What is Asthma? Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Asthma is a widespread chronic ailment wherein a patient struggles to breathe normally. Asthma impacts the lungs in such a way that the airways narrow, swell, and clog with mucus, thus making it difficult to move air in and out. Unfortunately, the growing global warming and air pollution are giving asthma an unprecedented rise.

According to the Indian Study on Epidemiology of Asthma, Respiratory Signs, and Chronic Bronchitis in Adults (INSEARCH), there are 17.23 million asthma patients in the country, with a majority rate of 2.05%.

In this blog post, let’s know everything you need to know about the causes and asthma symptoms, types and treatments. So, let’s dive into this and get the best insights.

Overview of Asthma

Asthma is a lung ailment in which the airways narrow, swell and may create extra mucus. It can make breathing challenging, and cause coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.

Asthma creates a mild annoyance for some people. Others may experience a severe issue that hinders everyday activities and could result in a fatal asthma attack.

Asthma is treated by keeping a close eye on the symptoms. You must communicate with your doctor to monitor your signs and symptoms of asthma and modify your therapy as necessary because asthma frequently changes over time.

What is an Asthma Attack?

The muscles surrounding your airways relax when you breathe regularly, allowing air to pass swiftly and softly. There are three potential impacts during an asthma attack:

• Bronchospasm: The muscles around the airways tighten in bronchospasm. Your airways become more blocked when they shrink. This prevents the free passage of air, thus making breathing difficult.
• Inflammation: Your airways’ lining swells due to inflammation. Inflated airways limit the amount of air that may penetrate or exit your lungs.
• Mucus production: An asthma attack causes your body to produce extra mucus. The airways become blocked by this heavy mucus.

When your airways become more constrictive, you gasp, which is a sound your airways make when you exhale. An asthma attack may also be referred to as an exacerbation or a flare-up. It is a term used to describe asthma that is not under control.

Don’t wait in long emergency room queues; come to our hospital for immediate care.

Book an Appointment Today

What Are The Types of Asthma?

There are several forms of asthma based on the underlying reason and the severity of the symptoms. Medical professionals define asthma as:

Adult-onset Asthma

Asthma can appear at any age; however, persons under the age of 40 are more likely to get it.

Status Asthmaticus

Using bronchodilators does not relieve these persistent asthma attacks. They require immediate medical attention since they are an emergency.

Asthma in Children

The same child’s symptoms can change from session to session.

• Keep an eye out for issues like frequent coughing, particularly when playing, at night, or when laughing. It might be the primary sign.
• Playing with less energy or pausing to regain their breath more frequently or shallowly
• Saying that their chest aches or is tight
• When they breathe in or out, there is a whistling sound.
• A seesaw sensation in their chest as a result of breathing difficulties
• Breathing difficulty
• Chest and neck muscles that are tense
• Weakness or exhaustion

Exercise-induced Bronchoconstriction

It is sometimes referred to as exercise-induced asthma. It occurs during physical activity when you breathe more parched air. It can also have an impact on those without asthma. After you begin exercising, you’ll experience symptoms, which can continue for 10 to 15 minutes after you stop.

Allergic Asthma

Allergens, including dust, pollen, and pet dander, can bring on asthma attacks.

Nonallergic Asthma

Since this type of asthma typically flares up during harsh weather, it can be hot in the summer or icy in the winter. It might also show itself if you’re under stress or sick.

Occupational Asthma

People who operate in environments with chemical fumes, dust, or other irritants in the air are typically affected by this type of asthma.

Eosinophilic Asthma

This extreme form is denoted by high levels of white blood cells called eosinophils. It usually impacts adults between 35 and 50 years old.

Nocturnal Asthma

Your asthma symptoms get more alarming at night.

Aspirin-induced Asthma

When using aspirin, you have a runny nose, sneezing, sinus pressure, and coughing, in addition to asthma symptoms.

Cough-variant Asthma

This kind of asthma, unlike others, only has a persistent cough as a symptom.

PSRI is the best hospital in Delhi NCR, where you can get expert advice from experienced doctors. So, if you have any type of asthma symptoms, our expert doctors will help you.

What Are The Causes of Asthma?

Although asthma is more prevalent in kids, many people don’t experience it until they are adults. Asthma still hasn’t been linked to a single cause. Instead, scientists think that several things are to blame. Some main causes of asthma are:

• Allergies: The growth of asthma is more likely in individuals with allergies.

• Environmental factors: People who work with things that trouble their airways may develop asthma. Some of these things are allergens, poisons, gasses, and second or third-hand smoke. These can be particularly dangerous for babies and young ones whose immune systems are still developing.

• Genetics: Your risk of acquiring asthma or an allergy disease is higher if your family has a history of the conditions.

• Respiratory infections: Some respiratory infections, including the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), can harm the developing lungs of young children.

Symptoms of Asthma

Wheezing is the most common asthma symptom. When you breathe, a screaming or whistling sound is made. Other signs of asthma may include:

• Coughing, particularly at night, when giggling, or during a workout

• Tightness in the chest

• Regular infections

• Problem in sleeping

• Shortness of breath

• Tiredness

• Chest pain

• Problem in talking

• Anxiety or panic

• Fast breathing

Your symptoms may vary depending on the type of asthma you have. Some individuals have symptoms that persist all day long. Others might discover that particular activities can aggravate their symptoms.

Also, remember that even with proper management of your asthma, symptoms may still occasionally flare up. With the use of quick-acting medications like an inhaler, flare-ups frequently get better, but in more serious situations, you may need medical intervention.

Some indications of an asthma attack include:

• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Chest discomfort or tightness
• Exhaustion
• Throat clearing
• Problem in sleeping

When using an inhaler, you should consult a doctor immediately if your symptoms get worse or don’t get better. If you undergo any of the following symptoms of asthma trouble, you should get quick medical attention:

• Intense breathing problem
• Light lips or fingernails
• Dizziness
• Wheezing for air
• Confusion
• Problem with walking or talking
• Blue lips or fingernails

Book Your Consultation Now

How Do Doctors Diagnose Asthma?

To rule out further potential illnesses, like a respiratory infection or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, your doctor will do a physical examination (COPD).

Tests To Measure Lung Function

You could undergo a lung function test to measure how much air you breathe in and out. These examinations might involve the following:

• Spirometry
• Peak Flow
• Spirometry

This test calculates the constriction of your bronchial tubes by measuring how much air you can exhale after taking a deep breath and how quickly you can breathe.

Peak Flow

A simple tool called a peak flow meter assesses how rapidly you can exhale. Peak flow measurements that are lower than average indicate that your lungs may not function correctly and that your asthma may worsen. You’ll receive guidance from your doctor on monitoring and managing common peak flow values.

Additional Tests

Additional tests to identify asthma include:

• Methacholine challenge. A well-known asthma trigger is methacholine. It will produce a slight narrowing of your airways when inhaled. You likely have asthma if you react to the methacholine. This test may be utilised even if your first lung function test is normal.

• Imaging tests. An X-ray of the chest can be used to detect diseases or structural anomalies that may contribute to or exacerbate breathing issues.

• Allergy testing. Testing for allergies can be done via a skin test or blood test. They inform you if you are allergic to dust, mold, pollen, or animals. In the event that allergic triggers are found, your doctor might advise allergy shots.

• Nitric oxide test. This test calculates the quantity of the gas nitric oxide in your breath. When your airways are outraged — an asthma symptom — you may have higher than average nitric oxide levels. This test isn’t widely available.

• Sputum eosinophils. This test scans the saliva and mucus (sputum) you cough up to look for specific white blood cells (eosinophils). When symptoms start to appear, eosinophils are already present, becoming apparent when coated with a rose-colored dye.

• Instigating testing for cold-induced asthma and exercise. Your doctor will do these tests before and after you engage in strenuous exercise or take numerous deep breaths of icy air, and they will measure your airway obstruction.

Treatment of Asthma in Adults and Children

Numerous asthma medications can reduce your symptoms. Your physician will work with you to create an action plan drafting your asthma treatment and remedies. They might contain:

• Leukotriene modifiers
• Combination inhaler
• Inhaled corticosteroids
• Theophylline
• Short-acting beta-agonists
• Oral and intravenous corticosteroids
• Long-acting beta-agonists
• Biologics
• Leukotriene Modifiers

It is a long-term asthma treatment in which Leukotrienes, substances in your body that cause an asthma attack, are blocked. You take a tablet once a day. A few typical leukotriene modifiers are:

• Montelukast (Singulair)
• Zafirlukast (Accolate)

Combination Inhaler

With the help of this device, you can treat your asthma by receiving a long-acting beta-agonist and an inhaled corticosteroid. Some of them are:

• Formoterol with budesonide (Symbicort)
• Salmeterol with fluticasone (Advair Diskus, AirDuo Respiclick)
• Both vilanterol and fluticasone (Breo)
• Formoterol with mometasone (Dulera)

Inhaled Corticosteroids

These drugs provide long-term asthma treatment. That implies that you will take them every day to control your asthma. They can help your body produce less mucus and may help prevent and relieve swelling inside your airways. You’ll utilize an inhaler machine to get the medication into your lungs.

The following corticosteroids are frequently inhaled:

• Beclomethasone (QVAR)
• Budesonide (Pulmicort)
• Fluticasone (Arnuity Ellipta, Armonair Respiclick, Flovent)

Theophylline

It releases chest tightness and widens your airways. This long-term drug is ingested either on its own or in combination with an inhaled corticosteroid.

Short-acting Beta-agonists

These are also referred to as rescue inhalers or rescue medications. They alleviate symptoms by releasing the muscular bands that surround your airways. Examples comprise:

• Albuterol (Accuneb, ProAir HFA, Proventil HFA, Ventolin HFA)
• Levalbuterol (Xopenex HFA)

Oral And Intravenous Corticosteroids

You’ll use them with a rescue inhaler during an asthma attack. This is because they reduce your airways’ edema and inflammation. You will take oral steroids for a short time, between 5 days and two weeks. Typical oral steroids comprise:

• Methylprednisolone (Medrol)
• Prednisolone (Flo-pred, Orapred, Pediapred, Prelone)
• Prednisone (Deltasone)

Long-acting Beta-agonists

These drugs ease the bands of muscle that encircle your airways. They may also be referred to as bronchodilators. Even if you have no symptoms, you will use an inhaler to administer these medications. They consist of the following:

• Ciclesonide (Alvesco)
• Mometasone (Asmanex)
• Formoterol (Perforomist)
• Salmeterol (Serevent)

Biologics

You might consider a biologic treatment if you have severe asthma that is unresponsive to control medications:

Allergen-induced asthma is treated with omalizumab (Xolair). You receive an injection of it every two to four weeks.

Other biologics prevent your immune system’s production of inflammatory substances. These medications include:

• Benralizumab (Fasenra)
• Mepolizumab (Nucala)
• Reslizumab (Cinqair)

An innovative drug called tezepelumab-ekko (Tezspire) is recommended for the additional maintenance treatment of asthma in adults and children patients 12 years of age and older. It is usually administered and targets a particular chemical that inflames the airways.

Summary

A persistent inflammatory disease called asthma enlarges the airways. Any age group might be affected, and the symptoms can be moderate to severe. But in the majority of situations, asthmatic patients may lead entire lives with the aid of effective therapy. ‘

It would help if you got a checkup and advice from the best hospital in Delhi. It will help you in getting the right idea about your asthma condition.

Conclusion

To conclude, if you have any kind of asthma symptoms and want the best treatment from the expert Delhi multispeciality hospital, PSRI is the expert choice.

It is a well-known multispeciality hospital in New Delhi which is well-equipped with an up-to-the-minute knowledge ground backed by skills of international benchmarks. In addition, each unit has the latest equipment to react to any medical condition. So, get in touch with the expert team of PSRI hospital now.