ASTHMA (Part 2)

 

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.

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 to develop the condition.
  • Hygiene hypothesis. This theory explains that when babies aren’t exposed to enough bacteria in their early months and years, their immune systems don’t become strong enough to fight off asthma and other allergic conditions.

Treatments for asthma fall into three primary categories:

  • breathing exercises
  • quick-acting treatments
  • long-term asthma control medications

Your doctor will recommend one treatment or combination of treatments based on:

  • the type of asthma you have
  • your age
  • your triggers

Breathing exercises

These exercises can help you get more air into and out of your lungs. Over time, this may help increase lung capacity and cut down on severe asthma symptoms.

Your doctor or an occupational therapist can help you learn these breathing exercises for asthma.

Quick-relief asthma treatments

These medications should only be used in the event of asthma symptoms or an attack. They provide quick relief to help you breathe again.

Bronchodilators

Bronchodilators work within minutes to relax the tightened muscles around your airwaves. They can be taken as an inhaler (rescue) or nebulizer.

First aid asthma treatment

If you think that someone you know is having an asthma attack, tell them to sit them upright and assist them in using their rescue inhaler or nebulizer. Two to six puffs of medication should help ease their symptoms.

If symptoms persist for more than 20 minutes, and a second round of medication doesn’t help, seek emergency medical attention.

If you frequently need to use quick-relief medications, you should ask your doctor about another type of medication for long-term asthma control.

Long-term asthma control medications

These medications, taken daily, help reduce the number and severity of your asthma symptoms, but they don’t manage the immediate symptoms of an attack.

Long-term asthma control medications include the following:

  • Anti-inflammatories. Taken with an inhaler, corticosteroids and other anti-inflammatory medications help reduce swelling and mucus production in your airwaves, making it easier to breathe.
  • Anticholinergics. These help stop your muscles from tightening around your airwaves. They’re usually taken daily in combination with anti-inflammatories.
  • Long-acting bronchodilators.These should only be used in combination with anti-inflammatory asthma medications.
  • Biologic therapy drugs. These new, injectable medications may help people with severe asthma.

Bronchial thermoplasty

This treatment uses an electrode to heat the airwaves inside the lungs, helping to reduce the size of the muscle and prevent it from tightening.

Bronchial thermoplasty is intended for people with severe asthma. It isn’t widely available.

When your asthma symptoms get progressively worse, it’s known as an exacerbation, or an asthma attack.

It becomes increasingly difficult to breathe because your airways are swollen and your bronchial tubes have narrowed.

The symptoms of an exacerbation may include:

  • hyperventilation
  • cough
  • wheezing
  • shortness of breath
  • increased heart rate
  • agitation

Although an exacerbation can end quickly without medication, you should contact your doctor because it can be life threatening.

The longer an exacerbation continues, the more it can affect your ability to breathe. That’s why exacerbations often require a trip to the emergency room.

Exacerbations can be prevented by taking medications that help manage your asthma symptoms.

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