Asthma Symptoms and Treatment

Asthma is a disorder that causes swelling of the airways of the lungs and makes them narrow. The condition leads to wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing.rnSymptoms of asthma-rnSymptoms of asthma may range from minor to severe and may vary from one person to another. The person may have mild symptoms and infrequent asthma attacks. The person may feel normal between asthma flare ups and have no trouble in breathing.rnSome may have symptoms primarily at night, during exercise or when exposed to triggers or some may have symptoms all the time. Asthma signs and symptoms may include: • Shortness of breathrn• Chest tightness or painrn• Trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath, coughing or wheezingrn• An audible whistling or wheezing sound when exhalingrn• Bouts of coughing or wheezing that are worsened by a respiratory virus such as a cold or the flurnSigns that asthma is getting worse may include: • More frequent and bothersome asthma signs and symptomsrn• Increasing difficulty breathing • An increasingly frequent need to use a quick-relief inhalerrnAsthma triggers for some people may include: • Exercise-induced asthma occurs during exercise. For many people, it may become worse when the air is cold and dry. • Occupational asthma is asthma that's caused or worsened by breathing in a workplace irritant such as chemical fumes, gases or dust. • Some people have asthma symptoms that are triggered by particular allergens, such as pet dander, cockroaches or pollen. Causes of asthma-rnThe reason why some people get asthma and others don’t is not clear but the condition is probably caused by combination of environmental and genetic factors.rnAsthma triggers may differ from person to another. Exposure to various allergens and irritants can trigger the signs and symptoms of asthma. These may include: • Airborne allergens, such as pollen, animal dander, mold, cockroaches and dust mitesrn• Respiratory infections, such as the common coldrn• Physical activity (exercise-induced asthma) • Cold airrn• Air pollutants and irritants, such as smokern• Certain medications, including beta blockers, aspirin and other non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugsrn• Strong emotions and stressrn• Sulfites, preservatives added to some types of foods and beveragesrn• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition in which stomach acids back up into your throatrn• Menstrual cycle in some womenrn• Allergic reactions to some foods, such as peanuts or shellfish Treatment of asthma-rnThe treatment aims at preventing and controlling the asthma attacks. Treatment usually involves determining the triggers and taking steps to avoid them. The doctor may also track the breathing to make sure that medications are keeping asthma under control. rnIn case asthma flares up, a quick relief inhaler such as albuterol can be used.rnMedications may be prescribed depending on factors such as age, symptoms, asthma triggers and what can work best for keeping it under control. Long-term control medications includern• Inhaled corticosteroidsrn• Leukotriene modifiersrn• Long-acting beta agonists (LABAs) • Combination inhalers such as fluticasone and salmeterol (Advair Diskus) and budesonide and formoterol (Symbicort) • TheophyllinernQuick-relief medicationsrn• Short-acting beta agonistsrn• Ipratropium (Atrovent) • Oral and intravenous corticosteroidsrnTreatment for allergy-induced asthmarn• Allergy shots (immunotherapy) • Omalizumab (Xolair) • Allergy medicationsrnBronchial thermoplastyrnTreatment by severity for better control: A stepwise approachrnAsthma action plan