How Asthma is Diagnosed

Asthma is normally diagnosed by means of three factors: physical examination, medical history, and results of breathing tests. If a person is deducted with asthma, then they should determine their level of severity such as periodic, mild, less intense, or severe. First the physician normally checks the medical history of the patient. A detail family history helps the physician to make accurate diagnosis of asthma and the patient should also produce the record of personal allergies for more accurate result. The allergies and symptoms include coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, worsening symptoms due to cold air, breathing difficulty, worsening symptoms during night, symptoms due to allergens and symptoms while doing exercise.

It is even good to note down the health conditions that often interfere with asthma such as sinus infections, physiological stress, running nose, sleep apnea, and acid reflux disease. Next step to diagnose is the physical examination and it is normally concentrated on the chest, upper respiratory tract, and skin. The doctors normally use stethoscope to find out the signs of asthma when a person breathe. The wheezing or high whistling sound is the signs of having asthma or inflamed airway. Other than this physician also checks running nose, nasal polyps, swollen nasal passages, along with the skin examination for any allergies such as hives and eczema.

Normally, physical symptoms are not present in the asthma sufferers. After this procedure, certain tests are performed to confirm the presence of asthma such as lung function test, spirometry, and forced vital capacity. Lung function test measure the amount of air that flows in and out of the lungs. The measurements of all three tests are taken and compared with the results of the normal people to find out whether the person is suffering from asthma.

There are also other tests conducted to check asthma such as challenge tests, allergy tests, and other tests to check whether the sufferers have other diseases such as heartburn, sleep apnea, reflux disease, sinusitis, hay fever, airway tumors, bronchitis, blood clot in the lungs, dysfunction of vocal cord, lung infection, congestive heart failure, and viral infection.

Filed Under: Asthma, Conditions and Diseases Tagged With: , ,

Types of Asthma

Asthma is a chronic disease that affects the bronchial tubes. There are different types of asthma, but clear patterns of each type are not clearly explained. The first type is the child-onset asthma that starts during the childhood. This type of asthma starts when the child becomes allergic to allergens present in the environment. This condition happens due to genetic reasons. The allergens include animal proteins, fungi, dust, and dust mites.

Another type is the adult onset asthma and people affect with this asthma after they reach 20 years of age. This type of asthma affects women more than men and it is less common. This type is often triggered by some allergens. However, some portions of adult onset asthma are not triggered by allergens and these are called non-allergic asthma. The non-allergic type is also called as intrinsic asthma and the cause can be particles in plastics, medications, metals, and woods.

If a person breathe heavily or wheeze when they do exercise, then they might be suffering from exercise induced asthma. This type is often determined by the level of fitness that is an unfit person is more likely prone to this type of asthma. In this type, a person will suffer from getting air in and out of the lungs due to the inflammation. The best part is that this type can be treated with the proper treatment without limiting their athletic goals.

Cough induced asthma is another type and this is very difficult to diagnose. In this type, coughing might occur alone without other symptoms. Coughing can occur any time of the day and it disturbs the sleep very badly. Occupational asthma is triggered in the work place and the factors include gases, chemicals, smoke, vapors, fumes, dust, and other particles. This is even caused by allergies.

Nocturnal asthma often begins after mid night and this is cause home allergens such as dust and animal dander. This is also called as nighttime asthma and the patients often have short breath and wheezing when they sleep or lay down. This asthma mostly occurs once in a week.

Filed Under: Asthma, Conditions and Diseases Tagged With: , ,

Causes of Asthma

Most people around the world are affected with asthma every year. People often get affected with this disease in their childhood and it is estimated that more than 6 million children are affected with asthma. This chronic disease affects children who are born with low weight and children who grow in the mid of tobacco smoke in a very low income surrounding. The first symptoms can be identified during the 5 years of the children and the symptoms include wheezing. Other risk factors include allergies such as eczema. Young girls are less affected than young boys.

Almost most of the asthma sufferers have allergies and also some of the people who have hay fever also suffer from asthma. The antibodies in the airways are often trigged by the allergic reaction that causes the inflammation in the tubes leading to asthma. Some of the common allergic sources include dust mites, pet animal proteins, fungi, and cockroaches.  Tobacco smoke is one of the main causes of asthma and this worsens the condition and even lead to death because of respiratory infections and wheezing. Children who are exposed to smoke have higher chances of getting asthma. Adults who smoke have higher chances of asthma risk.

Environmental factors are also another cause of asthma and this includes indoor air pollution and outdoor air pollution. The indoor air pollution is due to paints and household cleaners. Other triggering factors are ozone, nitrogen oxide, pollution, cold temperatures, sulfur dioxide, and high humidity. People with obesity problems tend to suffer from asthma. It is found through research that babies born by caesarian are very much prone to asthma attacks. This may be because of the immune system in the babies. Also, if a mother smoke during pregnancy, then her child is more likely to get affected with asthma. Premature birth also leads to asthma.

Research has found that people with high stress often tend to have asthma because most of the stressful people take smoking as a relief. Asthma can also be hereditary. It is found that children with atopic dermatitis also suffer from persistent and severe asthma

Filed Under: Asthma, Conditions and Diseases Tagged With: , ,

Overview of Asthma

An asthma inhaler, used as a bronchodilator to...

Image via Wikipedia

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that narrows and inflames the airways. This disease causes recurrent wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. Coughing often occurs during night or early morning. Asthma is not restricted to particular people or age. Any person of any age can get affected with this disease, but mostly this starts in the childhood. It is found that 22 million people are affected with asthma, in which 6 million people are children.

Overview

The tubes or airways are the one that carry air in and out of the lungs. People affected with asthma have inflamed asthma. The inflammation causes the airways to swell and make it very sensitive. The inflamed airways react very strongly to some inhaled substances. The inflammation also causes the muscles in the tubes to tighten and the airways become narrower and thus the air flow in the lungs get disturbed. Swelling of the airways also worsens the condition and even makes the tubes become very narrower.

Besides this, cells found in the tubes also form more mucus than the normal condition. Mucus is a sticky liquid that again narrow the airways. All these chain reactions cause the asthma symptoms. Symptoms can be identified every time when the tubes become inflamed. Most of the times, symptoms of the asthma are very mild and this often tend to cure on its own or with minimal treatment. Sometimes, asthma get worse and it needs to be treated seriously.

When symptoms worsen, a person gets asthma attack. These attacks are often called as exacerbations or flare-ups. Therefore, it is very important to treat asthma at the early stages to prevent the asthma attack.

Filed Under: Asthma, Conditions and Diseases Tagged With: , ,

Talking About Asthma with Your Doctor

Asthma is a difficult ailment to deal with. Asthma attacks are terrifying, and the aftermath can be physically and emotionally exhausting. Some asthmatics worry about talking about their attacks with their doctor; many people treat asthma as a less serious problem than it is. However, talking to your doctor about asthma is the best way to keep asthma under control.

The first step to controlling your asthma with medical help is to talk to your general practitioner. Some people with mild asthma only need to see their general practitioner about their asthma. This is particularly true if your general practitioner has a lot of experience with respiratory problems. However, if your condition requires close supervision or frequent medication changes, you should ask for a referral to a respiratory specialist. They will be able to try more aggressive treatments than a general practitioner.

After you’ve found your doctor, you need to become comfortable with him or her. At your initial visit, bring a list of questions about your asthma, as well as some goals you have for your treatment. If you feel rushed by the doctor, you may want to look elsewhere.

Another part of good doctor-patient communication is your doctor’s nurse. Typically, if you call in with a question or concern, you talk to the nurse first. Ensure that your doctor is available if you have a serious asthma attack, reaction to a medication, or other breathing problem. Find out their on-call schedule and meet the other doctors that may be treating you.

Meet with your doctor frequently to discuss how your asthma treatments are working and any changes that need to be made. They should be willing to consider any changes you want to make or things you want to try. This relationship will be essential to the treatment of your asthma and the improvement of your health.

Filed Under: Asthma, Health Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Causes of Asthma in Children

Asthma can make a child’s life considerably more difficult. It causes inflammation of the airways and can make breathing a challenge. The causes of childhood asthma are varied, in particular between different groups and different individuals.

For kids, there is a strong link between allergies and asthma. Many children who have asthma also suffer from allergies; however, only a few kids with allergies suffer from asthma. There’s a certain genetic element to the diagnosis of asthma in children; if either or both parents have asthma, the child has a considerably higher chance of getting it too.

Although genetics play a role in childhood asthma, it is not the only factor. Not every child with an asthmatic parent will get asthma. More likely than not, genetic effects predispose a child to asthma. However, the environmental triggers have to exist in order for asthma to develop.

Environmental triggers include allergens like dust and pollen. Dust mites, animal dander, and mold all contribute to an increase in asthma amongst children. Unfortunately, children who suffer from food allergies also tend to be at increased risk for asthma.

There are certain societal and lifestyle factors that have led to a rapid increase in the development of childhood asthma. In the past, children spent a lot of time outside. This typically limited their exposure to certain allergens. As we’ve become a more indoors society, children have been more exposed to indoor allergens that cause asthma. Furthermore, a good diet helps the immune system stave off asthma. As our diets become comprised of convenience foods, fast food, and food with lots of preservatives, it is harder for children’s bodies to fight off asthma.

Clearly, there are many factors that can lead to and cause asthma. Keeping kids active, outdoors, and eating healthily can do a lot to keep them asthma-free.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Asthma, Health Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Causes and Symptoms of Adult-Onset Asthma

Asthma has become a huge health concern in recent decades. It has become more common not only in children, but adults as well. Even adults with no prior history of breathing problems are suddenly finding themselves needing to have an inhaler around at all times. Adult-onset asthma has several primary causes and manifests in a few different ways.

Adult-onset asthma tends to occur in a few select populations. Women with sudden hormonal changes often find themselves wheezing and short of breath. Typically, this means that women who are going through menopause or pregnancy are prone to asthma. Women that are taking estrogen supplements due to menopause are also susceptible to adult-onset asthma.

People who have weak immune systems and are constantly exposed to illnesses like the cold and flu are at higher risk for adult-onset asthma. Avoiding allergens and irritants after a cold or flu can help the immune system recover. Similar to childhood asthma, there is a correlation between allergies and asthma. Approximately one-half of adults with asthma are also affected by allergies. In adults, there is a particularly strong correlation between asthma and an allergy to cats.

Certain environmental factors can also cause adult-onset asthma. Smoke from cigarettes, certain perfumes, and mold are strongly linked to asthma. The presence of these irritants may cause the development of asthma as well as individual asthma attacks.

Unfortunately, most of these triggers cannot be avoided. Adults can avoid smoking, try to keep their home free of mold, and avoid irritants to minimize their risk. However, there is little to be done about allergies, menopause, and a weak immune system.

If adult-onset asthma is suspected, a trip to the doctor’s office is essential. They can do a number of tests to diagnose asthma and start a course of treatment to minimize the effects of asthma.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Asthma, Health Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Different Types of Asthma

The various types of asthma make it a complex illness that is not very easy to treat. Each type of asthma has different causes, symptoms, and treatments.

Occupational asthma is a variety of asthma that is either caused or exacerbated by irritants and conditions in the workplace. It’s fairly common, with about 20% of adult-onset asthma cases being due to occupational hazards. Unfortunately, very few people report it or even recognize it as an occupational hazard. This type of asthma tends to occur in factory settings, particularly in fabricators, manual laborers, and machine operators. Occupational asthma also is found in office settings, where irritants like dust, mold, and allergens tend to live.

Exercise-induced asthma is a type of asthma that is becoming more and more common. One common misconception is that exercise-induced asthma occurs only in those who aren’t very athletic or fit. However, exercise-induced asthma is most widespread in professional athletes. It is fairly common Olympic athletes have this type of asthma, possibly due to the intense training they undergo. Exercise-induced asthma is also frequently diagnosed in high school athletes, particularly those in endurance sports like cross-country running, bicycling, and skiing. This type of asthma often requires treatment as long as the exercise that brought it on continues.

Brittle asthma refers to two varieties of asthma. The first type is characterized by wide peak flow variability, which means that the airflow during asthma attacks varies. The second type of brittle asthma has occasional severe asthma attacks with well-controlled periods between attacks. In both types of asthma, asthma attacks aren’t completely eradicated; they can only be treated when they occur.

Getting diagnosed with the correct type of asthma is the first step to getting correct treatment. Seeing a respiratory specialist can be very helpful, as they can accurately diagnose asthma and establish an effective treatment plan.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Asthma, Health Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

What is Cough-Induced Asthma?

An asthma attack, also known as an acute asthma exacerbation, can be a terrifying experience for anyone. The loss of control, inability to breathe, and intense physical discomfort is enough to put anyone into a panic. People who have had asthma for a long time can learn the triggers and warning signs of their asthma attacks, and in doing so, minimize their negative effects.

Allergens and environmental irritants are often asthma attack triggers. If you notice that pollen, animal hair, dust mites, or mold set off asthma attacks, try to minimize your exposure to them. This may involve cleaning your home frequently to stave off the development of mold, sweeping to minimize dust and animal hair, and staying indoors if pollen is in the air.

Although exercise does not always cause asthma, it can almost always create the perfect setup for an asthma attack. If you have been having trouble breathing, it may be best to avoid excessive exercise. Endurance exercises, including running, swimming, and cycling can be the worst triggers for asthma exercises. Instead of a long run, go for a brisk walk in mild weather or do some strength training.

Different weather conditions can be troublesome to asthma sufferers. Harsh, cold temperatures can irritate your throat and cause breathing problems. On those cold winter days that leave you red-nosed and shivering, stay inside if at all possible.
If you must go outside, try to get back indoors as quickly as possible. Being outside in cold, strong winds for too long can trigger an intense asthma attack.

Asthma attacks are part of life for asthmatics; however, you don’t have to let them control your life. Try to minimize your exposure to triggers to lessen your risk of an asthma attack. If you feel an asthma attack coming on, get your inhaler ready so you can be prepared for it.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Asthma, Health Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Causes and Treatment of Exercise-Induced Asthma

Exercise-induced asthma, one of the most commonly diagnosed asthma varieties, is still a mystery in many ways. As evidenced by its name, everyone knows that asthma attacks are caused by exercise. However, there is still some question as to what causes the illness to develop.

An exercise-induced asthma attack typically occurs when breathing through the mouth is required to continue getting enough air. When breathing through the nose, the air is typically warm and moist when it enters the airways. However, the same cannot be said for mouth breathing; the air is still cold and dry, and that change can be enough to cause obstruction and inflammation of the airways. After the asthma attack subsides, there tends to be few or no symptoms for about an hour, at which point the asthmatic is again prone to an attack.

This type of asthma is often responsible for mild to moderate asthma attacks marked by wheezing, coughing, and rapid breathing. However, people with allergies and exercise-induced asthma may suffer from very severe asthma attacks. This is particularly true when it is hot out, since there tends to be lots of allergens in the air.

There are several ways of treating and avoiding the effects of exercise-induced asthma. About twenty minutes before beginning exercise, doctors recommend that asthmatics take a beta agonist. Corticosteroids can also be helpful when taken in this manner. The most effective way to treat exercise-induced asthma is to prevent attacks. Training programs can be altered for asthmatic athletes to avoid triggering an asthma attack. Additionally, athletes should avoid exercising when allergens and extreme heat are prevalent.

Once it’s determined that someone has exercise-induced asthma, they can tackle it aggressively. Creating a treatment plan that allows for continued exercise helps keep asthma under control while letting athletes keep doing what they love most.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Asthma, Health Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »