Bronchial Asthma

Bronchial Asthma
Bronchial Asthma

Overview Of Bronchial Asthma

Bronchial asthma is a chronic disease that causes the airways of the lungs to swell and narrow. It leads to breathing difficulties such as wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing.

Commonly Associated With

Wheezing – asthma – adults

Causes Of Bronchial Asthma

Asthma is caused by swelling (inflammation) in the airways. When an asthma attack occurs, the lining of the air passages swells and the muscles surrounding the airways become tight. This reduces the amount of air that can pass through the airway.

Asthma symptoms can be caused by breathing in substances called allergens or triggers, or by other causes.

Common bronchial asthma triggers include:

  • Animals (pet hair or dander)
  • Dust mites
  • Certain medicines (aspirin and other NSAIDS)
  • Changes in weather (most often cold weather)
  • Chemicals in the air or in food
  • Physical activity
  • Mold
  • Pollen
  • Respiratory infections, such as the common cold
  • Strong emotions (stress)
  • Tobacco smoke
  • Substances in some workplaces can also trigger asthma symptoms, leading to occupational asthma. The most common triggers are wood dust, grain dust, animal dander, fungi, or chemicals.

Many people with asthma have a personal or family history of allergies, such as hay fever (allergic rhinitis) or eczema. Others have no history of allergies.

Symptoms Of Bronchial Asthma

Asthma symptoms vary from person to person. For example, you may have symptoms all the time or mostly during physical activity.

Most people with asthma have attacks separated by symptom-free periods. Some people have long-term shortness of breath with episodes of increased shortness of breath. Wheezing or a cough may be the main symptom.

Asthma attacks can last for minutes to days. An asthma attack may start suddenly or develop slowly over several hours or days. It may become dangerous if the airflow is severely blocked.

Symptoms of bronchial asthma include:

  • Cough with or without sputum (phlegm) production
  • Pulling in of the skin between the ribs when breathing (intercostal retractions)
  • Shortness of breath that gets worse with exercise or activity
  • Whistling sound or wheezing as you breathe
  • Pain or tightness in the chest
  • Difficulty sleeping

Abnormal breathing pattern (breathing out takes more than twice as long as breathing in).

Emergency symptoms that need prompt medical help include:

  • Bluish color to the lips and face
  • Decreased level of alertness, such as severe drowsiness or confusion, during an asthma attack
  • Extreme difficulty breathing
  • Rapid pulse
  • Severe anxiety due to shortness of breath
  • Sweating
  • Difficulty speaking
  • Breathing temporarily stops

Exams & Tests

The health care provider will use a stethoscope to listen to your lungs. Wheezing or other asthma-related sounds may be heard. The provider will take your medical history and ask about your symptoms.

Tests that may be ordered include:

  • Allergy testing — skin test or a blood test to see if a person with asthma is allergic to certain substances
  • Arterial blood gas — often done in people who are having a severe asthma attack
  • Chest x-ray — to rule out other conditions
  • Lung function tests, including peak flow measurements

Treatment Of Bronchial Asthma

The goals of treatment are:

  • Control airway swelling
  • Limit exposure to substances that may trigger your symptoms
  • Help you to be able to do normal activities without having asthma symptoms
  • You and your provider should work as a team to manage your asthma symptoms. Follow your provider’s instructions on taking medicines, eliminating asthma triggers, and monitoring symptoms.

MEDICINES FOR ASTHMA

There are two kinds of medicines for treating asthma:

  • Control medicines to help prevent attacks
  • Quick-relief (rescue) medicines for use during attacks

LONG-TERM MEDICINES

  • These are also called maintenance or control medicines. They are used to prevent symptoms in people with moderate to severe asthma. You must take them every day for them to work. Take them even when you feel OK.
  • Some long-term medicines are breathed in (inhaled), such as steroids and long-acting beta-agonists. Others are taken by mouth (orally). Your provider will prescribe the right medicine for you.

QUICK-RELIEF MEDICINES

These are also called rescue medicines. They are taken:

  • For coughing, wheezing, trouble breathing, or during an asthma attack
  • Just before physical activity to help prevent asthma symptoms
  • Tell your provider if you are using quick-relief medicines twice a week or more. If so, your asthma may not be under control. Your provider may change the dose or your daily asthma control medicine.

Quick-relief medicines include:

  • Short-acting inhaled bronchodilators
  • Oral corticosteroids for a severe asthma attack
  • A severe bronchial asthma attack requires a checkup by a doctor. You may also need a hospital stay. There, you will likely be given oxygen, breathing assistance, and medicines given through a vein (IV).

ASTHMA CARE AT HOME

You can take steps to decrease the possibility of asthma attacks:

  • Know the asthma symptoms to watch for.
  • Know how to take your peak flow reading and what it means.
  • Know which triggers make your asthma worse and what to do when it happens.
  • Know how to care for your asthma before and during physical activity or exercise.

Asthma action plans are written documents for managing asthma. An asthma action plan should include:

  • Instructions for taking asthma medicines when your condition is stable
  • A list of asthma triggers and how to avoid them
  • How to recognize when your asthma is getting worse, and when to call your provider
  • A peak flow meter is a simple device to measure how quickly you can move air out of your lungs.
  • It can help you see if an attack is coming, sometimes even before symptoms appear. Peak flow measurements help let you know when you need to take medicine or other action.
  • Peak flow values of 50% to 80% of your best results are a sign of a moderate asthma attack. Numbers below 50% are a sign of a severe attack.