Asthma


What is Asthma?

The word asthma has originated from an ancient Greek word meaning panting. Essentially asthma is a chronic inflammation of the air ways (Bronchi) that result in obstruction of air flow.


Pathogenesis

There is a decrease in the lumen of the air ways resulting from a two fold response to the allergens and other irritants.

Primarily in a hyper reactive response, the smooth muscles in the airways constrict and narrow excessively. Followed by an inflammatory response where the immune system responds to the allergens by sending white blood cells and other immune factors to the airways. These inflammatory factors cause a swelling of the airways and also an increase in the mucus secretion thus causing symptoms like wheezing, cough and shortness of breath.

Prevalence

Children aged 2-12 years reported higher rates of asthma (15.7%) than adults aged 16 years and over (10.1%). In males, the prevalence of asthma was highest among children aged 2-12 years; in females, prevalence was highest among young adults aged 16-24 years. Asthma is also closely linked to allergies. Most, but not all, people with asthma have allergies. Children with a family history of allergy and asthma are more likely to have asthma.

Causes

Asthma has a tendency to recur and get chronic. A number of factors can trigger asthma, most often by causing a bronchospasm (narrowing of the airways) and inflammation (redness and swelling). Environmental factors are among the most common causes. Air quality therefore has an important effect on asthma.
Our lungs interact continuously with surrounding air. Asthmatic airways have an exaggerated reaction to airborne dust and particles.
Asthma may therefore be affected by the quality of air inside and outside of the home.
This section examines a number of factors that can trigger asthma. These factors are divided into those that cause inflammation (the most important), respiratory irritants and other factors.

Allergens:

    • Pollens
    • Air pollutants
    • Smoking and second hand smoking
    • Respiratory infections
    • Common cold, Sinusitis
    • Exercise, physical exertion
    • Cold air
    • Medications: Aspirin, NSAID, Beta blockers etc
The list can be exhaustive though each person may have a different individual or a combination of triggering factor.

Risk Factors:

The following factors increase your chances of developing Asthma.
    • Urban / Industrial areas where the exposure to environmental pollutants is more.
    • Work Environment - Exposure to chemicals, dust, industrial waste.
    • Heredity - Have a history of either parents or family members suffering from Asthma.
    • Childhood - History of recurrent respiratory tract infections, low birth weight.

Asthma Symptoms

Coughing
Coughing is the most common asthma symptom. Coughing associated with asthma generally worsens at night and early in the morning, making sleeping difficult.

 Wheezing
A common asthma symptom is wheezing. Wheezing sounds like a whistle or squeak when breathing in, out, or both. This is a common asthma symptom because asthma causes the bronchi to constrict (bronchoconstriction), which reduces the the air flow in and out of the lungs.

Chest Tightness
Some asthmatics may experience chest tightness. Chest tightness is a squeezing feeling in the chest during respiration. It may feel as though someone is sitting on your chest.

Shortness of Breath
Due to bronchoconstriction, shortness of breath is a common asthma symptom. Shortness of breath is used to describe a feeling of breathlessness - a feeling that you cannot catch your breath. If you have asthma, you may feel breathless and struggle to get air in and out of your lungs.

Rapid Breathing
Rapid breathing is a common asthma symptom. When breathlessness occurs, you may try to breathe faster to try to get air in and out of your lungs.
If you have not been diagnosed with asthma, but are experiencing any of the following asthma symptoms, you should see your doctor immediately for a definitive diagnosis.

Conventional Treatment :

Conventionally Asthma is treated with two types of medications

Quick relief medicines:

These medications are taken as soon as symptoms of Asthma start appearing. There main purpose is to offer quick relief and prevent worsening of symptoms.

Bronchodilators:

Beta-2 agonist these begin working within minutes and the effects last for 4-6 hours.

Ipratropium an anticholinergic is prescribed for immediate relief.

Long term control medicines:

They help to control the infection and prevent their exacerbation.

Inhaled Corticosteroids

    • Fluticasone, Budesonide etc
    • Long acting Beta-2 agonists also a type of bronchodilators.
    • Leukotriene modifiers
    • Cromolyn
    • Nedocromil
    • Theophylline
Other treatments like Immunotherapy or Allergy desensitization injections and Anti- Ige medication like Omalizumab is given to bloc the action of antibodies are also used.

Self-Care at Home

Current treatment regimens are designed to minimize discomfort, inconvenience, and the extent to which you have to limit your activities. If you follow your treatment plan closely, you should be able to avoid or reduce your visits to your health care provider or the emergency department.

  • Know your triggers and do what you can to avoid them.
  • If you smoke, quit.
  • Do not take cough medicine. These medicines do not help asthma and may cause unwanted side effects.
  • Aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, can cause asthma to worsen in certain individuals. These medications should not be taken without the advice of your health care provider. 
  • Do not use nonprescription inhalers. These contain very short-acting drugs that may not last long enough to relieve an asthma attack and may cause unwanted side effects. 
  • Take only the medications your health care provider has prescribed for your asthma. Take them as directed.
  • Do not take any nonprescription preparations, herbs, or dietary supplements, even if they are completely "natural," without talking to your health care provider first. Some of these may have unwanted side effects or interfere with your medications.
  • If the medication is not working, do not take more than you have been directed to take. Overusing asthma medications can be dangerous.

Asthma Homeopathic Treatment:
 
Asthma in adults is considered to be almost a life long suffering for most patients, if not all.The crucial issue is to manage it well, using milder medicines and achieving a relatively attack free phase for a long time.
Homeopathic alternative works wonders for Asthma. Patients who are on homeopathic medicines enjoy much better health than those who do not; as per the study. 

The Homeopathy Treatment

  • It reduces the frequency of asthma attacks
  • It helps to reduce the severity of attacks
  • It enhances immunity whereby your tenancy to get frequent cough, colds, throat infection, etc. reduces
  • It reduces the need for bronchodilator, cortisone, inhalers, antibiotics
  • It improves overall health
  • It absolutely safe and can be taken with the conventional medicines.


Duration of treatment for Asthma

The total length of treatment varies form case to case, depending of the following factors:

  • Duration of Asthma
  • Severity and frequency of attacks
  • Environmental factors such as exposure to dust, allergens, industrial pollution, etc. Extent of spread (Small or large; one or multiple spots)
  • Previous and current medication(Extensive inhaled and oral cortisone)
  • Associated diseases eczema,pollen allergy, Ischemic heart disease, bronchiactasis, pulmonary fibrosis, etc. 

One may expect a definite change in about three to five months. The total length of treatment varies from patient to patient.