Asthma Uncovered

A medical condition in which the passage of air to the lungs becomes narrower, asthma is a disease easily controlled with the right medication and care.



Asthma is a chronic health condition that afflicts some people. During an asthma attack the air passages, or the passages that carry air from the nose to the lungs get narrower making is difficult to breath. This in turn happens as asthma causes inflammation in the inner lining of the airways, at this stage the passages become very sensitive and get irritated at the slightest contact with matter the patient might be allergic to, asthma also prompts the air passages to produce more mucus that usual and this again contributes to narrowing the passage further. In this way asthma affects the passage of air and oxygen into the lungs causing the patient to suffer from wheezing, cold cough and so on.

Asthma cannot be totally cured, but the modern day medicines are successful in keeping the asthma symptoms in control and helping patients lead normal & happy lives. The acutest attacks of asthma mostly happen in the night and the early mornings. Asthma is also a seasonal disease in so much as spring time asthma is concerned. This is related to the pollen that gets carried along by the dry air of the spring and causes allergic reactions on many patients of asthma.

Though on the whole asthma is considered a normal disease, it can sometimes take fatal proportions. During such times asthma attacks can narrow down the air passage so much that vital organs can fail due to lack of oxygen. Even death can result from such a condition. At this stage asthma is considered a medical emergency.

To control asthma it is important to monitor your condition on a daily basis, continue with the medicines prescribed by the doctor, be disciplined in one’s lifestyle, to stay away from things that can cause an allergic reaction in the airways, keep your immediate environment as clean of dust and mold as possible, stay in regular touch with the physician and consult him at the first signs of alarm.

It’s not yet been discovered as to why some people suffer from asthma while some others don’t suffer. The reason may lie in ones hereditary makeup. If you have someone in the family who has traditionally been a patient of asthma for some time, chances of your getting it are more. What causes the swelling of the airways in the first place is not clear however it has been observed that dust, tobacco smoke, some infections and allergens make it worse. For example some people have asthma attacks only when they are exercising while some have it when they get a viral infection. The asthma triggers differ from person to person and therefore giving a blanket guideline on what causes asthma is almost impossible.

Some of the allergens that are the cause of mild to severe asthma attacks in people who suffer from the disease are dust mites, animal dander that is microscopic pieces of skin hair etc, cockroaches, pollen and mold. Irritants can be almost anything, some people get an asthma attack when they are influenced by strong emotions, when they are crying or laughing loud, some others react to any strong smell, asthma attacks are common as a result of tobacco smoke, pollution and even change of weather.

The disease is however easily controllable with the right care and in most cases is not a deterrent towards leading a normal life.