Asthma is the swelling and narrowing of airways. In asthma extra mucus is also produced by airways. It may lead to wheezing sound, trigger coughing, and make breathing difficult. Asthma is a serious condition that may become life-threatening and interferes with your daily activities.  And for some people, it is a minor illness. 

The symptoms of asthma can be controlled, as there is no cure for asthma. Your doctor adjusts your treatment according to your condition as it changes over time. Asthma is a chronic disease of lungs. The function of airways or bronchial tubes is the in and out the circulation of the air from the lungs. 

Your lungs are inflamed with asthma. Triggering substances also negatively affect your lungs or airways and cause swelling of the airway muscles. This causes it harder for air to pass in and out of the lungs, and leads to conditions such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and/or tightness in the throat¹. 

 

Types of Asthma

The following are types of asthma. 

 

Adult-onset asthma:

It can begin at any age and it mostly affects people younger than 40.

 

Status asthmaticus:

Bronchodilators failed to control the symptoms of this long-lasting asthma attack. They need proper medical treatment as they are medical emergencies. 

 

Asthma in children: 

Asthma occurs in children in episodes and each episode is different. The following are the symptoms of asthma in children

• Coughing while laughing, and playing
• Lack of energy 
• Shallow or fast breathing 
• Chest tightness 
• Wheezing sound 
• Shortness of breath 
• Tightening of chest and neck muscles
• Fatigue and weakness 

 

Allergic asthma: 

Chances of asthmatic attacks are higher with allergens like pet dander, dust, and pollen. 

 

Non-allergic asthma: 

Many people suffer from this type during extreme weather conditions like cold of winters or heat of summer. If you have a common cold or feeling upset (stressed), then you may also feel asthmatic condition called non-allergic asthma. 

 

Occupational asthma: 

Working in a condition or environment containing irritating substances, chemicals, or dust. 

 

Eosinophilic asthma:

Eosinophils are white blood cells and higher levels of WBCs lead to this condition.  Adults age 35 to 50 years mostly affected by this type. 

 

Nocturnal asthma:

Worsening of asthma at night time, this condition is called nocturnal asthma. 

 

Aspirin-induced asthma:

Taking asthma in conditions like cough, sneezing, sinus pressure and runny nose leads to symptoms of asthma. 

 

Cough-variant asthma

 Long-term cough is the typical symptom of cough variant asthma, unlike other types². 

 

Symptoms of Asthma 

The most common symptoms of asthma are whistling sound during breathing or wheezing sound. 

The following are the symptoms of asthma

• Coughing during exercise, laughing, and especially at night.
• Chest tightness 
• shortness of breath
• Problem while talking 
• Panic attacks, fatigue, and anxiety 

These symptoms are not common or not everyone experiences these symptoms.  Talk to your doctor if you feel that your symptoms can lead to severe asthma. An actual asthma attack is the first indication of asthma³. 

 

Causes of Asthma 

The combination of environmental and genetic factors are the causes of asthma. 

• Asthma triggers
• The symptoms of asthma can be initiated by allergen or irritant substances. Asthma triggers vary from person to person and include 
• These include pet dander, pollen, dust particles, smoke, cockroach waste etc. 
• Common cold and other respiratory infections 
• Physical exercises 
• Certain medications including naproxen sodium, ibuprofen, aspirin, and beta-blockers. 
• Certain foods like dried fruit, wine, beer, processed potatoes, and shrimp.
• Emotional stress 
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease⁴ 

 

Complications of Asthma 

Usually, asthma can be under control with the help of medication.  Still, there are several complications associated with asthma when left untreated.  

Doctors mostly advised not to ignore your symptoms and follow your treatment plan to keep asthma symptoms under control. 

The following are the complications of patient experience due to badly controlled asthma. 

• Constant feeling of tiredness 
• Low energy and lack of concentration 
• Mental issues like depression, anxiety, and stress
• Medical emergencies and unplanned visits to a hospital 
• Pneumonia and other lung infections 
• Slow growth in children 
• Life-threatening condition due to worsening of severe asthma attacks⁵.   

 

Asthma management and treatment

There is no cure available for asthma. Proper treatment and management can control the symptoms of asthma. This is only possible by avoiding asthma triggers and using medicines according to the instructions of the doctor. Your doctor will prescribe you the related medicines and you should use them with the instructions. 

 

Corticosteroids and long-acting beta-agonist 

Corticosteroids are used to control the symptoms of asthma including budesonide, fluticasone, beclomethasone, mometasone, budesonide, and flunisolide. 

A combination of long-acting beta-agonist and corticosteroids is used in inhalers to control asthma symptoms. It is effective management but it may also cause risks in certain people. 

Labs should not be prescribed alone. They must be prescribed along with inhaled corticosteroids such as formoterol, mometasone, formoterol, salmeterol, and fluticasone.

 

Anticholinergics

Tiotropium is the main agent of this class that assists in the opening of airways. They are used as inhalation therapy.  

 

Leukotriene modifiers

The commonly used drug of this class is montelukast. Other agents include zileuton and zafirlukast. Leukotriene modifiers are given orally and available in tablets and granules form. 

 

Short-acting beta-agonists 

During an asthma flare-up, short-acting beta-agonists are used as rescue medications to relieve the symptoms. 

Medications like levalbuterol, pirbuterol, and albuterol inhaled bronchodilators that cannot be used in place of asthma controlled medicines⁶. 

 

References

1. Asthma. [internet]. 2020 June 04. [cited on 2020 July 29]. Available at https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma/symptoms-causes/syc-20369653
2. Asthma. [internet]. [cited on 2020 July 29]. Available at https://www.webmd.com/asthma/what-is-asthma
3. What Do You Want to Know About Asthma? [internet]. 2020 June 04. [cited on 2020 July 29]. Available at https://www.healthline.com/health/asthma#symptoms
4. Asthma. [internet]. 2020 June 04. [cited on 2020 July 29]. Available at https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma/symptoms-causes/syc-20369653
5. Asthma. [internet]. [cited on 2020 July 29]. Available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/asthma/
6. Asthma. [internet]. [cited on 2020 July 29]. Available at https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/asthma

 

 

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