Asthma, a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, is defined by the history of airway obstruction or the presence of inflammatory reactions. Shortness of breath, episodes of coughing wheezing and chest tightness are some of the symptoms. Milder asthma can be provoked by different substances, exercise, cold air, and stress, or many other factors, depending on the person.
Diagnosis Based on Medical History: A doctor will take into consideration your symptoms, their causative triggers, the history of your family and any previous respiratory conditions.
Examination: The stethoscope examination of the lungs by the physician to listen to any abnormal sounds such as wheezing.
Lung Function Tests:
There is no lung function test as popular in clinical practice as spirometry. It measures how efficiently a person can expel air from his lungs as well as how much air he can be expelled after taking a deep breath.
Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF): its PEF which I believe is a very helpful and practical device for home-based monitoring of asthma. If the PEF is low, lung function may be impaired.
The purpose of the bronchoprovocation test is to determine whether the lung changes upon exposure to cold air, or exercise or certain allergens that are believed to elicit asthma attacks.
The Nitric Oxide Test determines whether you have any lung inflammation by determining the level of nitric oxide present in your breath.
Allergy Testing: Since most of the asthma patients are allergic, finding chances of getting attacked can include skin or blood tests for allergies.
Ways to Treat Asthma
Asthma is treated by the use of both long-term control medicines to prevent the occurrence of symptoms, and short-relief (rescue) medication when there is an asthma attack.
The use of long-term control medications on a daily basis makes it possible to manage symptoms and reduce inflammation.
The inhalation of corticosteroids is the most reliable way to decrease airway inflammation. Budesonide, beclomethasone and fluticasone are some of them.
Long-acting beta-agonists (LABAs): These are bronchodilators that relieve airways and prevent occurrence of symptoms, usually taken together with inhaled corticosteroids. Formoterol and salmeterol are two examples.
Leukotriene Modifiers: Montelukast (Singulair) which reduces inflammation and helps to curb airway constriction are some of these drugs.
Biologics: These are more advanced medicines used for very severe asthma patients targeted at specific molecules that trigger inflammation in asthma patients. Some of the examples include Omalizumab (Xolair), mepolizumab (Nucala) and dupilumab (Dupixent).
When an asthma episode arises, a quick-relief (rescue) medicine is used to open up the airways as quickly as possible.
Albuterol and levalbuterol are termed short-acting beta-agonists (SABAs) and they act fast to relax the muscles around the airways.
Ipratropium (Atrovent) is classified as an anticholinergic too, meaning it can also be administered for relief when required.
In case of severe asthma attacks, oral and injectable corticosteroids are able to bring down the swelling of the airways in a short time frame.
Additional Therapies:
Allergy Medications: Antihistamines or allergy shots (immunotherapy) may work to ease asthma if the cause is attributed to allergies.
In extreme cases, bronchial thermoplasties are performed which use concentrated heat to the inner lining of the airways. This reduces the amount of smooth muscle and the tendency for it to contract.
Handling Asthma
Proper management of asthma includes:
Making an Asthma Action Plan: This plan focuses on the actions on what to do in case of worsening symptoms or worsening asthma while also describing measures to control symptoms on a daily basis.
Avoid triggers: knowing and avoiding certain irritants such as air pollutants, cigarette smoke, pollen, animal hair and many others.
Monitoring of symptoms: Keeping track of one’s lung function with a peak flow meter will enable the person to prevent and prepare for an attack before it occurs.
Regular Checkups: continuous monitoring is critical for the effective management of asthma especially due to the dynamics of the disease over time, hence patients need to routinely visit a physician to change medication.
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