Admin
June 20, 2022

Asthma is a disease that affects the lungs. It is one of the most common long-term diseases of children – but it’s not rare among adults too. It causes coughing, wheezing, breathlessness, and chest tightness at night or in the morning. Depending on the case, asthma can also attack at different times of the day.

 

Get to know the signs and symptoms of asthma in this article. 

 

 

What is Asthma?

 

 

Asthma is a long-term lung disease that makes breathing hard for those affected by it. It causes the airways to get narrow and inflamed, making it hard to breathe. It’s a serious yet treatable disease, but severe asthma can cause trouble whenever the person is active. 

 

 

Note that asthma is not the same for everyone. Not all those who have asthma experience the same symptoms and some people might have most of the symptoms at the same time. Symptoms might also vary from one attack to the next – depending on the person. 

 

 

The Causes and Symptoms of Asthma

 

 

This Asthma Awareness Month, it’s important to monitor its signs and symptoms to help our loved ones who have it. Likewise, it’s also worth knowing asthma symptoms for ourselves just in case. 

 

First, it’s essential to know what the asthma causes are and what can trigger an attack. While environmental conditions, allergies, and present respiratory ailments widely contribute to asthma, it’s important to know that it can also be a genetic disease. 

 

Note that triggers are different for every individual. Some of the known asthma triggers are:

 

• Medications
• Weather
• Smoke
• Smoking
• Exercise and other physical activities
• Heartburn
• Food and food additives
• Allergies
• Sinusitis
• Weather

 

It’s important to understand what triggers you or your loved ones to figure out steps on how to avoid them. Likewise, it’s also important to spot asthma symptoms in case they trigger it.

 

 

 

 

Again, symptoms might be different for everyone, but the common asthma symptoms are:

 

• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain, pressure, or tightness
• Wheezing
• Coughing
• Signs of a cold or allergy
• Trouble sleeping 

 

Once triggered, it might cause an asthma attack, which is beyond the symptoms of it. Asthma attacks are episodes where the muscles surrounding the airways tighten. During these episodes, the linings of the airways swell up, causing them to produce thicker mucus than normal. The start of an asthma attack is like the common asthma symptoms, but here are just a couple of more signs that someone is having an asthma attack:

 

• Tightened neck and chest muscles
• Difficulty talking
• Very rapid breathing
• Excessive coughing
• Severe wheezing
• Anxiety or panic 
• Blue lips or fingernails 
• Pale, sweaty face. 

 

Note that an asthma attack can escalate rapidly. Make sure that you can treat asthma symptoms immediately after recognizing the early signs of an attack. Asthma inhalers are quick asthma treatments that can easily help to lessen the onslaught of an attack. 

 

It is advised to have a regular asthma doctor that you can call or contact in case you have questions about your condition and if there are ways they can suggest controlling the symptoms. 

 

Is Asthma Curable?

 

Unfortunately, asthma is incurable – this includes other types, including skin asthma. However, its symptoms are manageable. 

 

Asthma, again, is different for everyone and it can change. It’s important to consult a doctor to help track signs and symptoms so you can receive better treatment. It also helps to remain aware of one’s asthma triggers and symptoms so that we can avoid them. 

 

Treatments for Asthma

 

Some of the ways to lessen the effects of an asthma attack and to help keep symptoms at bay is to get asthma treatment. There are a couple of treatments that can help manage the symptoms, and they include:

 

• Asthma medications
• Asthma inhalers
• Long-term medication
• Nebulizers

 

There are also home remedies to try but only pursue this type of asthma treatment if it is allowed by your doctor. These would include breathing exercises and choline – however, do not pursue natural remedies unless instructed by a physician because they might make asthma worse. 

 

 

Asthma Awareness Month is coming to a close, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t educate ourselves of its signs and symptoms. By knowing what can trigger asthma or what might cause an asthma attack, we are helping our friends and loved ones who have it by knowing ways in how we can ease or control the symptoms before it gets worse. Likewise, it always helps to keep in touch with a doctor for regular check-ups and to update the asthma treatment. Asthma signs and symptoms can change depending on the person, so it’s important to know them so we can help those around us. Remember that asthma awareness doesn’t only mean knowing the treatment for them, but it also means knowing its signs, symptoms, and triggers, to help those around us. 

 

You got this, mommies!

 

sources: webmd.com, my.clevelandclinic.org, mayoclinic.org, aafa.org, cdc.gov, freepik.com