Asthma

Asthma is primarily caused by inflammation of the airways. The inflammation hyper-irritates the already sensitive airways, which respond with mucus production and decreased airflow. This irritability may be associated with coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, mucus production, and chest tightness.

Asthma has a severity spectrum. Some people have very mild asthma - exercise induced asthma is an example. Others feel the symptoms of asthma such as a cough, coughing up mucous, wheezing and shortness of breath frequently. If these symptoms are present more than twice a week or are not relieved by an inhaled bronchodilator, it may indicate moderate asthma.

Asthma medications are directed toward treating the specific cause of the airway narrowing. Although there are many different medications, most can be grouped into 2 categories: bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory drugs.

What are the steps for using an inhaler? There are several simple steps to follow for using an inhaler: remove cap hold the canister upright shake it place it in mouth actuate (release the drug) by pressing the canister in the inhaler breathe in as you actuate hold your breath for a few seconds breathe out repeat if needed Possible side effects of using inhaled asthma drugs Even though when using inhaled asthma drugs, a person can breathe in an adequate dose, most of the drug is actually deposited in the mouth and the back of the throat, where some irritation may occur, especially when using inhaled corticosteroids.

For many years medical specialists have had difficulty in agreeing on a definition of asthma. However, one useful definition is that asthma is a lung disease with the following features: airway obstruction that reverses either by itself or with treatment airway inflammation airway hyper-responsiveness to a variety of stimuli What does airway obstruction mean? The lung is made up of tube-like segments (bronchi) that look like branches of a tree (Figure 1).

Any number of environmental stimuli can trigger asthma attacks including air temperature, respiratory viruses, pollution, odours, certain foods such as sulfites, allergens, stress, chemicals, dust, and cigarette smoke (active or passive). Some asthmatics are allergic to aspirin and ibuprofen, especially those with the "allergic triad" of asthma, nasal polyps, and sinusitis.

Asthma affects every aspect of a person's life, in particular the ability to exercise. Yet regular physical exercise increases your fitness level, makes you feel better, and improves your self-esteem and confidence. This is particularly true in children. With proper detection and control of your asthma you can have an active lifestyle.