Asthma: A Critical Respiratory Disease

Asthma is one of the most common disorders of the respiratory airways caused mainly because of hypersensitive bronchial airways. It may be represented by a number of symptoms and signs. Asthma can classified as intermittent, mild persistent, moderate and severe.

Asthma is accompanied by bronchial airway hypersensitiveness (over-developed mucous glands which secrete more of mucous), airway thickening (because of inflammatory changes) and bronchial narrowing (due to oedema and swelling of the bronchioles).

Environmental triggers such as dust, smoke or pollens cause hypersensitive response of the airways and this ultimately leads to excess production of mucous thereby making it difficult for the patient to breath. That is why dyspnoea (difficulty breathing) is one of the most common symptoms of asthma.

Signs and Symptoms

Asthma may represent itself as acute or chronic.

Asthmatic attack or acute asthma manifests itself as dyspnoea (shortness of breath), chest tightness, wheezing. Cough is also present with sputum. Signs such as wheezing, prolonged expiration, tachycardia and rhonchi are present.

Chronic asthma is a condition, which develops when acute exacerbations of asthma keep on occurring during a course of time.

Diagnosis of Asthma

Peak flow meter is often used to measure the degree of obstruction in the bronchi in the patients.

But in most of the cases, the diagnosis of the asthma is done on the basis of the typical history of the patient along with family history and physical examination.

Capnography (with the help of an instrument called as capnograph) and pulse oximetry are also useful for the diagnosis of asthma.

Preventing Asthma

Asthma can be prevented by avoiding allergens or triggers (that may be responsible for triggering an attack) and by controlling the allergen exposures.

Treating Asthma

Treatment is usually done by immuno-suppresants, anti-inflammatory and corticosteroid medications. Inhalers are also useful in treating acute asthmatic conditions to provide immediate relief.

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