For those with Asthma, the feeling of an attack is unmistakable. Patients have related it to breathlessness as a result of the inflammation in the lungs and the airways.
Medical experts have already figured out some aspects of asthma, like how to diagnose and treat it, but other components, like what causes asthma and how to cure it, remain unclear.
From the triggers people encounter at work to the connection to allergies, here are some facts about asthma symptoms and treatments you should know.
1) Asthma is most prevalent among among children
For instance, asthma is common in United States affecting over 25 million and about 7 million are children.
Most people with Asthma got it during childhood and a good number of children miss school days because of it.
2) Many Asthma patients inherited it
Doctors aren’t entirely sure what causes asthma, but they know it sometimes runs in families.
A 2010 study found that people with one parent with the condition were nearly twice as likely to have it themselves, and people with a parent and a grandparent with asthma were four times more likely to develop it.
Because asthma is connected to allergies, a genetic disposition toward allergies, known as atopy, may explain some inherited asthma cases.
3) Asthma is very easy to diagnose
One of the simplest ways to diagnose asthma is through a lung function test. If a patient is reporting asthma symptoms (coughing, chest tightness, a feeling of not getting enough air), their doctor may check the strength of their exhalations before and after having them use an inhaler.
If their breathing improves with medicine, they likely have asthma. An X-ray of the patient’s chest can also be used to reach an asthma diagnosis.
4) Asthma triggers are everywhere
To manage their symptoms, doctors tell asthma patients to limit exposure to their triggers when possible. Common asthma triggers include irritants and allergens like dust, tobacco smoke, car exhaust, mold, pet dander, and smoke from burning wood.
Triggers that don’t come from the environment, like colds, sinus infections, acid reflux, and hyperventilation brought on by stress, can be even harder to avoid.
5) Asthma doesn’t need to limit your child’s activities.
Many parents who have a child with asthma sometimes put restrictions on their kid to try to prevent asthma attacks — and they often feel guilty about it.
Experts stress that the best way to control your child’s asthma is to use the right medication strategies at the right time, not to limit what your child does.
To assess whether your asthma is under control, your doctor needs to consider how often you experience wheezing, coughing, breathlessness and nighttime awakening.