Asthma is a lung disease that causes obstruction of the airways.
During an asthma attack, spasms in the muscles surrounding the bronchi (small airways in the lungs) constrict, impeding the outward passage of air. Victims of the disease often describe this plight as “starving for air.”
Typical symptoms of an asthma attack are:
- coughing,
- wheezing,
- a feeling of tightness in the chest,
- and difficulty breathing.
An asthma attack can last for a few minutes or several hours.
What triggers asthmatic attacks?
The spasms characterizing an acute attack are not the cause of the disorder, but a result of chronic inflammation and hypersensitivity of the airways to certain stimuli.
An attack can be triggered if a susceptible individual is exposed to an allergen or irritants. Common asthma-provoking allergens include:
- animal dander,
- chemicals,
- drugs,
- dust mites,
- environmental pollutants,
- feathers,
- food additives,
- fumes,
- mold,
- and tobacco smoke.
But any kind of allergen can precipitate an asthma attack.
Factors that can trigger non-allergic asthma attacks include:
- adrenal disorders,
- anxiety,
- temperature changes,
- exercise,
- extremes of dryness or humidity,
- fear,
- laughing,
- low blood sugar,
- and stress.
A respiratory infection such as bronchitis can also provoke an attack. Whatever the particular instigator, the bronchial tubes swell and become plugged with mucus.
How we distinguish asthmatic conditions
To distinguish asthma from other conditions such as emphysema, bronchitis, and lower respiratory infections, a physician may recommend blood allergy tests, chest x-rays, and spirometry (a procedure that measures air breathed into and out of the lungs).
Cardiac asthma
Cardiac asthma is a condition that causes the same symptoms as other types of the condition but is caused by heart failure. Intrinsic asthma, a less common form of the disease, which generally appears during adulthood, is often associated with other respiratory diseases such as bronchitis or sinusitis and tends to appear during upper respiratory viral infections.
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