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| Asthma |
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| How can we
diagnose Asthma ?
Click Here |
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An asthma attack leads to lung
infection, tiredness and cough and it is not
surprising that asthma is a leading medical cause of
absenteeism of children from school and adults from
work The attack can be seasonal when the pollen
count is high in the atmosphere. An attack of asthma
leads to breathing difficulties and the attack can
be acute when it lasts for a short period or chronic
when it lasts for days. The attack can also be mild
or severe and a life threatening one.
The conservative estimates are that about 300
million people are suffering from the condition
worldwide. In India, there are approx.
40 million who have
the disease and the number is rising everyday. In
recent decade there has been a global increase in
the burden of the disease among both children and
adults. This maybe due to westernization of
lifestyles and increasing atmospheric pollution. By
2025.there are likely to be 400 million asthma
sufferers worldwide. The more worrying aspect of the
disease is that it accounts for about 1 in every 250
deaths worldwide and 90% of these deaths are
preventable. Most deaths are due to delay in seeking
help and sub-optimal long-term treatment strategies
due to the lack of education and awareness about the
disease. |
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General Info::: |
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| Asthma is one of the most common
chronic diseases in the world. Perhaps the most
commonly discussed respiratory disease after the
common cold. The word asthma is derived from a Greek
work meaning 'breathlessness or panting" both of
which accurately describe an attack of asthma. |
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"Among the Diseases whereby the Region of the
breath is wont to be infested, if you regard
their tyranny and cruelty, an Asthma (which is
sometimes by reason of a peculiar symptom
denominated likewise an Orthopnoea) doth not
deserve the last place; for there is scarce any
thing more sharp and terrible than the fits
there of Breathing, whereby we chiefly live, is
very much hindered by the assault of this
disease, and is in danger, or runs the risk of
being quite taken away."
-Thomas Willis, 1674 |
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| An asthma attack leads to lung
infection, tiredness and cough and it is not
surprising that asthma is a leading medical cause of
absenteeism of children from school and adults from
work The attack can be seasonal when the pollen
count is high in the atmosphere. An attack of asthma
leads to breathing difficulties and the attack can
be acute when it lasts for a short period or chronic
when it lasts for days. The attack can also be mild
or severe and a life threatening one. |
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What
happens to the lungs in Asthma ? |
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Answer:- Asthma is a
condition in which the airways of the lungs become
either narrowed or completely blocked, obstructing
normal breathing. This obstruction of the lungs,
however, is reversible, either spontaneously or with
medication. That is why asthma is technically called
Reversible Obstructive Airway Disease (ROAD). The
basic abnormality causing asthma is the hyper
responsive reaction of the body to specific and
non-specific stimuli.
Air reaches the lung through the windpipe (trachea),
which divides into two large tubes (bronchi), one
for each lung. Each bronchi further divides into
many little tubes (bronchioles), which eventually
lead to tiny air sacs (alveoli), in which oxygen
from the air is transferred to the bloodstream, and
carbon dioxide from the bloodstream is transferred
to the air. Although the airways normally have the
potential for constricting in response to allergens
or irritants, the asthmatics airways are more prone
to constriction due to increased response to
allergens. This insult makes the airways more prone
to infection leading to inflammation and swelling
causing further constriction of the pipes. Infection
also causes increased mucus production and this
clogs the narrowed airways.
Once the airways have become obstructed, it takes
more effort to force air through them and breathing
becomes labored. This forcing of air through
constricted airways can make a whistling sound,
called wheezing. Irritation of the airways by
excessive mucus may also provoke coughing. Because
exhaling through the obstructed airways is
difficult, too much stale air remains in the lungs
after each breath. This decreases the amount of
fresh air which can be taken in with each new
breath, so not only is there less oxygen available
for the whole body, but more importantly, the high
concentration of carbon dioxide in the lungs causes
the blood supply to become acidic. This acidity in
the blood may rise to toxic levels if the asthma
remains untreated. |
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What are
the factors that can trigger an attack of asthma? |
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| Answer:- Asthma
episodes can be triggered by a variety of factors,
most notably: allergens, Infections, environmental
pollutants or non-specific stimuli such as exercise
and emotional states. Between 50 and 70 per cent of
adults with asthma suffer from allergies. In
children under three years of age, viral infections
are likely to be the most common trigger. After
three years, allergies also begin to play an
increasing role as a trigger. After 20 years of
age, occupational exposure to toxic substances and
allergens also can be important triggers for asthma. |
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| Common Allergens
In Asthma |
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Foods: Nuts, peanuts,
chocolate, eggs, citrus fruits, milk |
Plants or plant products:
Pollens, grasses, mold spores
Animal or insect materials:
Dust mites, animal dangers, feathers, canine
or feline saliva Numerous scientific studies have
shown that avoidance of specific allergens in
patients with asthma who have been previously
sensitized will result in improved asthma symptoms
and decreased medication requirements |
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Anatomy
of an asthma attack |
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| When the
respiratory system is working properly, the air we
breathe passes in and out of the lungs through a
network of airways. But for people with asthma, even
a minor irritant will set off an immune response
that can shut down the airways. Asthmatic symptoms
are usually quite variable, someone with asthma may
go for periods of time without symptoms, and then
suddenly have severe episodes for days at a time.
The most common symptom is wheezing. |
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Disclaimer -
The
contents of this site are for informational purposes
only. Always seek the advice of a qualified
physician for any doubts. |
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