Asthma: Symptoms, Causes, Types and Treatment

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22,000-the number of times we breathe in a day.

Breathe symbolises life, and sometimes, we take it for granted. Every breath is a gift. People with asthma know the value of every normal breath. An asthma attack makes breathing a struggle, so every effortless breath deserves gratitude. About 300 million people worldwide have Asthma. Around one-tenth of those asthmatics are Indians. Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease caused by the lungs' exposure to allergens, resulting in inflammation and constriction of the airways, leading to difficulty breathing. In this blog, we will discuss asthmatics' daily life battles, symptoms and treatment.

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic respiratory or long-term lung disease in which a person’s airways swell, inflame, or swallow and produce excessive mucus, making breathing difficult. It can be minor or even life-threatening. The total burden of asthma in India is 34.3 million; around 3% of the Indian population suffers from asthma, with 80% of them being undiagnosed.

What is an Asthma Attack?

Asthma attacks make breathing harder, airways swell up, muscles tighten, and mucus clogs the airways. Lungs have difficulty moving air in and out during an asthma attack. Asthma may lead to the following three conditions in the body-

• Inflammation: The airway lining swells, preventing the easy passage of air through the lungs.
• Mucus production: The body creates excessively thick mucus, clogging the airways.
• Bronchospasm: The muscles around the airways tighten and narrow down, creating difficulty in airflow.

Symptoms of Asthma

Wondering what does asthma feel like? Below are some of the most common asthma symptoms:

• Persistent Coughing
• Wheezing
• Production of thick mucus
• Shortness of Breath
• Chest Tightness or pain
• Intermittent dyspnea
• Trouble in sleeping

Causes of Asthma

Nilesh's condition could result from genetic factors, pollution or exercise. However, various causes can trigger Asthma in a person. They are mentioned below:

• Outdoor and indoor air pollution
• Exposure to allergens, viz. pet fur, rugs, perfumes, pollens, etc.
• Climate or extreme changes in temperature
• Exercise
• Smoking
• Obesity (especially in adults)
• Emotional stress - anxiety, anger or fear
• Hereditary factors

Types of Asthma

Depending on the person's age and severity of the condition, below are the different categories of asthma:

• Childhood Asthma
• Adult-onset Asthma
• Allergic or Seasonal Asthma
• Occupational Asthma
• Exercise-induced Bronchial Asthma
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder

What Triggers Asthma?

Certain factors trigger asthmatic situations. It is better to avoid the following-

• Certain medications like aspirin, beta-blockers, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, etc.
• Exposure to allergic substances like dust particles, mould, etc.
• Poor air quality
• Rigorous physical activity
• Acidity and bloating
• Anxiety & stress

Effective Treatment Tips for Asthma

If you are showing any symptoms of Asthma, you must not delay your visit to the doctor. If neglected, your condition may worsen and lead to a full-fledged asthma attack. During an asthma attack, the airways become narrow, and the extra mucus produced causes trouble breathing.

A great deal of self-management skills is essential for a person who has Asthma. Follow these steps to ensure you have greater control over your health condition:

• Speak to Your Doctor: Ask your doctor the right questions about your condition so that you get the proper treatment.
• Diet Plan: Maintaining a healthy weight is essential, and thus, a good diet plan is a must for managing asthma and its various symptoms. Avoid foods that are allergy triggers.
• Medication: Every asthmatic patient's condition differs from another person in terms of severity and causes. Hence, the ways of treating the disease also vary. Follow your doctor's advice and take the prescribed medicines.
• Minimise the Trigger Factors: Identify the trigger factors that have caused the disease and take suitable measures to avoid them. For instance, if perfumes or pets are irritating, avoiding them is in your best interest.

Diagnosis of Asthma

Asthma can be diagnosed with lung function tests, medical history, physical examination and other lab evaluations. Asthma diagnostic measures are given below:

• Spirometry: The test diagnoses the amount of air you can exhale and your breathing speed.
• Peak Flow: The medical instrument measures how intensely you can breathe out. Weak lungs or worsening asthma show lower readings, which should prompt you to contact your doctor.
• Methacholine Challenge: Methacholine is a known asthma trigger. When inhaled, it will cause your airways to narrow slightly. If you react to methacholine, you likely have asthma. This test may be used even if your initial lung function test is normal.
• Imaging Tests: These X-rays identify diseases or infections that can cause or aggravate breathing problems.
• Allergy Tests: Allergic reactions to pets, dust, mould, or pollen may also trigger asthma. If you are allergic to any of these, allergy shots may give relief.
• Nitric Oxide Test: Inflamed airways are a sign of asthma, and the Nitrite Oxide test measures the amount of gas in one's breath.
• Sputum Eosinophils: A person with asthma symptoms might have eosinophils, which stain with a rose-coloured eye. During coughing, this test measures white blood cells (eosinophils) in saliva and sputum.
• Provocative Testing: Here, the doctor measures your airway obstruction level when you take several breaths of cold air or before and after intense physical activity.

Treatment of Asthma

Asthma doesn’t have any particular cure, but treatment may help to manage and control the symptoms. Some of them are mentioned below:

• Inhalers: Inhalers help relieve symptoms or prevent them from occurring. Two types of inhalers, reliever and preventive, help asthmatics cure their asthma. Reliever inhalers treat symptoms when they occur, while preventive inhalers reduce inflammation and airways’ sensitivity, stopping symptoms from occurring.
• Leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs): It is the main medicine used for asthma. They help to stop symptoms from occurring.
• Corticosteroids: Steroids are given when other treatments are not showing positive results. They reduce inflammation in the air passages and are inhaled in severe asthma.
• Injections: Biologic therapies help in severe asthma cases and must be taken only after a doctor’s prescription.
• Surgeries: A bronchial thermoplasty may also be a good treatment option in case of severe asthma.
• Theophylline: A controlled medicine that can be taken daily to get relief from asthma.
• Manage Stress: Breathing and relaxation techniques help a lot if you have anxiety or stress.

Buy Health Insurance for Asthma Treatment Expenses

The cost of treating and medication for asthma is high. In India, it may range from several thousand to lakhs. In the case of severe asthma, the medical expenses are even higher due to hospitalisation and other advanced treatments. This implies the importance of buying a health insurance plan so that no stress factor can aggravate the condition.

Care Health Insurance offers the best health insurance for asthma and coverage for chronic diseases with Care Supreme- The Next Generation Health Insurance Plan. The policy offers coverage for asthma right after a waiting period of 30 days. However, if the policyholder is asthmatic even before buying the policy, the pre-existing waiting period will apply. Also, you get an optional benefit of an ‘Instant Cover’ that waives off any pre-existing disease waiting period for asthma, diabetes, hypertension, and other mentioned illnesses.

>>Click Here to Know: Why Health Insurance is a Must to Avail Quality Treatment

Disclaimer: The above information is for reference purposes only. Kindly consult your general physician for verified medical advice. The health insurance benefits are subject to policy terms and conditions. Refer to your policy documents for more information.