HEALTH HUB+

  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma are commonly mistaken for one another. They result in similar symptoms, including wheezing, coughing, and trouble breathing. However, the two conditions are quite different. COPD is an umbrella term used to identify a group of progressive respiratory diseases that include chronic bronchitis and emphysema. These diseases cause reduced airflow due to inflammation in the airways. The conditions may worsen over time. Asthma can occur at any age, with a majority of diagnoses coming in childhood. Most people with COPD are at least age 45 at the time of their diagnosis. Over 40 percent Trusted Source  of people with COPD also have asthma, and the risk for having both conditions increases with age. It’s not clear what causes asthma besides genetics, but asthma attacks are often the result of exposure to triggers, such as physical activity or smells. These triggers can make breathing problems worse. The most common cause of COPD...

  Classifications Asthma classifications include: Intermittent.  Most people have this type of asthma, which doesn’t interfere with daily activities. Symptoms are mild, lasting fewer than two days per week or two nights per month. Mild persistent.  The symptoms occur more than twice a week — but not daily — and up to four nights per month. Moderate persistent.  The symptoms occur daily and at least one night every week, but not nightly. They may limit some daily activities. Severe persistent . The symptoms occur several times every day and most nights. Daily activities are extremely limited. Causes No single cause has been identified for asthma. Instead, researchers believe that the breathing condition is caused by a variety of factors. These factors include: Genetics.  If a parent or sibling has asthma, you’re more likely to develop it. History of viral infections. People with a history of severe viral infections during childhood (e.g. RSV) may be more likely t...

  Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways to the lungs. It makes breathing difficult and can make some physical activities challenging or even impossible. To understand asthma, it’s necessary to understand a little about what happens when you breathe. Normally, with every breath you take, air goes through your nose or mouth and down into your throat and into your airways, eventually making it to your lungs. There are lots of small air passages in your lungs that help deliver oxygen from the air into your bloodstream. Asthma symptoms occur when the lining of your airways swell and the muscles around them tighten. Mucus then fills the airways, further reducing the amount of air that can pass through. These conditions can then bring on an asthma “attack,” the coughing and tightness in your chest that’s typical of asthma. Symptoms The  most common symptom of asthma  is wheezing, a squealing or whistling sound made when you breathe. Other asthma symptoms may include: ...

  Treatment of diabetes Doctors treat diabetes with a few different medications. Some of these drugs are taken  by mouth , while others are available as  injections . Type 1 diabetes Insulin  is the main treatment for type 1 diabetes. It replaces the hormone your body isn’t able to produce. There are four types of insulin that are most commonly used. They’re differentiated by how quickly they start to work, and how long their effects last: Rapid-acting insulin starts to work within 15 minutes and its effects last for 3 to 4 hours. Short-acting insulin starts to work within 30 minutes and lasts 6 to 8 hours. Intermediate-acting insulin starts to work within 1 to 2 hours and lasts 12 to 18 hours. Long-acting insulin starts to work a few hours after injection and lasts 24 hours or longer. Type 2 diabetes Diet and exercise can help some people manage type 2 diabetes. If lifestyle changes aren’t enough to lower your blood sugar, you’ll need to take medication. Gestational...

Causes of diabetes Different causes are associated with each type of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes Doctors don’t know exactly what causes type 1 diabetes. For some reason, the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the  pancreas . Genes may play a role in some people. It’s also possible that a virus sets off the immune system attack. Type 2 diabetes Type 2 diabetes stems from a combination of  genetics  and lifestyle factors. Being overweight or  obese increases your risk too. Carrying extra weight, especially  in your belly , makes your cells more resistant to the effects of insulin on your blood sugar. This condition runs in families. Family members share genes that make them more likely to get type 2 diabetes and to be overweight. Gestational diabetes Gestational diabetes is the result of hormonal changes during pregnancy. The placenta produces hormones that make a pregnant woman’s cells less sensitive to the effects of insu...