Dorothy FarrarBronchial asthma
Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways. Due to hypersensitivity to various environmental stimuli (e.g. allergens), those affected react with inflammation and narrowing of the bronchi. This results in the typical symptoms of asthma: persistent coughing , sudden shortness of breath and shortness of breath. An asthma attack can last from a few seconds to several hours in severe cases.
What is bronchial asthma?
About 5 percent of adults and up to 10 percent of children suffer from bronchial asthma. In asthma, there is an abnormal responsiveness of the bronchial system to numerous stimuli. The Greek word “asthma” means difficult breathing. The shortness of breath comes on in fits and starts. There is a reversible narrowing of the airways (spasticity of the bronchial muscles).
In addition, the mucous membrane of the bronchial system also reacts with mucus formation (dyscrinia: disturbed secretion) and edematous swelling. The three factors cause an obstruction (airway obstruction), which primarily impedes expiration. This further inflates the rib cage (thorax), which in turn compresses the smaller branches of the trachea and increases the shortness of breath.
causes
The cause of this shortness of breath lies in various poisons or stimuli. Depending on the type or cause, two main forms of bronchial asthma can be distinguished. There is an allergic form and a non-allergic form. There is also a mixed form of allergic and non-allergic asthma.The allergic form is also called exogenous allergic bronchial asthma. It is an immediate reaction (type I allergy) due to inhalation of allergens. The initial diagnosis of bronchial asthma is often made in childhood, rarely in adults over 35 years of age. The name explains that the stimuli are inhaled from the outside into the body.
These are mostly pollen , animal hair and dander, house dust, feathers and fungal spores. This form often occurs in connection with neurodermatitis and hay fever , which is summarized as atopy.
The non-allergic form is a hypersensitivity reaction. Here, no allergens can be determined in the laboratory. This form occurs more frequently in middle adulthood (from the age of 40). Here, the asthma attacks are triggered by infections of the respiratory tract.
There are also other substances such as painkillers or chemicals that can cause asthma. This form is partly work-related.
When to the doctor?
Bronchial asthma is a lifelong respiratory disease that cannot be treated with home remedies. It is therefore advisable to seek medical help in any case. Patients with asthma most commonly complain of difficulty breathing, often accompanied by a rattling or whistling sound in the lungs . Since there are various triggers for bronchial asthma, to which patients can be exposed with varying degrees of frequency, asthma attacks often occur unexpectedly if these triggering substances are not recognized due to a lack of medical advice.
It is not uncommon for all vital signs to return to normal after an asthma attack, so that there are no longer any symptoms. Patients are therefore usually not diagnosed with bronchial asthma and are discharged untreated. Unrecognized asthma becomes dangerous when the severity of the disease fluctuates. Problems with the respiratory system, which come in varying degrees, are often classified by medical professionals as a general sensitivity to respiratory diseases.
If the asthma attacks occur at regular intervals, a doctor should be consulted. If, in addition to the breathing problems, there are also abnormalities such as allergies, especially to pollen or house dust, or eczema-like diseases such as neurodermatitis, a pulmonologist should definitely be consulted to clarify possible bronchial asthma.
symptoms and course
Typical symptoms of bronchial asthma:
The respective symptoms of bronchial asthma depend primarily on the severity of the disease.
The symptoms in this context can occur individually or in combination and vary in frequency and intensity according to the severity of the disease.
Shortness of breath and shortness of breath associated with prolonged exhalation can occur frequently and in attacks. In addition to a feeling of tightness in the chest and fits of coughing with discharge of mucus, there can also be a whistling noise when breathing.
A direct asthma attack occurs in connection with coughing, shortness of breath and sometimes tachycardia. A bloated chest, bluish-colored skin, gasping and, in some cases, the inability to speak can also occur.
If a cough is persistent and lasts three weeks or longer, a doctor’s visit is strongly recommended.
Diagnose
If bronchial asthma is present, the doctor treating you can often make the diagnosis when the patient describes his symptoms in detail. If the doctor then listens to the patient, whistling and humming can be heard when breathing.
As part of the examination, the doctor asks the patient about the frequency and timing of their symptoms. He also clarifies whether there are professional factors that could trigger bronchial asthma or whether there are certain diseases in the family.
In order to be able to make the diagnosis with certainty, the doctor must completely rule out other causes with similar symptoms such as bronchitis, whooping cough or cystic fibrosis. For this reason, further examinations are carried out, such as a function test of the lungs, which gives the doctor information about the respiratory function and respiratory restrictions. If the asthma is caused by physical exertion, the doctor arranges for the patient to take the functional test under stress.
If the bronchial asthma is caused by an allergy, blood tests and skin tests are helpful for diagnosis. The doctor can determine the triggering allergen via skin tests. If the result is unclear, a provocation test, in which the patient inhales the suspected allergen, can help.
The X- ray of the lungs can lead to an inconspicuous result in bronchial asthma. It is nevertheless arranged during the initial examination in order to rule out other diseases with certainty.
complications
The most dangerous complication of bronchial asthma is status asthmaticus. This is an urgent emergency. It is a life-threatening asthma attack that is usually unresponsive to medication and usually lasts more than 24 hours. As a result, gas exchange in the lungs can fail, and the patient is only insufficiently supplied with oxygen. Another consequence can be acute overinflation of the lungs. If status asthmaticus occurs, intensive medical treatment with auxiliary respiratory muscles is necessary.
Since bronchial asthma is a chronic disease, some patients also develop pulmonary emphysema , which can lead to an increase in pressure in the small circulatory system and to acute or chronic right ventricular strain in the form of pulmonary hypertension. Typical signs of right heart failure would be liver congestion, congestion in the neck veins and edema in the legs. Other consequences may include insomnia (sleep disorders), dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (when asthma occurs in middle to old age), osteoporosis, stroke, heart attack or obstructive sleep apnea (breathing pauses during sleep).
treatment and therapy
The treatment of bronchial asthma depends on whether it is initially an acute asthma attack or whether it is a long-term, preventive measure. The acute form in particular should be treated quickly.One danger here is the development of status asthmaticus, which then lasts longer than 24 hours and can end in fatal right heart failure. The therapy is drug-based, via the vein or by inhaling sprays.
First, bronchodilator drugs are used that widen the airways. These active groups are called beta sympathomimetics. In addition, anti-inflammatory drugs are used that do not have a spasmolytic effect, but only inhibit inflammatory mediators.
Active groups are glucocorticoids and cromoglicic acid. Furthermore, expectorant agents are prescribed. However, the best expectorant for asthma is staying hydrated.
prevention
↳ Further information: Home remedies for asthma
First of all, everyone affected by bronchial asthma should know which stimuli trigger an asthma attack. These stimuli should be avoided, which is the best preventive measure. In the case of known allergies, it also makes sense to determine other substances using an allergy test or provocation test.
Emergency medication should always be on hand. Desensitization can also be attempted. Breathing training is also important to avoid forced breathing or hyperventilation and to practice pursed lips, which can prevent bronchial collapse.
Strict smoking ban is also recommended. Cold air, mist and dust should also be avoided. Regular annual vaccinations against pneumococci and influenza are advisable.
Finally, extreme physical exertion should be avoided, as it can provoke exercise-induced asthma.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.