Tips on Identifying Asthma Symptoms

There are many causes of asthma, ranging from environmental to genetic factors. During an asthma attack, airways in your lungs become inflamed in reaction to environmental factors such as smoke, dust, or pet dander. As the airways narrow, they produce an excess of mucus, making it difficult to breathe. Asthma is actualy the result of an inflammatory immune response in the bronchial airways of the lungs.

Common triggers to an asthma attack are: Vigorous activity, exposure to an allergen such as dust or dander, hormone changes in adolescents, changing weather (especially quick changes), stress, air pollution, smoking, previous illness, and neglect of proper medication. Many problems with asthma can be prevented or controlled with medicine prescribed by your doctor. Many of these medications are in inhaler form and can be taken as needed or during a set regimen. Pills are taken once or twice a day to prevent possible future symptoms.

Common symptoms of athsma are: A dry cough, sometimes characterized by two deep coughs followed by three shorter, quicker ones, shortness of breath, a constricted feeling in the upper chest, rapid heart rate, wheezing, inability to speak in full sentences, and an inability to laugh during a more severe attack.

Common methods of prevention: The best way to prevent an asthma attack is trigger avoidance. Taking an antihistamine if you are going to be around animals or excessive dust and consulting a physician before extensive exercise can both also act as prevention methods. Inhaled steroids are used in more severe cases of asthma.

There is no cure for asthma, and there are many emergency room visits every year because of the disease. If you do think you may be having an asthma attack, don’t panic! More stress on the cardiovascular system only causes the effects of the attack to be more severe. Use a rescue inhaler first, if your home medication does not work quickly, calmly proceed to seeking professional help.

Asthma is still under much extensive studies and there is still much that is unknown about the affliction. Right now the best way to prevent it is to make healthy decisions and educate ourselves.

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