What is Asthma? What are the symptoms and treatment methods?

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that affects the airways and affects millions of people around the world.

Asthma disease; It is characterized by symptoms such as cough, wheezing and chest tightness that make breathing difficult. Asthma has many causes.

This disease significantly affects the quality of life and, in severe cases, requires urgent medical attention.

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic disease that develops due to increased sensitivity of the airways. It is characterized by recurrent cough and wheezing.

In asthma, both large and small airways can be affected. Although asthma can occur at any age, 30% of cases occur in the first year of life. As with all allergic diseases, the incidence of asthma has increased in recent years.

Living in closed environments and exposure to indoor allergens such as house dust and mites are held responsible for the increase in the frequency of the disease.

Attacks in the form of narrowing of the airways and crises are typical in asthma. Patients with asthma have non-microbial inflammation in the bronchi.

Accordingly, secretions in the bronchi increase, the bronchial wall contracts and the patient experiences an asthma attack. Dust, smoke, odor and pollen may initiate the attack. Asthma may be due to allergies or may develop independently of allergies.

What is Allergic Asthma?

Allergic asthma, which is more common in women, manifests itself especially in the spring months. Allergic asthma is often accompanied by allergic rhinitis. Allergic asthma is a type of asthma that develops due to allergic factors.

What are the causes of asthma?

• Presence of asthma in the family
• Occupations exposed to dust and chemicals through inhalation
• Exposure to allergens during infancy
• Having severe respiratory diseases during infancy
• Mother smoking while pregnant
• Exposure to heavy cigarette smoke

What are the symptoms of asthma?

Asthma is a disease that makes itself felt with its symptoms. Asthma patients are usually comfortable between attacks. In cases where asthma is triggered, edema and increased secretion occur in the bronchi.

This causes cough, shortness of breath and chest pain. Complaints worsen at night or in the morning.

Symptoms may resolve spontaneously or may be severe enough to require hospitalization. The cough is usually dry and without phlegm. A whistling sound may be heard when breathing.

The most common asthma symptoms are:

• Shortness of breath
• Cough
• Grunt
• Chest Tightness or Pain
• Inflammation of the Respiratory Tracts

How to Diagnose Asthma?

Before diagnosing asthma , the physician takes a detailed history from the patient. The frequency of cough attacks, how many times a week they occur, whether the attack occurs day or night, the presence of asthma in the family and other allergic symptoms are questioned.

The findings of a patient examined during an attack are typical. Respiratory function test, allergy test, nasal secretion test and chest radiography are among the tests that can be performed.

How to Treat Asthma?

When planning asthma treatment , the treatment is planned according to the severity of the disease. If allergic asthma is considered, allergy medications are given.

Inhalation sprays are used to relieve the patient during attacks.

Cortisone plays an important role in treatment. It can be applied both as a spray and orally. The success of the treatment is determined by the decrease in the number of attacks experienced by the patient.

What Should Asthmatic Patients Pay Attention to?

• Dust-collecting items such as carpets, rugs, velvet curtains, and plush toys should be removed, especially in the bedroom. Bedding and comforters should be synthetic rather than wool or cotton. Using double bedding may be helpful. Sheets and duvet covers should be washed at 50 degrees once a week. Carpets should be cleaned with powerful vacuum cleaners. The home environment should not be humid and should be well ventilated.
• Those with allergic asthma should keep their car and house windows closed during the spring months. If possible, pets should not be kept in the house. Mask can be used during pollen season. Clothes should be changed and washed when coming from outside. Items that have mold and fungus growing on them should be removed from the house.
• Asthma patients should not smoke and should not be in smoking environments.
• Asthma patients get respiratory diseases more easily. For this reason, it would be appropriate for them to get a flu vaccine between September and October every year. In cases of infection, drug doses are increased along with appropriate antibiotics. It would be right to avoid cold weather.
• In some asthmatic patients, exercise can trigger an asthma attack. For this reason, it is beneficial for them to take airway expander medication before starting exercise. Exercise should be avoided in dusty environments.
• Some asthmatic patients have gastric reflux. Gastric reflux may increase attacks. Therefore, it should be treated appropriately.
• Asthma can be monitored and treated by pediatricians, internal medicine specialists, pulmonologists and allergists. We wish you healthy days

Frequently Asked Questions About Asthma

What are the symptoms of chronic asthma?

Symptoms of chronic asthma; Symptoms include difficulty breathing, cough, wheezing, and chest tightness. These symptoms are often recurrent and become more pronounced during an asthma attack. If left untreated, chronic asthma symptoms greatly affect quality of life and cause serious complications.

What are the symptoms of Allergic Asthma?

The symptoms of allergic asthma are similar to typical asthma symptoms. However, factors that trigger an allergic asthma attack are often related to exposure to allergens. Among these allergens; Common triggers include pollen, pet dander, dust mites, and mold. Symptoms of allergic asthma increase after contact with the allergen.