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 The
disease termed 'Asthma' is a heart rending disease that attacks the very first
vital need of a human to keep on living, namely, the ability to breathe or
respire properly. It is essentially a lung disease that causes the obstruction
of the airways - the tubes that carry life-giving oxygen in and the stale air
out from our lungs. In other words, asthma disrupts respiration.
During an attack, asthma sufferers may feel as though they are starving for air.
The scenario is very similar to a fish gasping for air but just not able to
inhale enough air into the lungs. This is because the bronchi, which are the
smaller air passages in the lungs begin to constrict. This constriction is due
to a chronic condition wherein the airways are hypersensitive to certain stimuli
and in a state of inflammation which causes them to swell.
Results of a typical asthma attack will cause the sufferer to cough and wheeze
as they try desperately to fill their lungs with good air. This is usually
accompanied with a feeling of tightness in the chest area. Some individuals may
suffer only mildly from asthma while for others it can be life threatening.
An asthma attack may be brought on when the individual is exposed to certain
triggers that form the irritant or allergen. Common ones include pet dander,
dust mites, certain drugs or chemicals, mold , smoke (tobacco or otherwise),
feathers, and certain food additives such as sulfites. And this is hardly a
complete list.
Other factors that can precipitate an attack include emotional upheavals such as
fear, anxiety, stressful situations, or even having a hearty laugh. Changes in
temperature can bring about a reaction as well as, certain adrenal disorders and
plain old exercise.
Whatever the particular trigger is, the result is that the bronchial tubes start
to get inflamed, swell and become plugged with mucus as the body reacts hyper
sensitively to the irritant or allergen. This creates an unfortunate 'loop' of
activity wherein the inflammation will further irritates the air passages,
making it more hypersensitive and causing more frequent and severe attacks. And
while there may be many types of triggers, there may also be the hereditary
factors to getting asthma.
There is no known cure for asthma. Sufferers must seek help to keep it under
control and this is usually done with a combination of medicinal drugs and some
very necessary environmental changes. Because of the wide spectrum in the types
of asthma and the degrees to which one may be affected, every case is unique
with its own unique characteristics.
The incidence of asthma is on the rise. Some statistics state that currently one
in four children suffer from some form of asthma. Asthma specialists feel that
the increasing levels of pollution in our urban environment are a major factor.
There are more plastics, adhesives, epoxy, and dry cleaning chemicals than ever
before. Of course, that is just scratching the surface of the problem. It is a
disease that can affect any age but seems to be prevalent in children under
sixteen years of age and in adults over sixty-five of age.
Due to the increase in the incidence and the number of asthma sufferers,
research is becoming ever more focused in trying to find the magic cure for this
terrible disease. In the meantime, for the asthma sufferers to cope with the
disease on a day to day basis, it is still very much dependent on the efforts
put in by the individual and their loved ones.
Learn how to get relief
from your asthma right now!
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