BRONCHIAL ASTHMA

 

Bronchial asthma, commonly known as Asthma is a respiratory distress which narrows and swells up the airway path of the lungs. Due to swelling, the air path produces excess mucus making it hard to breathe, which results in coughing, shortness of breath, and wheezing.

It was estimated that around 5-10% people suffer from asthma. Most deaths occur in older adults. Asthma is a public health problem and occurs in all countries regardless of the level of development.

DEFINITION

Bronchial Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory disease of the airways, characterised by airflow obstruction, bronchial hyperactivity, and a mucous production.

RISK FACTORS

• Smoking
• Air pollution
• Obesity
• Viral respiratory infections
• Allergies : Allergies and asthma often coexist. One nationwide study showed levels of bacterial toxins called endotoxins in house dust were directly related to the symptoms of asthma.
• Family history of asthma : Asthma can be caused by many different genes that is inherited from parents, interacting with the envirTiredness

SYMPTOMS

• Difficulty in breathing
• Frequent cough
• Common cold
• Wheezing
• Chest pain
• Tiredness

TYPES

Adult-Onset Asthma : 

It is the type of asthma that develops during adulthood.

Allergic Asthma : 

Allergic asthma is the most common form of asthma. Many of the symptoms of allergic and non-allergic asthma are the same. However, allergic asthma is triggered by inhaling allergens.

Asthma-COPD overlap : 

COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Asthma-COPD overlap syndrome is when symptoms of both Asthma and COPD coexist.

Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction : 

Also known as Exercise-Induced Asthma is the narrowing of airways causing difficulty in moving out of the lungs during exercises. 

Non-Allergic Asthma : 

As we have discussed about allergic asthma above, non allergic asthma is just opposite to it. It is triggered by various non-allergic factors such as stress, cold or dry air, smoke, anxiety, viruses or infections, and many more.

Occupational Asthma : 

It is a type of asthma which is caused by inhaling chemical fumes, dust, gases or other industrial substances.

COMPLICATIONS

Adults and children experience almost similar symptoms but the complications that develop can have a different impact based on age.

Complications in children include :

•Higher risk for learning disabilities

•Growth delay

•Thoracic Deformity

Complications in adults include :

•Higher risk for depression

Common complications include :

•Permanent narrowing of bronchial tubes

•Higher risk of obesity

•Lingering coughing spell

•Medication side effects

•Pneumonia

REACHING TO THE CONCLUSION :

NOTE - IF YOU ARE HAVING ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS, DONOT SELF DIAGNOSE BUT DO CONSULT A DOCTOR. IN THE SAME WAY, DONOT SELF MEDICATE YOURSELF. DOING THIS CAN CAUSE SERIOUS COMPLICATIONS AND IS DANGEROUS. I RECOMMEND YOU TO ALWAYS TAKE MEDICAL OPINIONS.

Hope you all have attained some more information about Bronchial Asthma. This year let us all be happy and healthy, eating good fo buod, staying fit and energetic, and making this year a better one by creating good memories and doing our best at everything.

Stay healthy, stay safe.

-Jeslin Mariam Jose