The asthma is a very serious problem because it causes the airways to swell becoming narrower. This leads to symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath or chest tightness, among others. When someone is presented with an asthma attack what is happening is that the muscles surrounding the airways, are in tension so that the coating of these, you end up inflaming.
In people who are very sensitive, these asthma attacks may be caused by allergens. Among those not so, the asthma can be triggered by:
- Animals (pet dander or fur)
- Dust
- Changes in weather (most often cold weather)
- Chemicals in the air or in food
- Exercise
- Mold
- Pollen
- Respiratory infections like the common cold
- Strong emotions (stress)
- Snuff smoke
- Aspirin
The majority of people, who suffer from asthma, do not have attacks every day or known when he will. Some are even long periods without suffering them.
There are patients that have difficulty for a long period of time to breathe, with episodes of increased shortness of breath. This can be caused by wheezing or a cough.
The asthma attacks are varied and can last from minutes to days, and may even become dangerous, if you restrict the air flow significantly.
The symptoms are:
- Cough, with or without phlegm
- Retraction of the skin between the ribs when breathing
- Shortness of breath and worsening after exercise.
We must consider the asthma attacks that:
- Usually occur in episodes with intervening periods in which there are symptoms
- Usually worse at night or early morning hours
- May disappear suddenly, for no reason
- Better when using drugs that dilate the airways
- It is usually worse when breathing cold air
- Worse with exercise
- Worsen with Heartburn (Reflux)
- Usually begin suddenly.
If at some point, we see that the person having the asthma attack starts to become drowsy, low level of lucidity, lips or face begins to turn blue, pulse quickens, has trouble breathing or extreme sweating, you should go with this person to a doctor as soon as possible.
The treatment you receive, will allow the respiratory tract not inflamed. The doctor will calm the patient asthma attack, but this will have to be controlled several times a day.
Once diagnosed asthma to the person, it must be more careful before physical activity, since it will be use inhalers before sports since you note that you can start an asthmatic crisis.
One of the treatment, are those oral asteroids, better known as corticosteroids. It is a second option, if with inhalers the asthma attack never ceases, the patient should take one of these pills.
There is a cure yet for asthma and many people go away with time, especially if asthma attacks give when they are young.
The complications of asthma for the patient, long-term are not pretty. Among them are:
- The inability to perform some exercises
- Lack of sleep, because the attacks are becoming more severe at night
- Cough
- Having to live always aware of an inhaler.
- In extreme cases, known cases of death.