2009-07-21T17:14:00.000-07:00

Asthma control

2009-07-03T17:33:00.001-07:00

DEFINITION

Asthma is a chronic disease that affects the ways breathing the air that leads to and from the lungs. The airways inner walls of an asthmatic are inflammed. This inflammation makes them susceptible to irritation and increases their susceptibility to an allergic reaction.

Because of inflammation, the airways become more narrow and less air passes through them to and from lungs. Symptoms include wheezing while breathing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and cough. The asthmatics experience these symptoms more frequently during the night and dawn.

Asthma is an incurable disease. However, with good treatment and good management of the disorder, there is no reason why a person with asthma can not live a normal, active life.

ASTHMA EPISODES OR ATTACKS

An episode or an asthma attack, occurs when symptoms are worse than usual. They may come out suddenly and can be mild, moderate or severe. The airways muscles contracts, causing the airways openings reduction. Less air can flow through. Inflammation of respiratory tracks increases additionally pathways narrowing. More mucus is produced in the airways, thus undermining the airflow even more.

Attacks vary in severity and this depends on the amount oxygen that the body can get to general functioning. A patient with asthma should consult the doctor permanently and learn to live with the disease.

TYPES OF ASTHMA

The Childhood Asthma

Asthma that begins in childhood caused by sensitized common allergens in the environment, probably due to genetic reasons. Allergens are substances that the body will treat as foreign bodies causing an immune response. These vary greatly between individuals and often include animal proteins, fungi, pollen, dust mites and some other types of dust.

Adult Asthma

This term is used when a person develops asthma after reaching 20 years of age and affects women more than men. Can be triggered by certain allergens or an episode of allergy. It is estimated that up to 50% of adult asthma is related to allergies. However, a substantial proportion of adult-onset asthma does not seemed to be caused by exposure to allergen (s): This type is known as intrinsic asthma. Exposure to different substances or materials may cause the onset of asthma in adults.

Exercise-Induced Asthma

If coughing, wheezing or running out of breath during or after exercise is present, you may be suffering from asthma induced by exercise. As with other types of asthma, a person with asthma induced by exercise have difficulties in get the air inside and outside of the lungs due to bronchial inflammation (airways) and excess of mucus.

Eighty percent of people with other types of asthma may have symptoms during exercise, but many people with exercise-induced asthma never have symptoms outside of the moments of physical exertion.

Occupational Asthma

This type of asthma is triggered by something in the patient's work place . Factors such as chemical vapors, gases, smoke, dust or other particles can trigger asthma. It can also be caused by a virus (flu), fungi, animal products, pollen, humidity and temperature. Other may be triggered by stress. Occupational asthma occurs shortly after a patient begins a new job and disappears shortly after leaving the work.

Nocturne asthma

Asthma occurs at night between midnight and 8 am. Is triggered by allergens in the home such as dust and dandruff and pet hair. Nocturnal asthma can occur symptom-free day. The patient may have wheezing or shortness of encouragement to sleep and not see it until it is awakened by them in the middle of the night.

Steroid-resistant asthma (severe asthma)

While most patients respond to therapy inhaled glucocorticoids (steroids), some of them are resistant to steroids. Inflammation of the tracks respiratory and immune activation play a role important in chronic asthma. Current guidelines treatment of asthma, focusing on the use of therapy anti-inflammatory, particularly inhaled glucocorticoids.

Glucocorticoids are used to treat asthma by their effect anti-inflammatory and immune system regulation. However, patients with steroid-resistant asthma have higher levels of immune activation in their tracks respiratory asthma patients sensitive to steroids.

In addition, glucocorticoids do not reduce the high concentration of eosinophil granulocytes in blood cell activation T, present in steroid-resistant asthma.

CAUSES OF ASTHMA

There are many causes to trigger episodes of asthma. Here are the most important.

The age, asthma in children

Asthma is the most common chronic disease among children, especially children that have low birth weight are exposed to smoke snuff, are black, and are raised in an environment of low income. Most children are first show symptoms in about 5 years old, often starts as frequent episodes of wheezing breath, associated with respiratory infections. Risk Factors to include additional children have allergies, eczema allergic or asthmatic parents.

Allergies

Almost all who suffer from asthma have allergies. In fact, more
25% of people who have hay fever (rhinitis allergic) also develop asthma. Allergic Reactions caused by antibodies in the blood usually lead to inflammation of the airways that is associated with asthma.

Common sources of indoor allergens are the proteins animals (mainly dogs and cat allergens), dust of the mites, cockroaches and fungi. It is possible that the trend towards the energy efficiency of homes has increased exposure to the causes of asthma.

Smoke Snuff

Smoke snuff has been associated with an increased risk of asthma and an increased risk of death from asthma, wheezing and respiratory infections. Moreover, children of mothers who
smokers and others exposed to environmental smoke snuff have an increased risk of asthma.

Environmental factors

Allergic reactions and asthma symptoms are often result of air pollution by smoke or hongod harmful paints and home computers. Among other Factors associated with asthma include nitrogen oxide of gas stoves. In fact, people who cook with
gas are more likely to have symptoms such as wheezing,
shortness of breath, asthma and hay fever. Pollution by sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, ozone, low temperatures and high humidity have been shown to be can trigger asthma in some people.

Climatic changes are also known to stimulate asthma attacks. The cold air may lead to congestion of airways, bronchoconstriction, increased the secretions, and mucociliary clearance is reduced. In some populations, the increase in humidity tables associated with breathing difficulties.

Obesity

Overweight adults, is more likely to have asthma compared with adults who are not with overweight. Apparently the chances are doubled.

Pregnancy

Babies born by caesarean have a 20% increase in the prevalence of asthma compared to babies born by vaginal delivery. It is possible that the immune system react differently during the cesarean.

When mothers smoke during pregnancy, their children have reduced lung function. This may pose more risk asthma. Research has also shown that the birth prematurity is a risk factor for developing asthma.

Stress

People suffering stress have higher rates of asthma. Part of this can be explained by the increase in asthma related behaviors such as smoking that are encouraged by the stress. However, recent research have suggested that the immune system is also modified by stress.

Genetics

It is possible that about 100 genes are associated with asthma,
25 of which have been associated with different groups population. Asthma-related genes also play roles in modulating the immune system and inflammation.

However, the results of genetic studies of populations are not consistent, so you need new research to decipher the complex interactions cause asthma.

Nevertheless more than half of asthma cases are related to direct ancestors with asthma. Genetics can also interact with environmental factors.

The hyper-reactivity of the airways Researchers are not sure why airway sobrereaccionan but allergens or cold air can
trigger reactions and hyperactive airways swollen. Some people do not develop the hyper - airway hyperreactivity but it seems
increase the risk of asthma.

Conditions .- more

Eczema (atopic dermatitis), allergic rhinitis (fever hay), allergic conjunctivitis, allergic reactions are hypersensitivity affecting parts of the body but not in contact with the allergen and are
risk factors for developing asthma.

About 40% to 50% of children with atopic dermatitis also develop asthma, and it is likely that children with atopic dermatitis are more severe asthma and persistent when adults.

DIAGNOSIS OF ASTHMA

The diagnosis of asthma is based on three basic components:

a medical history, physical examination, and evidence of eathing.
A primary care physician should evauar evidence and, if the patient has asthma, to determine their level of asthma severity as intermittent, mild, moderate or severe.

Medical History

A detailed family history of asthma and allergies can help the doctor make an accurate diagnosis of asthma. The personal history of allergies is also important because many are closely related to asthma.

Signs and symptoms

Wheezing
Cough
Difficulty breathing
Chest tightness
Worsening of symptoms at night
Worsening of symptoms due to cold air
The symptoms in the exercise
Symptoms after exposure to allergens

It is also appropriate to note the health conditions that can interfere with asthma management, such as drip nasal sinusitis, acid reflux, psychological stress and sleep apnea.

Physical Examination

A physical examination usually focuses on airway upper chest, and skin. Doctors also look for drip, inflammation of nasal passages and nasal polyps. The Browse to skin conditions such as eczema and urticaria, have been related to asthma.

These physical symptoms are not always present in suffering from asthma, and asthma is possible without any anomaly during a physical examination.

Breathing Tests

Pulmonary function testing or function testing lung, are the third component of a diagnosis of asthma. To measure the amount of air inhaled or exhaled by the patient, the Doctors ordered a spirometry test.

The measurements are compared against the standards developed FOR person of the same age, and measurements below than normal may indicate blockage of the roads respiratorias.

Other tests

Induced bronchoconstriction, the vigorous exercise tests allergies. Discarding of diseases such as gastric reflux, hay fever, sinusistis, sleep apnea, lung disease chronic obstructive pulmonary infection, cardiac insufficiency, pulmonary embolism, vocal cord dysfunction and viral infection respiratory tube. In complex cases and perhaps in all suspected cases are should intervention specialists.

TREATMENT OF ASTHMA

As a chronic, long-term illness, no cure and treatment is more a control of its more severe. Devices are used for medicinal and
help control your asthma, as well as benchmarks for measure their progress, as the case of simple flow meter air.

Successful Control

Asthma is considered "well controlled" if:
Annoying chronic symptoms (cough and shortness of breath) is preventable and occur no more than 2 days a week.
There is little need for quick-relief medications or who using less than 2 days a week.
Maintain a good lung function.
The patient's activity level remains normal.
The dream is still the normal level and no severe symptoms arouse more than 1 to 2 nights per month.
The patient does not need emergency medical treatment.
You do not have more of an asthma attack each year for the
inhaled corticosteroids.
The peak flow is maintained above 80% of best registration.

Good control also means avoiding things that trigger asthma or asthma symptoms, such as allergens. This can mean limit time spent outdoors, where levels pollen or air pollution are higher and limit the contact with animals. Asthma related to allergies can be controlled by strategic shots.

Checkups

Much of asthma control is to see a doctor every 2 to 6 weeks for regular checkups until low control. Then controls can be reduced to once a month or twice a year.

It is a good habit to keep a record of asthma symptoms and attacks, measuring peak flow. Doctors and nurses will want to know about these records and daily activities in order to gauge the state of asthma.

Drugs .-

The asthma medication is classified broadly as as quick-relief medicine to control or long term. The reduce inflammation and prevent symptoms Asthma is the goal of control over drugs term, whereas an immediate relief of asthma symptoms is the purpose of quick-relief medications, or "rescue".

Medication can be administered in the form of tablets, but most are powders or sprays orally using a device known as an inhaler.
The medication may also be administered by a nebulizer, where it is a higher dose or continuous administration.

Medication for long-term control

The drugs are taken daily and are designed to prevent asthma symptoms such as inflammation of the airways. Inhaled corticosteroids are the most effective long term. It is usually taken daily for reduce the inflammation that initiates the chain reaction of asthma attack.

Even if taken every day, inhaled corticosteroids produce habituation. There are however some unwanted effects, which have sought to avoid modifications to the design of the devices.

Inhaled corticosteroids also increase the risk of cataracts (clouding of the lens of the eye) and osteoporosis (weakening of bones), if taken for long periods of time.

There are other medications long-term control. Most They are taken by mouth and are designed to open roads Prevent respiratory and inflammation of the airways.

Some examples, B2 agonists (used with low dose inhaled corticosteroids), and leukotriene modulators theophylline.

Quick-Relief Medications .-

Quick-relief medicines are the most common B2 agonists bronchodilators that relax quickly muscles in the airways, allowing air to flow through them.

Another issue is emergency care, which is on outpatient or emergency units in hospitals.

There are differences between patients according to age and
physics, the determination of treatment, in a report that this
type makes no sense to describe as it is an exclusive area of
specialists and it is they who have to inform patients people and their environment.

Alternative treatments

They only mention of the supportive treatments that are can be done through the use of medicinal plants and already subject to a post and I will here.

"While it is a disease that must be treated and monitored continuously by specialists as a guide I mention some plants and plant extracts that can to help relieve asthma attacks.

Theophylline, caffeine and theobromine are three active ingredients, group of alkaloids present in plants that have
demonstrated effectiveness in reducing some symptoms of
asthma.

Theophylline is mainly black and green tea (Camellia sinensis) and is a nervous system stimulant and a relaxing the muscles of the lungs. Improved movement breathing. Caffeine, present more than anything in the coffee (Coffea arabica) is vasodilator, stimulating the nervous and and respiratory muscle relaxant. Theobromine is derived from cocoa (Theobroma cacao) and is present also in the chocolate. It is stimulating the nervous and cardiovascular system and produces bronchodilation.

Ephedra (Ephedra sinica) has been used for much as a bronchodilator, decongestant of the tracks respiratory and central nervous system stimulant. The Ephedrine is one of its main components. However it is considered an herb that is not safe and use should be done under strict medical surveillance.

The ginkgólidos of Ginkgo biloba are antispasmodics for his property to interfere with platelet activating factor, having involvement in the onset of asthma attacks. The problem is that obtaining adequate amounts of these substances requires a high concentration of extract.

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) contains creosol and that alpha
remove bronchial secretions and improve breathing. The anise (Pimpinella anisum) also contains these elements but lesser amount.

Nettles (Urtica dioica), infusions or decoctions of roots and leaves has proven to be a potent antihistaminic and antispasmodic

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), used in infusion of its roots relieves congestion in the airways and cough. Not recommends their continued use by the appearance of effects side.

Vitamin C is a potent antihistamine, so those plants that contain the citrus (Citrus spp), tomato Lycopersicon esculentum) and others, are recommended.

The wasabi (Wasabi japonica) is a plant whose dried powder is used as a condiment and has proven to be an important decongestant.

There are several plants that are major active ingredients frames to ease asthma, onions, cabbage, mauve, oregano, sage, thyme, carrots, etc..

Of them emphasized the mauve, oregano and thyme. A decoction
three of these plants produces a significant relief in tables
congestive well have antimicrobial effects.

LIVING WITH ASTHMA

It is said that a well-controlled asthma does not prevent patients to have a normal life. Be achieved with due attention continuing an active and regulatory compliance with a plan action.

Day to day life can be more manageable if you can find the support of others who live with asthma. There are also online forums for people to share experiences, opinions and frustrations. Support is also important for children and adolescents with asthma. An important part of controlling asthma is to adopt a
healthy lifestyle. Eat a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in fats and sugars, a good rest, exercising regularly, managing stress and of course, not smoking.

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