What is Asthma?

Asthma is a respiratory disease that can be defined as a chronic airway inflammation. Asthma symptoms are triggered by respiratory allergens, smoke, cold air or exercise. In most patients, symptoms and attacks can be controlled.

What Are the Causes of Asthma?

Although the causes of asthma are not known for certain, the triggers vary from person to person. The disease usually occurs as a result of an overreaction of the immune system to a substance in the lungs. Some substances called allergens can cause various reactions in some people. This reaction causes airway inflammation. Due to inflammation, edema in the airways, excessive mucus production and narrowing may occur over time. This situation causes spasms in the bronchi and makes it difficult to breathe. It has been observed that some people exposed to viral infections or allergens in childhood, during the development of the immune system, develop asthma. However, if the person has other allergies, if there is a family history of asthma; If a person had bronchitis or was exposed to cigarette smoke in childhood, asthma may develop if the mother smoked during pregnancy. At the same time, obesity, eczema and preterm birth are among the risk factors for asthma. Asthma can also develop due to occupation. Exposure to some industrial chemicals and dust in the workplace can cause asthma; Asthma may persist long after leaving the workplace.

 

What Are the Symptoms of Asthma?

The main symptoms of asthma are wheezing. Asthma patients may also experience shortness of breath from time to time. Symptoms such as chest tightness, coughing, and frequent breathing are seen. While these symptoms may not always be present, they may become more frequent in seizures called asthma attacks or the intensity of the symptoms may increase. These attacks are temporary and can be kept under control with appropriate treatment. Other diseases may also cause the mentioned symptoms. However, if these symptoms persist continuously, vary in severity and time, worsen at night and get stronger after exposure to certain triggers, asthma is the case. A doctor should be consulted when asthma-like symptoms are seen in childhood. Thus, with early diagnosis, the child's asthma attacks can be controlled and the development of more serious complications can be prevented. Also, since the symptoms of many respiratory diseases are similar, it is important to consult a specialist to rule out other possibilities.

 

How Is Asthma Diagnosed?

The diagnosis of asthma is usually made with a general examination, elimination of other possibilities, and a series of respiratory tests. It is necessary to consult a pulmonologist for the diagnosis of asthma. Expert; He asks questions about what the patient's symptoms are, when and how often they occur, whether there is a trigger for the symptoms, and checks whether the patient has any other allergic conditions. After listening to the patient's disease history, some respiratory tests are performed. The first of these is the measurement of nitric oxide level in respiration (FeNO). With this test, it is checked whether there is inflammation in the lungs. Afterwards, a respiratory function test (spirometry) is applied to the patient. These tests measure how much the patient breathes, how much of the breath can be exhaled in a certain time period, and how much air can be held in the lungs. Another test used in the diagnosis and monitoring of asthma is the peak flow rate (Peak Expiratory Flow Rate - PEF) test. This test, which measures the exhalation rate with maximum effort, gives information about the obstructions in the airways. It may be desirable to repeat this test several times to establish baseline values ​​and see changes over time. It is an important tool for the diagnosis and follow-up of asthma, especially in children. Since asthma can also be triggered by allergies in some cases, various allergy tests may be required. In such cases, children are given the necessary tests and temporarily prescribed inhalers known as inhalers.

 

What is the Treatment of Asthma?

There is no definitive treatment for asthma. However, the disease can be controlled by various methods. These include inhalers used as inhalers and some drug treatments. As the symptoms of asthma patients can be personal, these people should adopt an appropriate approach together with their regular doctors and take the necessary precautions to manage their asthma attacks.