Asthma 101

Approximately 300 million people suffer from asthma worldwide and 255,000 of them die each year. Recent statistics by the World Health Organization show that most of asthmatics are detected at an early age. In fact, 65 percent of asthmatics belong to the pediatric population, aged 7 years old and below, with male preponderance. The rest of cases are acquired during adult life, frequently related to changes in lifestyle and occupation. Despite all these facts, asthma remains to be a controllable and preventable pulmonary disorder besetting healthcare community worldwide.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease involving the air passages specifically the bronchus. These air passages are made up of muscles that normally contract causing it to tighten, or relax causing it to dilate.

Inflammation causes release of factors that trigger the contraction of these muscles, causing it to tighten. The tightening of the muscles will cause narrowing of air passages thus making it harder to take in air to the lungs and out. Furthermore, the surrounding tissues lining the muscles become inflamed worsening the insult.

These series events cause coughing, difficulty of breathing, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and fast breathing. However, not all patients suffering from asthma attack exhibit the same kind of symptoms. Studies show that more than 60 percent of patients suffer from cough and fast breathing during attacks, 12 percent show evidence of wheezes, and 5 percent chest tightness. Symptoms, though variable and dependent on patient’s tolerance, should always be assessed and confirmed by an experienced physician.

In the diagnosis of asthma is the identification of the high risk population. Due to its familial tendency, once asthma is detected in the family, members of the clan should be screened. Allergic rhinitis is another predisposing factor to developing asthma. Allergies are precipitated by indoor allergens (for example house dust mites in bedding, carpets and stuffed furniture, pollution and pet dander); outdoor allergens (such as pollens and moulds), tobacco smoke and chemical irritants in the workplace. Other triggering factors identified are cold air, extreme emotional arousal such as anger or fear, and physical exercise. Medications that can trigger attacks are aspirin and other non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and beta blocker.

There is no real cure to asthma. Cure is spelled as P-R-E-V-E-N-T-I-O-N. Meaning avoidance of all triggers. The simple avoidance of triggers would mean total control of asthma. After taking control comes next is decreasing the frequency of attacks by intake of medication. As such includes inhaled beta 2 agonists, leukotriene modifiers, cromolyn, nedocromil, theophylline and steroid. The intake of these medications should be under the supervision of physicians because they have deleterious side effects if not used with precaution. An evaluation by the physician should be made in order to rate progress and response of patient, using a peak flow meter.

Finally, the main goal of asthma treatment is the restoration of normal activities of daily living of any individual suffering from asthma.

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