Asthma is the most common chronic illness of childhood and a common reason for missed school days. Asthma is more common in boys than in girls. But after puberty asthma is more common in females.
A number of factors may increase your chances of developing asthma. These include:
– Living in a large urban area, especially the inner city, which may increase exposure to environmental pollutants
– Exposure to secondhand smoke
– Exposure to occupational triggers, such as chemicals used in farming and hairdressing, and in paint, steel, plastics, and electronics manufacturing
– Having one or both parents with asthma
– Respiratory infections in childhood
– Low birth weight
– Obesity
– Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Asthma is probably due to a combination of environmental and genetic factors. You’re more likely to develop asthma if it runs in your family and if you’re sensitive to environmental allergens or irritants. Early, frequent infections and chronic exposure to secondhand smoke or certain allergens may increase your chances of developing asthma.
Exposure to various allergens and irritants may trigger your asthma symptoms. The following are common things that trigger asthma symptoms:
– Allergens, such as pollen, animal dander or mold
– Cockroaches and dust mites
– Air pollutants and irritants
– Smoke
– Strong odors or scented products or chemicals
– Respiratory infections, including the common cold
– Physical exertion, including exercise
– Strong emotions and stress
– Cold air
– Certain medications, including beta blockers, aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
– Sulfites, preservatives added to some perishable foods
– Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition in which stomach acids back up into your esophagus. GERD may trigger an asthma attack or make an attack worse.
– Sinusitis
Asthma occurs when the main air passages of your lungs, the bronchial tubes, become inflamed. The muscles of the bronchial walls tighten, and cells in the lungs produce extra mucus further narrowing your airways. This can cause minor wheezing to severe difficulty in breathing. In some cases, your breathing may be so labored that an asthma attack becomes life-threatening.
Asthma is a chronic but treatable condition. You can manage your condition much like someone manages diabetes or heart disease. You and your doctor can work together to control asthma, reduce the severity and frequency of attacks and help maintain a normal, active life.
Signs and symptoms
Asthma signs and symptoms can range from mild to severe. You may have only occasional asthma episodes with mild, short-lived symptoms such as wheezing. In between episodes you may feel normal and have no difficulty breathing. Some people with asthma have chronic coughing and wheezing punctuated by severe asthma attacks.
Most asthma attacks are preceded by warning signs. Recognizing these warning signs and treating symptoms early can help prevent attacks or keep them from becoming worse.
Warning signs and symptoms of asthma in adults may include:
Increased shortness of breath or wheezing
Disturbed sleep caused by shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing
Chest tightness or pain
Increased need to use bronchodilators – medications that open up airways by relaxing the surrounding muscles
A fall in peak flow rates as measured by a peak flow meter, a simple and inexpensive device that allows you to monitor your own lung function
Children often have an audible whistling or wheezing sound when exhaling and frequent coughing spasms.
Here are some suggestions to help you cope with the stress you have and help you plan ways to avoid stress in the future.
Just say No. Try cutting out some of the extra things that aren’t necessary or that you don’t enjoy. This will make more time for the things that matter to you. Plan to enjoy yourself. Make a point of spending at least 15 minutes a day doing something you truly enjoy. Don’t overbook your day.Take time for yourself. Wait wisely. Use waiting time to read, write letters, or plan your weekends or vacations.
Have a special shelf at home that’s stocked with extras. Keep things that you hate to run out of on this shelf. You may also want to have a few gifts and cards stashed away for last-minute parties or birthdays that may have slipped up on you. Look for humor in every situation. Humor allows you to step back and get a grip on things.
Before stress gets the best of you, try these ways for calming down and counteracting the negative aspects of stress.
Exercise reduces anxiety and muscle tension.It also strengthens the cardiovascular system, raises HDL cholesterol, and helps to lower blood pressure.
Learn to relax: When you relax, your muscles relax so you feel less anxiety, your heart beats more slowly, and blood pressure is temporarily reduced.
Express what troubles you. Talk about problems with a friend, relative, or counselor. If you don’t want to share them with another person, write them down in a diary.
Put pleasure in your life. Stressful events can harm our bodies, but pleasurable ones may actually strengthen our immune systems.
