Asthma
Asthma is a chronic disease that causes airways to become inflamed, making it hard to breathe.
Data from 2011 to 2016 found a prevalence of reported asthma of 68 cases per thousand people.
More than 25 million people in the United States suffer from asthma. This is 7.7% of adults and 8.4% of children.
Swelling of the airways, difficulty breathing, hospitalization, and in rare cases, asthma-related death.
Causes and Symptoms
Can asthma occur at any time of life?
Asthma is a chronic disease that causes swelling of the airways. This results in narrowing of the airways that carry air from the nose and mouth into the lungs. Allergens or irritating substances entering the lungs can trigger asthma symptoms. For unknown reasons, asthma is more commonly diagnosed in children than adults, but can be diagnosed at any age.
What are the signs and symptoms of asthma?
Classic symptoms of asthma are shortness of breath, cough, wheezing, and chest tightness. Symptoms can vary over time in their occurrence, frequency, and intensity.
Are certain groups people at higher risk for developing asthma or asthma-related complications?
In America, African Americans and Hispanics (largely Puerto Ricans) have the highest rates of asthma. They also have disproportionately higher rates of hospital admissions and asthma-related death. This is thought to be connected to a combination of genetic, environmental, and economic factors.
What causes asthma?
No one knows exactly what causes asthma. Asthma tends to run in families, and scientists believe developing asthma is related to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Environmental risk factors include exposure to pollution and cigarette smoke.
What is an asthma attack? Are there common triggers?
An asthma attack is a sudden worsening of asthma symptoms. In people with asthma, their immune system views certain triggers as foreign substances and releases chemicals that lead to narrowing in the airways. Triggers vary by person, but include outdoor and indoor allergens, chemical irritants, illnesses, weather conditions, certain medications, and stress. Triggers are more likely to increase asthma symptoms if a person’s asthma isn’t well controlled.
Diagnosis and Treatment
How is asthma diagnosed?
Asthma is diagnosed if a person has a history of respiratory symptoms such as wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and cough that varies in intensity over time. Typically, a patient will have pulmonary function tests that confirm the diagnosis. Pulmonary function tests are breathing tests that determine a person’s lung capacity. Healthcare professionals may also use additional information—such as physical examination or ordering a chest x-ray— to help diagnose asthma and rule out other medical conditions.
Are there different categories of severity?
In the most recent guidelines, put out by the Global Initiative for Asthma, asthma is classified as either well controlled, partially controlled, or uncontrolled. This is determined by focused questionnaires regarding characteristics and frequency of asthma symptoms reported by the patient. Other tools sometimes used to test severity are pulmonary function tests and peak flow meters.
How is asthma treated?
Asthma is treated with a combination of trigger avoidance and medications in order to reduce risk and control symptoms. These medications include inhalers, and oral and injectable medications. An inhaler is a device that gets medication into a person’s lungs using a spray, mist, or powder. Oral medications work by addressing inflammation in the airways and, in some cases, narrowing of the airways. The injectable medications, called biologics, are antibody treatments used for people with severe asthma.
Also, healthcare providers may recommend treatment for other conditions that can worsen asthma symptoms, such as allergies and acid reflux. It isn’t entirely clear why acid reflux increases asthma symptoms. One theory is that acid from the esophagus leaks over into the airway, triggering inflammation. It’s important that asthma symptoms are reassessed regularly to determine if the treatment needs to be adjusted.
Are there any integrative options that can help treat asthma?
While not considered to be the gold-standard of asthma treatment, there is data that supports some supplements as being helpful with asthma management. Examples include amrita bindu (an Aryuvedic herb), beta carotene, boswellia, butterbur, fish oil, holy basil, and others.
Are there any general improvements to health that can help prevent asthma attacks?
There are certain lifestyle factors that can help with asthma control. People with asthma should aim for a healthy weight, consume a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and get regular physical activity. It is also important to quit smoking, if you smoke, and to try to avoid secondhand smoke. We also recommend getting adequate amounts of sleep and managing stress levels.
Are there complications if asthma is left untreated?
Poorly controlled asthma can lead to hospitalization and, in serious cases, death. Asthma deaths are largely considered to be preventable. Evidence suggests that people who use daily inhaled corticosteroids to treat their asthma are at a lower risk for these complications. People who use their rescue inhalers often are also at higher risk.
Useful Links
How to use and care for different types of inhalers [Up-to-Date]
Peak flow meters [Mayo Clinic]
Asthma overview with summary of treatments [National Institute of Health]