Welcome to this first part of a four-part series on asthma, where our goal is to understand what it is and how it can be controlled.

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways in the lungs. Recurring periods of wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing are hallmarks of asthma.

Asthma affects people of all ages, but most of the time it begins during childhood.

General description

Asthmatics have inflamed airways in the lungs. Inflamed airways are narrowed and very sensitive, so they react very strongly to inhaled allergens.

When the airways react, the muscles around them tighten and narrow, reducing the flow of air into the lungs. The swelling may progress and will continue to narrow the airways further. Associated with this process is increased production of mucus, a thick, sticky liquid that further narrows the already narrow airways.

These reactions cause asthma symptoms: wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing.

Asthmatic symptoms are usually mild and resolve spontaneously or are easily treated with minimal treatment. However, in some cases, it can progress and worsen, resulting in what is commonly known as an asthma attack.

Therefore, early treatment of asthma symptoms is paramount. By the time an asthma attack strikes, emergency care is required and, if left untreated, asthma can be fatal.

There is no cure for asthma. However, with proper and comprehensive ongoing treatment, asthma can be controlled and people with asthma can and will continue to lead normal, active lives.

Populations at risk

Most of the time, asthma begins during childhood, but it can affect people of all ages.

Young children who often get respiratory infections are at higher risk of developing asthma. Other risk factors that influence the development of asthma include being atopic (having multiple allergies), eczema, or, as mentioned above, having parents who are also asthmatic.

Boys are at higher risk of developing asthma compared to girls. However, once adulthood is reached, there are more asthmatic women compared to their male counterparts. As a sum total, most people with asthma have allergies.

Another important population with asthma are industrial workers who come into contact with chemical irritants or industrial pollutants in their workplace. This population develops occupational asthma, a controversial disease label.

Causes of asthma

So far a multitude of causes of asthma have been documented. These include:

• Genetic causes, especially atopic individuals or asthmatic parents.

• Childhood respiratory infections

• A multitude of airborne allergens have been implicated.

Asthma signs and symptoms

Common signs and symptoms of asthma include:

• Cough

• Wheezing

• Chest tightness

• Difficulty breathing.

Coughing caused by asthma is usually worse at night and disrupts sleep. Wheezing is a screeching, hissing sound that is heard with every breath. Chest tightness and shortness of breath can be confused and often mistaken for cardiac causes and can result in undue stress on the patient.

Having one or more of the above symptoms does not automatically diagnose asthma. Proper lung function tests, medical history, and a physical exam by a healthcare professional is the only way to confirm asthma.

However, the type and severity of asthma symptoms suffered by patients determines the management of the disease. Because symptoms vary over time, asthmatics should be aware of their own symptoms and their fluctuations, and seek treatment early because while mild symptoms can be simply bothersome, severe symptoms can seriously limit daily routines. and exercise, and very severe symptoms can potentially cause death. if not treated.

Treatment to prevent asthma in known asthmatics is now available.

Asthma triggers

These include:

• Allergens: dust, animal skins, cockroaches, mold and pollen from trees, grasses and flowers, etc.

• Chemical irritants: cigarette smoke, air pollution, chemicals, workplace dust, aerosols, etc.

• Medications: NSAIDs (for example, aspirin) and B-blockers (for example, atenolol).

• Upper respiratory infections

• Physical activity: Exercise can trigger asthma.

This list is not exhaustive. Each asthmatic is unique and it is best if you seek the advice of your healthcare professional.

Asthma prevention

Asthma cannot be cured. But you can prevent it. Following these simple steps will go a long way to helping you control your asthma.

• Learn about asthma. Empower yourself.

• Have an asthma action plan and stick to it.

• Follow your doctor’s medication regimen

• Identify the triggers that cause your asthma and avoid them

• Document the progression of your asthma

• Regular visits to your treating doctor

In the next part of this series, we’ll look at what to prepare for and what to expect during a medical consultation.