According to a report published on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) by one of the leading medical associations of the world, India registers (only after China) the maximum number of deaths due to asthma. A chronic inflammatory condition, asthma hampers a person’s ability to breathe normally. In the medical parlance, it occurs when the airways of the lungs swell up and constrict. Whether it is the uncontrollable increase in the rate and extent of pollution, exposure to certain airborne substances like pollen, dust mites, waste particles, etc., or hereditary history, asthma cases are constantly on a rise. It signals poor lung health and can also be linked to other health conditions such as severe acid refluxes, etc.
Here, the major point of stress is that a lot of times the symptoms of asthma go unrecognized. It is only when these symptoms aggravate that they become prominently visible and start causing trouble. Physicians and medical practitioners recommend that even the slightest of symptoms of asthma must not be ignored. It is imperative to get tested for the problem before it becomes incurable in nature.
In the event that a person is unable to recognize the symptoms of asthma and the problem triggers further, seek the assistance of a physician right away. Medical practitioners claim that it’s essential to avoid frequent asthma attacks from occurring. Over time, coping with an asthma attack can become increasingly difficult. First and foremost, any kind of asthma triggers must be dealt with the utmost care and attention. Inability to do so can result in several chronic and long-term effects, such as an adverse impact on the person’s speech and more. Another common problem associated with the deteriorating asthma condition is ‘cyanosis’, or the discoloration of the lips; lips turning bluish in color. The condition implies a lack of transfer of an adequate amount of oxygen into the bloodstream and the muscles. One may also face a problem with eating a normal healthy diet or getting enough sound sleep.
Asthma Doesn’t Just Attack the Lungs, It Attacks Life!
Problems like asthma directly hamper a person’s day-to-day living. Asthma attacks can occur at any time of the day (and night), at any place (school, road, meeting, vacation, etc.) and leave you panting and breathless. While most people claim that asthma has no permanent cure, the fact is that asthma, when given the utmost care and attention, can be effectively avoided.
Identifying the difference between a usual scene of ‘huffing and puffing’ out of tiredness and a more critical medical condition called asthma is important. For instance, common symptoms of an asthma attack include: relentless breathing issues, mostly shortness of breath, constant coughing and wheezing. Most particularly, if you are encountering any or all of the following breathing problems, then it is a clear signal that it’s time to seek medical assistance immediately.
An Asthma Episode – What Really Happens!
An asthma episode or otherwise known as an asthma attack, occurs when the symptoms become worse than before. It can, as mentioned above, happen suddenly and can range from being mild to moderate and severe.
But, what exactly happens during the attack?
- The airway muscles tighten up, narrowing them further
- Less air flows through the airway
- Airway inflammation increases, which in turn narrows the airways further
- The production of mucus increases manifold, undermining the airflow even more
Symptoms of Asthma
- Uneasiness felt in the chest, chest tightness or unexplainable pressure and pain
- Constant feeling of squeezing of the chest
- Difficulty while talking continuously or for a long duration
- Random anxiety or panic issues
- Constant paleness of face with excessive sweating
- Increased instances of rapid pulse rate
- Loud wheezing (or whistling and squeaking) sounds (especially during the night)
- No relief from your reliever inhaler or more-than-usual usage of the quick-relief inhaler
- Frequent coughing at night, which also continues throughout the day
- A drop in peak flow meter readings
- Significantly decreased stamina to do strenuous activities like running or swimming
- Worsening of your breathing condition during stressful situations
- Sleep difficulties due to shortness of breath
- Repeated sneezing, coughing, throat infections, running nose, and congestion
- Not much respite from inhaled medicines, or bronchodilators
- Persistent fatigue, sighing and tiredness
- Breathing difficulty due to regular nasal flaring
- Certain behavioral symptoms such as irritability, nervousness and in some cases mental confusion
Causes of Asthma
Primary factors which are known to increase the chances of developing asthma are as follows:
- Family history of asthma and other related conditions such as a food allergy, eczema or hay fever
- Developing another atopic condition
- Exposure to tobacco smoke as a child, especially if one’s mother smoked during her days of pregnancy
- Having lung infections such as bronchitis as a child
- Being a premature baby, especially if one had needed a ventilator to survive the initial days of life
- Being born with a low birth weight, typically less than 2kgs
- Exposure to outdoor and indoor pollution, such as harmful gases, moulds, cigarette smoke, chemicals, and hazardous particles
Get Treated – The Sooner the Better!
Recognizing the worsening condition at once and moving towards the right medication is essential to controlling the problem and keeping it from taking over one’s life. Although the symptoms vary from one patient to another, they all direct towards the same problem. Milder or severer, single or multiple symptoms of a shorter or longer duration, they all demand a more responsive and focused treatment.
Just remember; Precaution is better than a cure! If you witness even the slightest of the symptoms of asthma, get yourself checked and treated right away before your condition worsens further. The health of you and your family is of the utmost importance. There are many directed therapies and treatments available today which help control asthma to a great extent so individuals can lead a normal life.
