Asthma is a condition that is characterized by the predisposition to chronic inflammation of the lungs. During an asthma attack, the bronchi are narrowed which causes the person to have difficulty breathing. This narrowing may be for a short period of an extended period of time. Depending on the patient, the attack may go away on its own, but many people take medications through inhalers to either prevent an attack or to eliminate it in the progress of happening. Often times before a patient is diagnosed, they may refer to it as having the feeling of the chest being tightened or squeezed. In the long run, if this condition is not diagnosed or treated, it can cause chronic inflammation of the lungs which in turn results in obstruction.
There are several different signs and symptoms of having asthma but there is a large spectrum of these so a person may not feel too many of them. On the other end, even the least bit of exercise, there may be a severe attack. There are also two different types of asthma that will give symptoms if two different ways. Steady-state asthma includes symptoms such as coughing at night, a shortness of breath while the body is resting, a tight feeling in the chest, and a chronic cough that sounds like a the person is clearing their throat. These symptoms may get worse to the point of aggravating acute asthma, which is the second type, and also known as the asthma attack.
The symptoms of acute asthma include dyspnea, wheezing, and tightness of the chest. There may be coughing as well, and at the late stages of the attack, breathing may be too impaired for a person to hear any wheezing. Various signs of an asthma attack include wheezing, extended expiration and tachycardia. There may be a drawing in of the stomach and ribs as the person is trying to catch their breath and the chest may look to be over-inflated. Severe attacks can lead to a person experiencing chest pain, turning blue from lack of oxygen and even losing consciousness.
The causes of asthma are those of the genetic and environmental types. Many times a person with asthma also has a family medical history that includes the condition. Allergens from the environment can also cause both types of asthma. People who are pre-disposed to asthma may be put at further risk if they are exposed to cigarette smoke on a continual basis or other types of pollution and poor air quality. Those who experience high levels of stress may also be at risk. There are many other factors that can contribute such as occupation, athletics, hygiene, and so on.
Asthma is diagnosed through measuring peak flow rates in a breathing machine but in children, they may be tested for various sounds when they breathe instead. Treatments include inhaling glucocorticoids amongst other medicines and prevention is usually dealt with by similar medicines or antihistamines but it is all according to the patient. The patient is also recommended to avoid anything that might aggravate the situation and cause an attack.
