people come into being asthma and others do not! On the other hand, we do know that people, have a medical condition from several allergies (such as eczema) including food connected allergies at a very young age face a greater risk of developing asthma.

Asthma has a trend to run in families. Genetic or ancestral occurrence, however, is not a must. Also, genetic origins of asthma are under study. A considerable number of children or adults who wheeze and cough may not have any close relative suffering from asthma.

Someone suffering from asthma, faces narrowing of his air tubes which makes it hard for air to get in and out of his lungs. This evident fact causes the asthmatic symptoms.
Example: 1. Wheezing, 2. Coughing or 3. Difficulty in breathing.

1. WHEEZING: As the air travels through a constricted airway, it creates a whistling sound called Wheezing.

2. COUGHING: Lungs struggle and get rid of the mucus (mounted up due to secretions) in the airways through coughing.

3. DIFFICULTY IN BRREATHING: Because the airways become thin and filled with mucus, the patient may suffer complexity in breathing

Not all people with asthma show signs of wheezing. Some may have coughing as the single symptom. Coughing every so often takes place during the night or after exercise.

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Very notable point to be remembered is that asthma attacks rarely occurs with no warning. Most people suffering from asthma understanding warning signs (physical changes) hours before the real symptoms appear. These indications are not identical for everyone. In fact, even the same patient may experience dissimilar warning signs at different points of time. By identification and analysing the warning signs and by acting on them suitably, one may be able to escape from a serious asthma attack.

As an asthma patient, you should keep track of the earlier attacks and the previous 'warning signals' so that you can be better ready in the future. Talk about these signs with your Doctor, and make a decision to chalk out (or follow) an appropriate control plan. Check out the following warning signs:

* Change in face color
* Frequent sneezing.
* Difficulty in breathing
* Drop in peak flow reading
* Chronic cough, especially at night
* Chest starts to get tight or hurts
* Breathing becomes faster than normal
* Getting out of breath easily
* Fatigue
* Itchy, scratchy or sore throat
* Stroking the chin or the throat
* Others.

Let us analyse the factors that precedent to an asthmatic attack. In the course of normal breathing, when are breathes in, air is taken in through the nose and the mouth. It goes down through the windpipe into the air tubes and then the air sacs. When are breathes out, stale air exits the lungs in the reverse order. During an asthma show aggression, when the airways become inflamed, a group of chemicals are released from nearby cells which cause the following effects in airways.

1. Swelling: The lining of the airways develops inflamed and swollen. This happens more during long attacks.

2. Secretions: The mucus glands along the airways generate more mucus.

3. Spasm: The muscles surrounding the airways get tightened, directing to a spasm. Spasms occur more during severe attacks.

During serious attacks it is the tightening of muscles which controls, while, during lengthy attacks, swelling inside the air tubes dominates.

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First of all, let us figure out the signs that point out a 'severe' asthma attack. These signs are as flows:

* A high pulse rate.
* Flared nostrils with the lips becoming grey or blue.
* Trend to lean forward with shoulders held high.
* Overinflated chest with depressed rib spaces.
* Lack of ability to say more than a few words between breaths.
* A peak flow reading less than half of the patient's best.

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1. As a patient you should try and keep calm and relaxed to the extent possible. The attending family members, friends should also maintain their cool.

2. Understand your warning signs and your peak flow zones so that you can begin treatment well in advance of an impending attack.

3. Take the correct amount (precise dosage) of medicine at the precise times specified by the Doctor.

4. Keep away (and also keep your child/children away) from the vicinity of the asthma triggers (in case you can identify it). The treatment shall not prove effective if the patient remains near the trigger.

5. Keep an up-to-date record of your (or your Child's) previous asthma attacks; for instance, note down precisely changes in body function rhythms with respect to wheezing, coughing, experiencing trouble while breathing and being forced to adopt odd postures.

6. In case you have a Peak Flow Meter handy, measure the peak flow number 5 to 10 minutes after each treatment to check if the peak flow is improving.

The following list indicates the indications when one should seek instantaneous emergence treatment for asthma:

~ Wheezing, coughing or shortness of breath gets worse, even after the medicine has been taken and has time to work.(such time spans should be clearly specified by your Doctor) In fact, most inhaled bronchodilators produce an effect within 5 to 10 minutes.

~The breathing process becomes very difficult.

a. The chest and the neck are pulled in or sucked in with each breath.
b. Have trouble while walking or talking
c. Stop whatever activity you are doing and cannot start again.
d. Tips of finger nails turn gray or blue. If this happens, rush to the hospital.

~ Keep the important information for seeking emergency care handy.
~ Call a family member, friend, or neighbor to help you if needed.
~ Immediately visit a clinic, or hospital for help if needed

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The following steps can be carried out at home:

~ Try to remain as calm as possible so that you do not frighten the patient any further.

~ Try giving the patient bronchodilator (reliever) medicines and contact your Doctor at the earliest.

~ Bronchodilator treatment may be repeated twice, at 20 to 30 minute intervals, and steroids may be started at home after consulting your Doctor.

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Are you susceptible to anxiety? If yes, then it's time to cool out or else you could end up developing asthma, says a new study.

Researchers at Heidelberg University have established that people prone to neurotic conditions could triple their probabilities of developing asthma unless they stay calm, the New Scientist reported. They have built their findings on analysis of a survey give to over 4,000 volunteers to assess their tendencies to hysteria, anxiety and depression without asthma. After nine years, the researchers, led by Adrian Loerbroks, reassessed the volunteers and initiate that those who had great levels of neurosis were three times as likely to have developed asthma as those with small scores allergy. Loerbroks believes neurotic character qualities may exert alters hormone levels to inflame breath ways.

Causes for an Asthma Attack ~ Understanding Asthma -Video ~ Only some People get Asthma, Why? ~ Asthma Symptoms ~ Warning signs of Asthma Attacks ~ During an Asthma Attack ~ A Severe Asthma Attack ~ How to Manage Asthma Attacks ~ Providing First Aid at Home. ~ Treatments for acute asthma attack ~ Stay Calm to Avoid Asthma ~ Asthma Attack - Video ~ Guestbook ~ sukkran's other lenses

Warning: These are all general information about Asthma. Before treating, buying or consuming products displayed in this page, better consult your Doctor and follow his advice. Author of this page is not responsible for any adverse effects.