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Asthma comes from the Greek word asthma which means panting. This is a common disease of the airway which is caused due to inflammation. It is normally seen with a lot of symptoms which keep recurring. It shows an obstruction of airflow in the reverse form, bronchoplasm, wheezing, coughing, and a lot of tightness in the chest region and shortness of breath.
Clinically asthma is diagnosed according to how frequently it occurs, what is the rate at which the FEV 1 is expelled out, and the height of expiratory flow rate. Asthma as such cannot be grouped beyond the basic system. Whatever classifications are there, the treatment differs for each. So the asthma treatment is a cause for concern now and that has become the aim of the research in asthma.
But it is to be understood that asthma is not to be grouped in the chronic pulmonary disease which is obstructive as this term is also related to other diseases like bronchiectasis, bronchitis etc. In asthma, the passage of air is restricted. But asthma has to be treated well as if it is left untreated, then the lungs get inflamed and cause an irreversible damage. Unlike emphysema, asthma affects the bronchi; it does not affect the alveoli. The patient has to be treated with inhalation treatments for asthma attacks. The patient should be away from the triggers otherwise he could enter into another attack. Asthma is classified as to how it shows up and how it progresses. Thus the symptoms of how asthma occurs are observed, and the flow rate is maintained. Thus asthma may be classified as Atopic or extrinsic asthma and Non atopic or Intrinsic asthma. This classification is dependent on whether it is precipitated by allergens or not. Asthma as such is an obstructive disease but is not a pulmonary kind of disease. Asthma blocks the airways. But this is normally reversible. The inflamed lungs, could affect the bronchi.
There is also something called brittle asthma. This is a term that is applicable to two kinds of asthma which are differentiated by continuous serious asthma attacks. The brittle asthma of the Type 1 variety is the disease with a lot of variable peak flow in spite of a lot of medication. But the Type 2 asthma shows a well controlled and a well balanced asthma with a lot of exacerbations.
Asthma information reveals a condition called status asthmatics where the asthma is so exacerbated that it does not get cured even after standard and basic treatments have been tried. This includes the bronchodilators and steroids. It has been seen that beta blockers have contributed to causing status asthmatics.
Asthma Attack
What is asthma attack- Asthma information on asthma attack?
Acute asthma attack is symptomised by a shortness of breath, wheezing or tightness in the chest.
Gastro esophageal reflux disease is caused when the lungs are under pressure. These compressed lungs push up the digestive juices in the esophagus. The person cannot sleep well because the airways are blocked. Often it is seen that asthma is also caused due to certain allergens. Mites, cat and dog allergens, hay fever, increase in immunoglobulin E are all allergens which lead to asthma. Environmental factors such as tobacco smoke, low quality of air, traffic pollution, high ozone levels etc cause asthma. Also recently it has been seen that asthma in children is caused due to traffic air pollutants. It has been seen that viral respiration increases the asthma in children. Stress also leads to a lot of mental pressure thus leading to asthma. Sometimes the antibiotic modifies the gut flora and thus the immunity of the person. The person is thus put under a risk of developing asthma. The immune system gets modified during a caesarean operation leading to asthma. Infections like rhino virus and other respiratory viruses cause asthma. It has been seen that exposure to volatile organic compounds could be responsible for asthma. But these studies have not been confirmed. It has been seen that house mites, cockroach allergens and molds cause asthma. Besides this, perfumes could be asthmatic. Hygiene has a lot of connection with asthma. Upper respiratory tract infection is the first sign of lack of hygiene. This could later on lead to asthma. Sometimes the lifestyle led by people lead them to getting prone to asthma. The low income neighborhoods unconsciously expose themselves to asthma. Thus it is seen that asthma is a result of continuous exposure to substances that trigger it. Good care should be taken.
