Asthma is an incurable disease that affects children and adults. Asthma, which presents with difficulty breathing, can be controlled with regular medication.
What Is Asthma and Why Does It Happen?
Asthma is a chronic problem that can block the airways, making breathing difficult. Asthma develops through the smooth muscles surrounding the airway; It presents with contraction and increased mucus secretion triggered by allergens, cold air, and smoke.
Increased mucus secretion leads to the narrowing of the airways. When an asthma attack occurs, complaints such as shortness of breath, cough, and wheezing are common. Some cases are triggered by allergens, which usually increase in the spring months. The disease is called allergic asthma and causes similar complaints in this case. Factors that predispose to asthma are:
- Living in areas with high air pollution
- Smoking or second exposure to smoking
- Exposure to allergens in infancy
- Having severe respiratory diseases in infancy
- Having a family history of asthma
- Smoking in pregnancy
What Are the Symptoms of Asthma?
Asthma complaints usually occur during exercise and due to allergens; other than that, they do not often show symptoms. Some patients may also observe signs of contact with chemical substances. These symptoms are:
- Wheezing sound during breathing
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain and tightness
Asthma Diagnosis and Treatment Methods
The leading cause of asthma is not precisely known. Still, research shows that it is due to genetic factors, living conditions, environmental standards, and medical conditions.
There may be many triggering factors in asthma; the development process differs from patient to patient. Some of these factors are:
- Pets
- Pollen
- Exercise
- Dust and smoke
- Extreme hot or cold weather conditions
- Air pollution
- Chemical odors and fumes
- Stress
- Medications
- Obesity
- Stress
- Viral infections
- Preservatives found in processed foods
Various tests should be performed for a definitive diagnosis in patients with suspected asthma after listening to the medical history. These tests are listed as follows:
- Spirometry: The spirometry test, which measures the lung capacity and the amount of air entering the body with respiration, provides an understanding of the bronchi's narrowing level. It is one of the main methods used in the diagnosis of asthma.
- Peak Flow Measurement Test: A peak flow measurement test is applied to determine whether there is a change in lung functions.
- Methacholine Test:Methacholine is a drug administered to the patient by inhalation in low doses in a controlled manner. We do that to understand how sensitive the bronchi are to methacholine.
- Allergy Test: Allergy tests, including skin and blood tests, provide an understanding of the leading cause of the condition that causes the asthma symptoms in the patient. Finding out which substance triggers asthma attacks is crucial for applying the proper treatment.
- Radiological Imaging Methods: Imaging methods such as chest x-ray and computed tomography allow the detection of asthma if any infection or problem has developed along with it. In addition, it effectively shows whether the patient will need another treatment
Asthma Diagnosis and Treatment Methods
Asthma does not have a definite and precise treatment. Still, there is a possibility to control the attacks. At this stage, sticking to the medical treatment prevents complaints; however, the patients should continue the medical therapy under the control of a physician.
The main factor in the treatment is the course of the disease. Accordingly, periodic controls should be scheduled to evaluate the response to treatment.
The severity of the findings in the cases effectively determines the type and dose of the drugs used. In addition, significant lifestyle changes also affect treatment. The physician recommends the following items:
- Smoking cessation and avoiding secondhand exposure
- Avoiding pets or controlling the situation for those with pet allergies
- Blocking chemical fumes and odors
- Protection from extreme cold
- Exercising
- Avoiding dusty and moldy environments