Asthma is a fatal disease that needs an early diagnosis for getting better treatment. Basically, Asthma is a condition that produces extra mucus and narrows the airways of your nasal area and cause swelling. In this way, it becomes difficult for you to breathe properly. Also, this situation triggers shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing. It affects differently to every person. For some people, it is just an irritation, while a major issue for some others that can threaten their daily activities. When it comes to its cure, you should know the fact that this disease doesn’t come with a cure. However, its symptoms can be controlled, and so you can manage it. You should look for the symptoms and visit your doctor if you are feeling anything disturbing.
How Is Asthma Classified?
When you know the classification of the Asthma, then it becomes easy for you to know the level of severity for the disease you are going through. Basically, Asthma is classified into four categories, have a look!
- Mild Intermittent Asthma – You are having mild intermittent Asthma if your symptoms are mild and appear for less them two times in a week. Very few asthma attacks. Also, the night time symptoms appear less than 2 times in a month.
- Mild Persistent Asthma – You are suffering from mild persistent asthma if the symptoms are appearing for 3 to 6 times every week. Nighttime symptoms range from 3 to 4 times each month. Also, the attacks of this chronic disease have effects on your daily activities.
- Moderate Persistent Asthma – Symptoms range from 3 to 6 times every 7 days. Nighttime symptoms happen for about 3 to 4 times every month. It affects your everyday activities.
- Severe Persistent Asthma – Your symptoms are used to appear at any time of the day and they are so frequent, then you are suffering from severe persistent asthma. Such kind of disease can make you limit your activities.
Types of Asthma
Do you know that Asthma is of different types? It’s really necessary to know the types and categorization of this disease so that you can know which type of treatment you need. Also, having an insight regarding your health is really important. Following is a list of the types of Asthma!
- Adult-onset Asthma
- Status Asthmaticus
- Asthma in Children
- Allergic Asthma
- Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction
- Occupational Asthma
- Cough-variant Asthma
- Aspirin-induced Asthma
- Nocturnal Asthma
- Eosinophilic Asthma
- Nonallergic Asthma
Symptoms
The symptoms of asthma vary from an individual to the other. Maybe you are suffering from this disease, but the onset of symptoms may vary. For example, they can happen throughout the day or even when you are doing a particular act – for example, exercise.
Symptoms and signs include;
- Wheezing or whistling sound while exhaling – wheezing is a common symptom of asthma in children
- Chest pain or tightness
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing or coughing attacks
Asthma symptoms and signs may differ on the basis of different situations. Have a look at them!
- Allergy-induced asthma – An airborne substance can cause allergy and this may lead to an asthma attack. These substances may include particles of skin, cockroach waste, mold spores, and pollen.
- Occupational asthma – This type of asthma is triggered by the irritants in the environment. They may include dust particles, gases, and chemicals.
- Exercise-induced asthma – It can worsen with the dryness of coldness in the air.
When To See A Doctor?
When you face any difficulty in your life situations and facing asthma symptoms, then you should visit your doctor. After a detailed examination, your doctor will let you know when and how you should do preventive measures and if you need a proper treatment plan. Signs of the emergency treatment from asthma include;
- Shortness of breath and issue in physical activity because of it
- Even after utilizing inhaler, you don’t see any improvement
- High level of severity while having wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing, etc.
Contact Your Doctor
You should see your doctor in case of the following aspects.
- If you have asthma symptoms – If you are having a few symptoms of asthma and you think you may get diagnosed with it, then you should visit your doctor. It is necessary to catch a disease on early stage. In this way, treatment and management get easy. Otherwise, it can worsen over time.
- If your asthma symptoms get worse – If it is observed that your medication is not working on your condition properly, and an inhaler also doesn’t work, then you should visit your doctor. Don’t take any medication or increase the number of medicines on your own. Do visit your doctor before making any decision. Keep in mind that overusing of any medicines has adverse effects.
- To monitor your asthma – If you are already diagnosed with asthma, then visit your doctor to monitor your progress. Long-term control assists you have a better feeling. In this way, you can be safe from asthma attack.
- To review your treatment – The condition may differ with time. You should keep a check and balance of your symptoms and signs. You may need some adjustments in your treatment plan.
Causes
The causes may not be clarified in some cases and not known in some other cases. They can be genetic, environmental, or a combination of both.
Asthma triggers
Some things can work as triggers to an asthma attack. Exposure to allergens or irritants can cause an attack. They may vary from one person to the other.
- Cold air
- Cold or other respiratory infections
- Exercise or related physical activity
- Pollen, mold spores, dust mites, or other airborne substances
- Irritants and air pollutants including smoke
- Stress or related strong emotions
- GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease)
- Preservatives and sulfites that are added into different beverages and foods. They may include wine, beer, processed potatoes, dried fruit, and shrimps.
- Specific medicines include ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen, and beta-blockers
Risk factors
You should know the risk factors as they can increase the chances of getting an attack. They may include;
- Smoking
- Overweight
- Allergic conditions
- Family history of asthma
- Exposure to different types of pollution
- Secondhand smoking
- Exposure to chemicals
Complications
Some complications may include;
- Symptoms and signs that may interfere with the recreational activities, work, and sleep
- Sick days to take off from school and work
- Hospitalizations or emergency visits because of having a severe attack
- Adverse effects because of using some particular medicines
- Permanent narrowing of the bronchial tubes, as it may have a bad impact on your breath
To get rid of such complications, you should focus on your treatment.
Prevention
When there is no cure for asthma, but you can find a solution by collaborating with your doctor. You should visit your doctor and ask him to design a plan to help you in preventing asthma attacks. You have to create an action plan and follow it properly. This ongoing condition requires proper treatment and monitoring. When you control and manage your illness, then you would feel that you have control of your life.
- Monitor your breathing – Learn to observe warning signs that may lead to a severe asthma attack. Monitor your breathing and take your medicines with you wherever you are going.
- Get vaccination regularly – Keep in mind that having pneumonia or influenza can be drastic for you. So, to avoid an asthma attack, keep your vaccinations on time and don’t delay them.
- Identify your triggers and avoid them – Different irritants and allergens can cause problems for you. A number of triggers are available, so you have to know which trigger causes the arousal of an asthma condition in you. In this way, you can avoid an asthma attack by avoid these triggers.
- Take your prescribed medicines – Take your prescribed medicines on time. Don’t change your medicine or action plan without discussing it with your doctor. If you are feeling improvement in your health, it doesn’t mean to change your medicines as per your desire. Keep checking your activities and taking the right dose of medicine.
Keep your medicine with you and take it as instructed by your doctor whenever you feel having an asthma attack. Get medical help and ask your doctor to change your action plan if you are not feeling any improvement in your condition and overall health.
