What is Asthma : Causes, Symptoms & Care

Asthma is a chronic airway inflammatory syndrome characterised by difficulty with airflow, ultimately leading to breathlessness and choking. A tremendous rise in disease has occurred over the past few decades, affecting 300 million people worldwide, and its prevalence is increasing day by day. About 20 million of the U.S population is suffering from Asthma.

Signs & Symptoms

Asthma has heterogeneous signs and symptoms, such as recurrent cough, wheezing, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, especially at night, and worsening with seasonal changes.

Asthma  Causes 

The exact cause of asthma is still unknown. Still, several factors influence its development, including genetic predisposition, gender, various allergens such as pollen, bacterial endotoxins from house dust mites, cockroaches, and moulds, tobacco smoke, respiratory infections, and chemical irritants. Aspirin and other drugs interaction, change in season, emotional and physical exercise also trigger the condition.

Preventive measures

There are a few steps which can prevent disease, such as

• Taking medicines timely
• Monitor its signs and symptoms
• Stay away from allergens such as pollens, smoke and other factors.
• Physical activity like swimming expands lung volume and improves general fitness
• Always stay hydrated, drink a lot of coconut water
• Follow up with your physician after 3 months
• Take natural supplements like Vitamin C, Omega fatty acids and dry grapes as they fortify breathing

Treatment

This is incurable, so the sole purpose of treatment is to control the disease’s clinical symptoms. There are long-term medications, such as corticosteroids, long-acting beta-agonists, and leukotriene antagonists, that prevent disease symptoms. On the other hand, quick-relief drugs such as Albuterol, levabuterol, a short-acting beta-agonist, can be considered life-saving or emergency drugs, as they provide rapid relief and are generally available as inhalers or nebulisers. This therapeutic regimen reduces signs and symptoms and decreases the incidence of death, thereby improving quality of life.

Myths & Facts

Myth: People with asthma cannot play sports

Fact: No, people can play sports by keeping their asthma under good control. Activities like swimming and slow warm-up and cool-down periods with exercise help them control workout-induced asthma.

Myth: Asthma symptoms are the same for everyone.

Fact: No, it differs from person to person. One person may experience chest tightness, while another may only cough. One should analyse the symptoms and take preventive measures accordingly.

Cancer is a condition in which cells divide uncontrolled.  Cells continue to multiply to form tumours, which further interfere with the body’s normal functioning. There are two types of tumours: one is benign, which does not invade, and the other is malignant, which spreads to other parts of the body and destroys healthy tissues.

Signs and symptoms

Typical symptoms are unusual bleeding or discharge, formation of unusual lumps, a nagging cough, indigestion, and a persistent headache. A person may feel chronic pain in bones, consistent fatigue, nausea, and unexplained weight loss

Causes

There is no exact underlying cause of the disease. There are 200 types of Cancer, each with a specific root cause. There are certain factors which increase a person’s susceptibility towards the disease.

Cancer is a condition in which cells divide uncontrolled.  Cells continue to multiply to form tumours, which further interfere with the body’s normal functioning. There are two types of tumours: one is benign, which does not invade, and the other is malignant, which spreads to other parts of the body and destroys healthy tissues.

Signs and symptoms

Typical symptoms are unusual bleeding or discharge, formation of unusual lumps, a nagging cough, indigestion, and a persistent headache. A person may feel chronic pain in bones, consistent fatigue, nausea, and unexplained weight loss

Causes

There is no exact underlying cause of the disease. There are 200 types of Cancer, each with a specific root cause. There are certain factors which increase a person’s susceptibility towards the disease.