September 1, 2007
What is Asthma? - Understanding the Disease
‘What is asthma’, is best answered by people, who suffer from this ailment. For them, this disease disrupts their normal life, when it occurs and causes acute discomfort. In medical terms, it is a long-term disease that causes inflammation in the tubes of the bronchi due to sensitivity to allergens such as dust, pollen or air pollution. It can occur in children as well as adults, at any stage of life. It is a very common disease, which is becoming progressively more prevalent in the urbanized nations, due to effects of pollution and industrialization.
Symptoms Of An Asthmatic Attack
The most common symptoms of Asthma are: trouble in breathing, breathlessness; a prominent wheezing sound and even coughing sometimes. The patient also has a feeling of tightening in the chest, and literally has to gasp for each breath. These symptoms surface from time to time and do not have any specific pattern. The severity of the attack may range from mild to very severe in the same patient. It depends on the extent of swelling of the air tubes, and the resulting narrowness, which hinders easy passage of air.
Possible Causes And Cures Of Asthma
The lungs of asthma patients are highly susceptible to allergies. They tend to respond to even the smallest amount of stimulus like dust, smoke, pollen or other tiny particles, which enter their respiratory tract, through the air they breathe in. This response is always in the form of an asthma attack. Therefore, it is important for them to understand what asthma is and what causes it. Asthma attacks can also be triggered by certain infections of the respiratory tract, mental stress, hormonal imbalance or allergy to certain foods. In fact, the rising cases of asthma can be contributed to our modern lifestyle. The change-over of our eating habits, from fresh foods to processed foods and living style in closed houses with little scope of fresh air ventilation is also responsible for this disease.
After knowing what is asthma and ascertaining that you have it, concentrate on managing and controlling it. As this disease is not completely curable, the key lies in managing it well, in order that the patient suffers only occasional and mild symptoms. By controlling factors that cause asthma in you on a day-to-day basis, you can avert severe symptoms so that you are able to lead a regular life. Children suffering from asthma are able to participate in all usual activities.
To prevent asthma attacks, the people suffering from asthma must try to live in an environment, where there is fresh and pure air. Avoid going to lawns during changing season, when pollen is found in the air in large quantity; make sure your mattresses and pillows are not very old as they are prone to contain more dust particles; and vacuum clean your carpets and curtains on a regular basis. Other than this, you should also avoid the foods, you are allergic to.
Asthma medicine is of two kinds. First, that which act against the inflammation in air tubes and second, that which help in widening the air passage for easy air flow. Taking regular asthma medication, under the guidance of a physician is important, as he can examine its efficiency in controlling the symptoms, from time to time. Taking supplements for nutrients like magnesium and Vitamin C, are also believed to help in relieving asthma symptoms. Thus, completely understanding, what is Asthma is the key to its proper control and effective treatment.
