Chronic asthma is a treatable condition<\/p>\n
By Donya Betancourt<\/p>\n
SANUR, Bali (JP): As the world develops, the incidence of
\nnoninfectious diseases such as asthma has risen. While asthma is
\nthe most common chronic illness of childhood, it can occur at any
\nage.<\/p>\n
People with asthma are among those most often visiting the
\nemergency room, hospitalized and missing work or school. Asthma
\ncannot be cured, but it is a treatable disease. It can be
\ncontrolled with proper, long-term treatment, and most flare-ups
\ncan be prevented.<\/p>\n
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder that affects the
\nairways. The breathing system is simple; we breathe air in
\nthrough the nose or mouth, then the air goes into the windpipe
\n(trachea) and through the main air passages of the lungs (the
\nbronchial tubes) and into the lungs.<\/p>\n
Asthma occurs when the bronchial tubes become inflamed. The
\nmuscles of the bronchial walls tighten (bronchoconstriction) and
\nproduce excess mucus, causing the airways to narrow, making it a
\nlot harder for air to get in and out of the lungs. This condition
\ncan lead to everything from minor wheezing, coughing and
\ntightness in the chest to severe difficulty in breathing.<\/p>\n
Between asthma attacks (flare-ups), breathing can be totally
\nnormal. But when there is a flare-up, it is like breathing
\nthrough a straw for the sufferer. The attacks last for hours if
\nasthma medicine is not used. After an asthma flare-up, the
\nairways return to normal, although it can take several days. This
\nis a characteristic of asthma called "reversible airway
\nobstruction".<\/p>\n
An asthma flare-up is caused by three important changes in the
\nairway: inflammation, excess mucus and bronchoconstriction. The
\nsymptoms vary from mild to severe, such as wheezing (a whistling
\nsound when breathing) and coughing phlegm for prolonged periods
\nof time. In severe cases, the breathing may be so labored it
\nleaves the person gasping for air.<\/p>\n
Most asthma flare-ups start slowly and most people can
\nrecognize the warning signs. You can stop an asthma attack when
\nyou recognize it early and take your medicine. If you fail to do
\nthis, your symptoms may worsen.<\/p>\n
Warning signs for children are:<\/p>\n
* An audible wheezing or whistling when the child exhales;<\/p>\n
* Coughing phlegm, especially if the cough is frequent, and
\ncoughing in series (spasm), which may worsen at night;<\/p>\n
* Waking at night with coughing or wheezing;<\/p>\n
* Shortness of breath, increased heart rate or sweating;<\/p>\n
* A tight feeling in the child's chest;<\/p>\n
Warning signs for adults are:<\/p>\n
* Increased shortness of breath or wheezing;<\/p>\n
* Waking at night with shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing<\/p>\n
* Chest tightness or pain;<\/p>\n
* Increased use of bronchodilators (medicines that relax the
\nbronchial muscles and open up airways);<\/p>\n
* A fall in peak flow rates as measured by a peak flow meter, a
\nsimple device that you can use to monitor your lung function.
\nChildren who are older than 6 can be trained to use the device,
\nthough they should be supervised by their parents.<\/p>\n
Asthma can develop at any age. If you are younger than 30 when
\nyou develop asthma, it is probably triggered by allergies. No one
\nknows why one person's airway is more sensitive than others, but
\nyou are more likely to develop asthma if it runs in your family.<\/p>\n
Other risk factors are low birth weight and living in the
\ninner city, which increases exposure to many environmental
\npollutants, or triggers.<\/p>\n
For older adults, respiratory allergies are not the major
\nfactor in asthma but exposure to any irritant, from viruses,
\ncigarette smoke, cold air and even emotional stress, can trigger
\nasthma.<\/p>\n
In most cases, asthma is the combination of allergic and
\nnonallergic responses. Some common triggers are:<\/p>\n
* allergens such as pollen, cockroaches, mold and dust;<\/p>\n
* exercise or physical exertion;<\/p>\n
* exposure to smoke, animal dander;<\/p>\n
* cold air;<\/p>\n
* respiratory infections, including the common cold.<\/p>\n
The second of three articles on asthma will appear next week.
\nThe author, a pediatrician based in Sanur, Bali, can be reached
\nat dr.donya@hotmail.com or features@thejakartapost.com.<\/p>",
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