What's asthma and is it a chronic disease?

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   This week, Living With Disabilities will touch on What's asthma and whether it is a chronic disease.

What is Asthma? Asthma is a lung condition that causes air to move through the airways in the lungs. The airways may occasionally swell and restrict if you have asthma. As a result, it is more difficult for air to leave your airways when you exhale. Excess mucus causes swelling and constricted airways that are clogged.

 What is an asthma attack? when the chest feels tight because breathing is difficult due to blocked airways. 

What types of asthma are there? There are four to nine types. 

1. Intermittent: comes and goes, you will feel normal and have asthma flare-ups.
2. persistent: consist of flare-ups. And this will consider how well you can do different tasks because of flare-ups.
3. Allergic: Seasonal or food allergies can offset flare-ups.
4. non-allergic: outdoor activities can cause flare-ups. Exercise, illness, weather, and stress. 
5. Adult onset: an asthma kind that manifests by the age of 18.
6. Childhood-onset: an asthma kind that manifests before 5, and it can occur in infants and toddlers. Childhood asthma may outgrow.
7. Exercise-induced asthma: induced by physical activity.
8. occupational asthma: Working with irritable materials.
9. Asthma-COPD: Breathing might be challenging when you have both asthma and COPD.

Who can get catch asthma? At any age, everyone can develop. Asthma is more likely to strike allergy sufferers and those around secondhand smoke. being close to smokers or vapers. Including secondhand smoke and the lingering odor of smoke on clothing.

What can cause asthma? 

1. Allergies: Asthma development is more likely in people who have allergies.
2. Genetics: You may be at a higher risk if there is a family history of asthma or allergy conditions. 
3. Environmental factors: begin exposure to things that irritate the airways.
4. Respiratory infections: Certain respiratory infections can cause asthma. The RSV respiratory syncytial virus can damage a child's lungs.

 

 What are common asthma attack triggers?

First, different people's asthma may or may not be triggered by the same things.

1. Air pollution
2. Dust
3. Exercise
4. Mold
5. Pests
6. Pet dander
7. Tobacco smoke
8. Strong Chemical smells
9. Certain smells around the environment

Signs and symptoms

Asthma can mimic the signs and symptoms of Respiratory infections.

Tightness in your chest can be painful. 

Coughing especially at night.

Shortness of breath.

Wheezing.

With every flare-up, you might not experience all of these signs and symptoms. and the symptoms or indicators may alter each time a flare-up takes place. 

Treatment options for Asthma

1. Anti-immflammory medication: Helps reduce swelling and mucus from around the airway.
2.  Bronchodilator: A machine that helps relax the muscles around the airways to let air move around the airways.
3. Biologic therapies for asthma: These therapies are treatments for people with severe asthma. Inhaler with a dose counter, nebulizer, or any other type of asthma inhaler.

How do you monitor asthma? Using a peak flow meter, you can gauge how quickly you can exhale air. It can also let you know if your symptoms are worsening. and can assist your doctor in changing the dosage of your medicine.

Is asthma a chronic disease? It's a chronic disease that affects the airway in the lungs. It causes repeated wheezing and tightness in the chest, and night, and early morning coughing. 

Can asthma go away?  Asthma symptoms and indicators might differ from person to person, and they can even vanish. It can be for some people but not for others, yes.

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Reference link

Asthma: Types, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment (clevelandclinic.org)

Podcast link

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/livingwithdisabilites/episodes/Whats-asthma-and-is-it-a-chronic-disease-e230nbd