Verified By Apollo Hospitals September 17, 2024
Asthma is a pulmonary (of the lungs) condition in which your airways narrow and swell, resulting in production of extra mucus, making it very difficult to breathe. Asthma can start off as being just a minor problem in some people, while in others; it can result in life-threatening Asthma attacks.
Understanding Asthma helps in the know-how of the airway. The airways are tubes that transmit air in and out of the lungs. Individuals who have asthma have engorged airways. The inflammation causes the airways to swell and makes it very sensitive. The airways have a tendency to respond strongly to certain inhaled substances.
When the airways react, the muscles around them stiffen. This shrinks the airways, causing lesser inflow of air into the lungs. The inflammation also can aggravate, causing the airways to narrow further. Cells in the airways might create increased amount of mucus. Mucus is a sticky secretion that can additionally constrict the airway passage. The outcome of this chain reaction could be asthma and all the above mentioned symptoms can occur every time the airways are swollen.
The symptoms for Asthma vary from person to person. You can sometimes have persistent symptoms throughout or not have any symptoms at all. However, the most common signs include:
These are the early signs of Asthma, but as the conditions worsen, the following symptoms begin to increase as well.
For many people, symptoms only occur in selective situations such as:
If you have any/some/all of the above symptoms, seek medical attention promptly.
Several factors can put you at risk of developing Asthma such as:
During a physical exam, your doctor will ask you questions based on signs and symptoms and rule out any other pulmonary disorders and about any other health problems that you may have. Following this, he/she may recommend these tests:
Other tests may include:
Treatment for Asthma is given on a short term and a long terms basis.
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