Asthma
Learn about the pulmonary condition of Asthma including its common causes, symptoms, and treatments.
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a chronic condition where the airways can narrow and swell, constricting air flow and
may create excess mucus.
Asthma can trigger coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Asthma can be mild to severe and can change over time, so it is important to check with your doctor regularly to manage symptoms and keep your asthma under control. Some people experience asthma symptoms daily, some infrequently, and some only during certain activities, like exercise.
Types of asthma include:
Types of asthma include:
- Exercise-induced Asthma: can be worse when air is cold and dry
- Occupational Asthma: triggered by workplace irritants such as dust, fumes, or gases
- Allergy-induced Asthma: triggered by airborne irritants such as pollen, mold spores, animal dander, etc.
Symptoms of Asthma
Symptoms of asthma may include:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness and pain
- Wheezing when exhaling (common in children)
- Trouble sleeping due to shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing
- Coughing or wheezing made worse by respiratory virus like the cold or flu
Possible Causes of Asthma
Causes of asthma vary from person to person and are likely a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Some possible causes of asthma may be:
- Airborne allergens
- Respiratory infections
- Physical activity
- Cold air
- Air pollutants such as smoke
- Certain medications such as beta blockers, aspirin, and NSAIDs (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen sodium (Aleve)
- Stress
- Additives to certain foods – sulfites and preservatives
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Risk Factors of Asthma
Risk factors of asthma may include:
- Having a parent or sibling with asthma
- Having an allergic condition
- Being overweight
- Being a smoker
- Exposure to secondhand smoke
- Exposure to pollution
- Exposure to fumes or chemicals in the workplace
Complications from Asthma
Proper treatment is key to managing asthma and reducing your complications. Complications from asthma may include:
- Signs and symptoms that interfere with sleep, work and other activities
- Sick days from work or school during asthma flare-ups
- A permanent narrowing of the tubes that carry air to and from your lungs (bronchial tubes), which affects how well you can breathe
- Emergency room visits and hospitalizations for severe asthma attacks
- Side effects from long-term use of some medications used to stabilize severe asthma
Managing Asthma
There is no way to prevent asthma, but there are ways to manage your symptoms and live a healthy life with asthma:
- Follow your asthma action plan
- Get vaccinated for flu and pneumonia
- Identify and avoid asthma triggers
- Monitor your breathing
- Identify and treat attacks early
- Take your medication as prescribed
- Pay attention to your quick-relief inhaler usage