Asthma is a lung disease that makes it difficult or even impossible to breathe. About 22 million Americans have this condition. It affects people's lives and can even cause death. The condition comes in two different forms, with a variety of possible triggers and treatment options are available.
It's important to understand what people with these lung problems have to deal with. In order to get the oxygen our bodies need, people without breathing problems breathe air into their open, healthy lungs. The lungs process it and they exhale. With asthmatics, narrowing in the airways of the lungs makes it hard to breathe. This narrowing is caused because the lungs constrict and swell. When this happens, the person is having an asthma attack.
When allergies are the cause, a person's immune system overreacts to a substance. Also, in some people, exercise leads to symptoms. In some cases, workers breathe in substances at work that cause their breathing problems. Cough variant asthma is the second type. In this form, the person coughs in a non-productive manner and coughing is the only symptom.
The cough variant of the condition can be more difficult to diagnose. This is because lung function can be normal. With this type, symptoms are often treated with similar medications as the more common constriction type.
As with any medical condition, patients need to consult with their physician for diagnosis and treatment. This is important whether the patient has the more common form or the cough variant.
Treatments vary based on severity of symptoms and underlying causes. For allergic or occupational triggers, avoiding the things that cause the problem can help prevent it. Allergy testing can be used to determine what the person is allergic to. Also, treating the allergies themselves can result in improvement for the patient.
There are a variety of medications that doctors can prescribe for their patients. There are medicines that reduce the frequency of symptoms and attacks. These are taken every day. Also, rescue inhalers are used when an attack occurs to provide immediate relief. Physicians will often prescribe both in order to manage symptoms. However, doctors sometimes need to try different medications and treatments to help each patient achieve optimal results.
Asthma is a very serious medical condition that can have a negative impact on the lives of people living with it. However, doctors are able to work with patients to determine the best treatment course and help them manage their symptoms. This means that people living with this problem can live full, healthy lives.
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In an asthmatic person, the first stage is the same as in the healthy person. In the second stage however, the airway instead of relaxing to expel, suddenly constricts further provoking acute breathlessness and respiratory distress. Asthma treatment is one thing; asthma prevention is another. For more free information, please visit our website now.
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