Health City Blogs

Asthma stands as a significant challenge in the realm of chronic non-communicable diseases, affecting over 260 million individuals globally. This condition, characterized by episodes of wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing, is more than just an inconvenience – it’s a widespread health concern that leads to approximately 450,000 deaths each year, many of which could be preventable.

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a long-term inflammatory condition of the lungs’ airways. During an asthmatic attack, these airways become inflamed and narrowed, making breathing a daunting task. Asthmatics may experience symptoms, including:

• Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing
• Wheezing (whistling or squeaky sound when breathing)
• Chest tightness or pain
• Coughing, often worse at night
• Coughing or wheezing, worsened by respiratory viruses
• Trouble sleeping caused by coughing, shortness of breath, or wheezing

Healthcare professionals diagnose this condition based on a patient’s symptoms, health and family history, physical examinations, and specific tests, such as spirometry. A spirometer measures lung function and the capacity to move air in and out of the lungs.

Unveiling the Risk Factors

Even with continued research, the exact cause of asthma remains unknown. However, it is believed to result from a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental factors. Key factors increasing the risk of developing asthma include:

• Family history, especially if one or both parents are asthmatic. Individuals are three to six times more likely to develop asthma than others who do not have a parent with asthma.
• Existing allergies or conditions like atopic eczema and hay fever, particularly if one of the parents has allergies
• Early childhood viral respiratory infections
• Exposure to irritants in the workplace, such as industrial or wood dusts, chemicals, vapors, and molds
• Smoking, including individuals whose mothers smoked during pregnancy and exposure to secondhand smoke
• Urban living in high-pollution areas
• Obesity

Navigating Treatment & Managing Symptoms

Although asthma cannot be cured, it is manageable. Effective management strategies involve avoiding common triggers – ranging from tobacco smoke and pets to mold and disinfectants – and adhering to prescribed medication plans. Medications fall into two categories: