Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by inflammation and narrowing of the airways, in addition to increased mucus production, resulting in symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing or a feeling of pressure or tightness in the chest.
Asthma, also called bronchial asthma or asthmatic bronchitis, generally starts in childhood, being more common in people who have a family history of asthma, and can be triggered by allergies, respiratory infections or even the use of medication.
Asthma treatment is carried out by a pulmonologist or general practitioner, to control asthma, avoiding attacks and relieving symptoms, and the use of medication may be recommended according to the symptoms and severity of the disease.
Asthma symptoms
The main symptoms of asthma are:
- Shortness of breathe;
- Difficulty filling your lungs;
- Cough, especially at night;
- Feeling of pressure or tightness in the chest;
- Wheezing or noise when breathing;
- Excessive tiredness.
These symptoms usually appear suddenly or after the person is exposed to some environmental factor that causes changes in the respiratory tract.
In the case of babies, to identify asthma symptoms, parents can place their ear against the baby’s chest or back to see if they hear any noise, which may be similar to cats breathing. Know how to identify all the symptoms of asthma in your baby.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The diagnosis of asthma is made by a pulmonologist or general practitioner through the assessment of symptoms, health history and lifestyle habits, in addition to physical examination through lung auscultation.
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In addition, the doctor must also perform an oximetry test, placing a device on one of the fingers of the hand to measure the amount of oxygen in the blood or request an arterial blood gas analysis.
To confirm the diagnosis of asthma, the doctor must order other tests, such as spirometry, bronchoprovocation tests, chest X-ray or computed tomography. Find out more about tests to diagnose asthma.
Possible causes
The causes of asthma are not yet well understood, however, it is believed to occur due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors, such as:
- Allergies to dust mites, mold, pollen, plants, animal dander, or feces, saliva or body parts of cockroaches;
- Food allergies, such as shrimp, nuts, beer, wine or preservatives such as sulfites;
- Climate changes;
- Respiratory infections, such as flu, colds or chronic sinusitis;
- Smoking or being in environments that have a lot of smoke or dust;
- Practice of very intense physical activity;
- Stress or strong emotions;
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Furthermore, the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as acetylsalicylic acid, ibuprofen or naproxen, for example, can trigger asthma attacks.
Asthma is not contagious, that is, it is not transmitted from person to person, however children of asthmatic people have a greater chance of developing asthma at any stage of life.
Types of asthma
The types of asthma are classified according to their cause, and include:
1. Allergic asthma
Allergic asthma, also called atopic asthma, is the most common type of asthma, caused by exposure to allergic substances that, when inhaled, trigger attacks.
2. Non-allergic asthma
Non-allergic asthma, also called intrinsic asthma or non-atopic asthma, is the least common type of asthma, generally develops in adulthood, is more common in women, and may have more severe symptoms.
This type of asthma is usually caused by emotional factors, anxiety, stress, excessive heat or cold, respiratory infections, smoking or physical activity.
3. Exercise-induced asthma
Exercise-induced asthma, also called exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, is caused by the narrowing of the airways during physical activity when breathing in air that is drier than the air that is in the lungs.
This type of asthma causes asthma-like symptoms in people who are not diagnosed with asthma. Know how to identify the symptoms of exercise-induced asthma.
Generally, symptoms of exercise-induced asthma begin a few minutes after starting physical activity and improve about 10 to 15 minutes after stopping exercise.
4. Seasonal asthma
Seasonal asthma is a type of allergic asthma that can appear in spring, summer or autumn, which are times of the year when there is a greater amount of allergenic substances in the air, such as dust or pollen, triggering asthma attacks.
5. Occupational asthma
Occupational asthma is considered a type of allergic asthma, as it occurs due to exposure to substances in the work environment, such as smoke, gases, powders or dust, for example.
This type of asthma can develop in adulthood, and is characterized by the appearance of asthma symptoms in the work environment, but which improve on days when the person is not at work.
6. Eosinophilic asthma
Eosinophilic asthma is a type of severe asthma, caused by an increased amount of white blood cells in the blood, called eosinophils, which are part of the body’s defense system fighting bacterial infections.
The increase in the number of eosinophils can cause an inflammatory reaction and swelling of the airways and respiratory system, leading to the emergence of symptoms, and although it is a rare type of asthma, the attacks are more serious.
7. Aspirin-induced asthma
Aspirin-induced asthma is a type of asthma attack that occurs after ingesting acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) or any other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, such as ibuprofen or naproxen, for example.
This type of asthma can appear in people diagnosed with asthma, or who have risk factors such as chronic sinusitis, nasal polyps, or recurrent nasal congestion.
The exact cause of why non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs lead to the onset of asthma symptoms is not yet fully known, but it is believed to be due to a decrease in inflammatory substances in the body, such as prostaglandins and thromboxanes.
As a result, the body increases the production of pro-inflammatory substances called leukotrienes, which can cause asthma exacerbation or asthma attacks.
How the treatment is carried out
Asthma treatment should be guided by a pulmonologist or general practitioner, who may recommend the use of medication to relieve inflammation in the airways.
To control asthma and avoid attacks, the doctor may recommend asthma inhalers, such as beclomethasone or salmeterol, which should be used daily. See how to use the asthma pump.
For asthma attacks, the doctor may recommend the use of medicines, such as salbutamol, fenoterol or ipratropium bromide, used in the form of pumps or drops for inhalation, or even corticosteroids in the form of tablets, such as prednisone or prednisolone, for example. Check out all the remedies that may be recommended for asthma.
Asthma crisis what to do
An asthma attack is a serious condition in which the symptoms are intense and can cause very rapid breathing, dizziness, mental confusion, difficulty speaking, bluish lips or fingers, anxiety, panic or fainting.
In babies, other symptoms of an asthma attack are drowsiness, constant coughing and difficulty eating.
When a person is experiencing an asthma attack, it is recommended that the medication prescribed by the doctor be used as quickly as possible and that the person should sit with the body slightly tilted forward.
When symptoms do not resolve, it is recommended to call an ambulance or go to the nearest hospital immediately. See in more detail what to do in an asthma attack.
How to prevent asthma attacks
To prevent asthma attacks it is important:
- Use asthma medicines correctly, as advised by your doctor;
- Always have the asthma inhaler nearby, in your purse, backpack or briefcase;
- Avoid using medications on your own, especially non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- Avoid very humid and moldy places;
- Remove stuffed animals, curtains and rugs from the house;
- Clean the house daily with a damp cloth, without using strong-smelling products;
- Store pillows and mattresses in anti-allergenic covers;
- Place mattresses and pillows in the sun whenever possible;
- Change pillows and cushions periodically because they accumulate dust mites;
- Swap blankets for duvets or avoid using blankets with fur;
- Change the bed linen every week and wash it in water at 130ºC.
In addition, regular physical exercise may also be recommended by a doctor for the treatment and control of asthma because it improves the individual’s cardiac and respiratory capacity.
Swimming is a good exercise for asthma because it strengthens the respiratory muscles, however, all sports are recommended and, therefore, asthmatics can choose the one they like best, after medical evaluation.
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