Asthma is an inflammatory disease that constricts the airways and makes it difficult or impossible to breathe. While it is commonly thought of as a children’s disease, it is generally not outgrown and many adults continue to suffer. Rough estimates show that as many as five percent of adults and ten percent of kids may suffer from asthma. In the United States alone, this figure is about 17 million people, with many more in countries around the world.
In asthmatics, the small muscles that line the airway start to constrict and tighten upon contact with a trigger substance. This foreign substance triggers an inflammatory response and may even cause phlegm and mucus to be produced, further obstructing the person’s breathing. Some common triggers include dust, mold, pollen, smoke, animal fur, or even strong odors and perfumes. Every one’s trigger is different, so it is important to find out what sets off your asthma attacks. It is much easier to avoid the trigger in the first place than to deal with inhalers and possible hospitalization to stop the attack.
Exercise may trigger an asthma attack in some people who are not sensitive to other trigger materials. This type of asthma is usually classified separately as “exercise-induced asthma,” but the mechanisms and treatments are the same. Adverse weather conditions such as heat, cold, or wind can also be a trigger, so asthmatics must be careful to take adequate precautions for each season. Other illnesses like colds or infections may block the airway and trigger an asthma attack. These can be more difficult to control because the underlying infection or virus will still be present when the airway inflammation calms down.
There have been vast improvements in asthma medication over the last couple of decades. In the past, the only option was the bulky inhaler, which can only be used to relieve an attack after it has started. Now there are several new drugs on the market that are designed to prevent asthma attacks before they even begin. Some seek to reduce sensitivity to trigger substances, while others stop the body’s inflammatory response to those triggers. Corticosteroids, beta agonists, and leukotriene modifiers are available to provide long-term relief of asthma symptoms. Of course, the trusty inhaler is still a staple of most asthma treatments as it is the quickest and most reliable way to open the airways back up after an attack is in progress. In more serious cases, hospitalization may be required to stop the body’s response to the trigger and free up the person’s breathing.
There may be a connection between asthma and allergies, since most asthmatics also have some type of nasal allergy. The connection between allergies and asthma is common enough that the presence of one should prompt consideration of the other. Eight to ninety percent of asthmatics originally started off with either seasonal or year-round allergies before developing asthma. Not all nasal allergies develop into asthma, however, with estimates showing approximately sixteen percent of people with allergies do go on to suffer from full-blown asthma.
