What Is Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the lungs. To  better understand asthma, lets talk a little about what happens when you breathe. Normally, with every breath you take, air goes through your nose or your mouth and down into your throat, eventually making it to your lungs. There are many small air passages in your lungs that help bring oxygen from the air into your bloodstream. Symptoms of asthma occur when the lining of these air passages swell up and the muscles around them tighten. Mucus then fills the airways, further reducing the amount of air that can pass through. These conditions then bring on an asthma attack.

Symptoms of Asthma

Wheezing – a whistling sound heard when breathing in or out.

Coughing – a cough that may not go away and often occurs or worsens at night or early morning.

Chest Tightness – feeling as if something is squeezing or sitting on your chest.

Shortness of Breath – feeling as though you can’t catch your breath. You may feel as though you are breathless.

Causes of Asthma

Exposure to different types of irritants and substances that trigger allergies (allergens) can trigger signs and symptoms of asthma. Asthma triggers are different from person to person and can include:

• Airborne allergens (pollen, animal dander, mold, cockroaches, and dust mites)
• Respiratory infections (common cold)
• Physical activity (exercise)
• Air pollutants and irritants (smoke)
• Certain medications (beta blockers, Aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen (Aleve)
• Emotions & stress
• Sulfites & preservatives added to types of foods and beverages, including shrimp, dried fruit, processed potatoes, beer and wine
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition in which stomach acids back up into your throat

Treatment

There are many medicines to treat asthma. Many people with asthma need two kinds: quick-relief medicines and long-term control medicines.

Patients may be hesitant to take medication because of the potential side effects or cost. If you have such concerns, speak with your allergist. Your allergist will help you with finding the right medicine for you, or combination of medicines, to manage your asthma and will adjust the dosage accordingly based on your symptoms and control. You want to be able to feel your best while taking the least amount of medicine.

Quick-relief medicines are taken at the first sign of symptoms for immediate relief:

• Short-acting inhaled beta2-agonists
• Anticholinergics

Both types of drugs are bronchodilators, meaning that they help expand the passageways into the lungs, allowing more air in and out and improving breathing. They also help to clear mucus from the lungs by enabling the mucus to move more freely and get coughed up more easily.

If you have exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), also known as exercise-induced asthma, your allergist may recommend that you use these medicines before exercise or other strenuous physical activity.

Quick-relief medicines can stop asthma symptoms, but they do not control the airway inflammation that causes the symptoms. If you find that you need your quick-relief medicine to treat asthma symptoms more than twice a week, or two or more nights a month, then your asthma is not well controlled.

Long-term control medicines are taken every day to prevent symptoms and attacks:

• Antileukotrienes/leukotriene modifiers
• Cromolyn sodium & nedocromil
• Inhaled corticosteroids
• Long-acting inhaled beta2-agonists (always administered with another asthma-related drug)
• Methylxanthines
• Oral corticosteroids
• Immunomodulators

These medicines are taken every day, even if you do not have symptoms. The most effective long-term control medicines reduce airway inflammation and help improve asthma control.

Reference:

Rubin, B. K. (2016). Asthma 2015: The Year in Review. Respiratory Care, 61(4), 556-559 4p. doi:10.4187/respcare.04694

What is asthma? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/asthma. Accessed May 8, 2016.

Global strategy for asthma management and prevention (2015 update). Global Initiative for Asthma. http://www.ginasthma.org/documents/4. Accessed May 8, 2016.