What is Asthma?

Asthma is a common disease that involves inflammation and narrowing of the airways leading to the lungs. Asthma occurs in children and adults. Childhood asthma may continue into adolescence and adulthood, but some adults who develop asthma did not have asthma when they were younger. Millions of people worldwide are affected by asthma, which has become more common in recent years. Asthma attacks cause significant disruptions to a person’s life, and severe asthma attacks can be fatal.

The symptoms of asthma are wheezing (whistling sound made by air partially blocked by narrowed airways), shortness of breath, cough, and chest tightness. Sometimes the asthma attack is so severe that air cannot flow at all. This is a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate treatment. Asthma symptoms may be triggered by allergic reactions, exposure to cold temperatures, exercise, other lung problems (pneumonia, a cold, bronchitis, and others), medications, and environmental factors, especially cigarette smoke. Chest tightness may be a sign that asthma is getting worse or progressing.

The testing for asthma are lung examination and peak flow testing by peak flow meter. It is a device that is used to measure the amount of air that can be expelled. This airflow is reduced in persons with asthma. Peak flow testing can help track the progress of a person’s asthma treatment.

The treatments of asthma include following medications:

1. Corticosteroids (medicines that decrease inflammation) may be prescribed in either inhaled, oral, or intravenous form. Inhaling steroids help decrease the dose required, deliver the steroid directly to the airways, and help reduce the risk of adverse effects associated with steroid medicines.
2. Other medications that help reduce inflammatory changes include Leukotriene modifiers, such as Montelukast and Zafirlukast. These are long-term asthma control medicines and need to be taken regularly. They are not for treatment of an acute asthma attack. Cromolyn and Nedocromil are also long-term antiinflammatoyr medications.
3. Bronchodilators are medications that relax the airways. These are usually inhaled using an inhaler or a nebulizer. These medicines can be used to treat acute asthma and are also helpful in the long-term management of asthma. A long-acting bronchodilator may be added for patients receiving corticosteroids who continue to have asthma symptoms. Theophylline is an oral bronchodilator that may also be used in the long-term treatment of asthma.