Asthma was first recognized and named by Hippocrates circa 450 BC
Asthma is a condition that affects the airways – the small tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. Asthma involves only the bronchial tubes and does not affect the air sacs (alveoli) or the lung tissue (the parenchyma of the lung) itself. Asthma is a lung disease that makes breathing difficult for nearly 23 million Americans, including 7 million children plus itiscommon in industrialized nations such as Canada, England, Australia, Germany, and New Zealand, 1 or 2 kids out of 10 are affected.
Asthma attacks can last minutes to days and can become dangerous if airflow to the lungs becomes severely restricted. Asthma is a chronic condition characterized by inflammation of the airways in the lungs and by the spasm of muscles surrounding these airways, these attacks may occur at anytime, but there are risk factors that can trigger an attack.
Asthma can't be cured, but its symptoms can be controlled, causes can be different in each case, and therefore individualized therapy is wise and in fact I would state PARAMOUNT. Asthma affects people of all ages, but it most often starts in childhood however, one must realize they can happen for the first time atanyage.
Asthma and allergies are the most common chronic childhood diseases, characterized by recurrent attacks of breathlessness and wheezing, which vary in severity and frequency from person to person. Symptoms may be mild, moderate, or severe and often runs in families meaning you can inherit the tendency to get inflamed airways.
One thing that Asthmatics should do is limit time spent outdoors on high ozone days.
Symptoms of an asthma attack can include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. Symptoms range from mild to moderate to severe and can be life-threatening.
Treatment
Treatments, along with removing triggers, aim to restore normal activities of daily living by reducing the frequency, severity, and length of your asthma attacks.
Lung
Lung function tests and skin tests can help to confirm the disease.
Attacks can be triggered by stress, anxiety, cold air, smoke, or a virus. Attacks are caused by the airways over-reacting to certain environmental factors, and can be only occasional or frequent.
Medications
Medications that provide long-term relief include corticosteroids, beta agonists, leukotriene modifiers, Cromolyn, and Nedocromil. Medications can reduce the symptoms of asthma a great deal, but may not be able to eliminate coughing fully.
Allergy
Allergy plays a key role in about half of all asthma cases.
Breathing
Breathing becomes harder and may hurt, and there may be coughing.
Severe
Severe asthma attacks may require emergency care as they can cause death.
Inhaler
Inhalers (sometimes called "puffers") contain a gas that propels the correct dose of medicine either when the top is pressed down or on inhalation (some inhalers may be dry powder inhalers).
Allergens
Allergens also may originate from food and food additives and pollens.
Research
Researchers are beginning to see that exposure to certain irritants when you are very young may play a role in the development of asthma. Researchers have also found a link between asthma and obesity.
Exposure
Exposure to irritants, certain chemicals, or substances in your workplace may increase your chances of developing occupational asthma.
Asthma cannot be cured, but appropriate management can control the disorder and enable people to enjoy a good quality of life. Asthma is classified as:
Mild intermittent: Having mild symptoms up to 2 days a week and 2 nights a month.
Mild persistent:Having symptoms more than 2 days a week but not more than one time in a single day.
Moderate persistent: Having symptoms once a day and more than one night per week.
Severe persistent: Having symptoms throughout the day on most days and often at night.
I invite you to go to my new blog on Asthma and take a look; you will find so much information there, plus a store where you can INVEST in YOUR HEALTH or the HEALTH OF YOUR FAMILY.
