Characteristics of Asthma
Asthma is characterized by inflammation of the bronchial tubes with increased production of sticky secretions inside the tubes. People with asthma experience symptoms when the airways tighten, inflame, or fill with mucus.
Common asthma symptoms include:
asthma attacks. Others might have asthma symptoms every day. In addition, some people may only have asthma during exercise or asthma with viral infections like colds. Mild asthma attacks are generally more common. Usually, the
airways open up within a few minutes to a few hours. Severe attacks are less common but last longer and require immediate medical help.
Common asthma symptoms include:
- Coughing, especially at night
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness, pain, or pressure
asthma attacks. Others might have asthma symptoms every day. In addition, some people may only have asthma during exercise or asthma with viral infections like colds. Mild asthma attacks are generally more common. Usually, the
airways open up within a few minutes to a few hours. Severe attacks are less common but last longer and require immediate medical help.
Asthma can be triggered by a number of things:
Pollens--from trees, plants and grasses, including freshly cut grass
Animal--dander from pets with fur or feathers
Irritants like:
- Exercise--running or playing hard--especially in cold weather
- Upper respiratory infections--colds or flu
- Laughing or crying hard
Pollens--from trees, plants and grasses, including freshly cut grass
Animal--dander from pets with fur or feathers
Irritants like:
- Cold air
- Strong smells and chemical sprays, including perfumes, paint and cleaning solutions, chalk dust, lawn and turf
treatments - weather changes
- Cigarette and other tobacco smoke.
- Dust and dust mites--in carpeting, pillows and upholstery
- Cockroach droppings
- molds
What Happens During an Asthma Attack
During an asthma attack, muscles around the airways tighten, and the airway linings swell. Too much mucus secretion is produced in the airways and can block the air tubes in the lungs. Air is trapped in the lungs and breathing becomes difficult. Asthma attacks rarely happen without warning. Knowing the signs of a pending attack could help you prevent an asthma emergency.
The Warning Signs of an Attack
- A lack of appetite, fatigue, headache, or coughing often comes before an asthma attack.
- Dark circles under the eyes and less tolerance for exercise
- Tightness or pressure in the chest
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing (a high-pitched whistling sound that occurs when exhaling)
- Coughing, especially at night
Treatments
A bronchodilator is used by almost all people with asthma as a way to open the airway passages. Short-acting
bronchodilators are used as a "quick relief" or "rescue" medication, while long-acting bronchodilators are used every day to control asthma in conjunction with an inhaled steroid. There are three types of bronchodilators: beta-agonists, anticholinergics, and theophylline. These bronchodilators are available in inhaled, tablet, liquid, and injectable forms, but the preferred method of taking the beta-agonists and anticholinergics is by inhalation.