Asthma: Know More to Deal with it Properly

During the winter season, the risk of having sudden attacks increases a lot in asthma patients. It can also happen in times of weather change. These attacks can even become deadly at some points. So, having some essential knowledge about asthma is very mush essential and can prove to be life-saving. Although, once affected the disease cannot be cured totally, we can always keep it under control or even better prevent it altogether with a little bit awareness and carefulness. From this post, you will get to know all the essential information about keeping asthma in control and how to prevent it at the first place. What is Asthma? It is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes narrowing of the airways-- the tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs--when exposed to certain asthma triggers. That means in case of asthma the airways that bring air into our lungs and take it back into the air become hyperactive and more sensitive than they should be. As a result, they can suddenly become narrow (bronchoconstriction) due to various triggers and restrict adequate amount of air to reach our lungs. Additionally, the air ways can also become swollen and produce sticky mucus. Causes and Risk Factors of Asthma Although we do not exactly know what causes asthma, we do know some factors that increase the chances of developing the condition. The major risk factors for asthma include: • Genetic factors play a significant role in terms of increasing the chances of developing asthma. • Although it is not a contagious disease environmental factors like unhealthy air increases the risk. • Obesity can increase the chances of developing asthma. • Having a history or bronchiolitis. • Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of developing asthma in the child. • Exposure to tobacco smoke in childhood. • Premature birth. Symptoms of Asthma Asthma is not much difficult to detect. The main symptoms of asthma are given below: • Occasional whistling noise while breathing. • Breathlessness. • Tightness in the chest. The frequency and intensity of the symptoms vary person to person. The Triggers of Asthma Asthma triggers are anything that starts the symptoms in you or may even start an asthma attack. Triggers often vary from person to person and in most cases, there are more than one asthma triggers for an individual. rnHere are the most common asthma triggers seen in patients: • Pollens, dust mites, dust particles, or other irritants like perfumes, cleaning fluids. • Tobacco smoke. • Having a cold or flurn• Periods of weather change. • Too much of physical activity. • Some medicines like aspirins and ibuprofen and other such anti-inflammatory medicines. • High level of emotional outburst like crying, stressing or even laughing. Asthma Control and Prevention Tips As you cannot cure asthma completely the only way is to keep it under control. Here are some of the most effective ways to keep your asthma under control: • Keep an all-inclusive asthma plan from your doctor on how to manage symptoms. • Be aware of worsening asthma symptoms. • Keep medicines and inhalers always with you. • Take your prescribed medicines regularlyrnApart from these major ways of control, you can adopt some other lifestyle changes to keep a guard on the asthma symptoms. • Quit smoking right away! • Stop drinking alcohol. • Maintain a healthy and balanced diet. • Have regular but moderate physical exercise. • Keep your weight on a healthy level. • Take annual vaccination against influenza (flu) So, keep attention to your breathing and look for any breathing difficulty. If you face breathing problems that are not directly due to having a cold or flu then contact your doctor right away to get an asthma diagnosis done! Once you are diagnosed with asthma follow the above-mentioned commandments of asthma control and prevention very strictly.