Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways first named by Hippocrates circa 450 B.C. and was thought to be a psychological issue in the 1930s-50s. However, with the advancement of research and the development of new technologies, asthmatic attacks are properly dealt with and the treatment for asthma is constantly being researched and analyzed.
Causes of Asthma
Generally asthma can be caused by environmental factors or it could be in relation to a genetic factor. Research has identified some of the many environmental and genetic factors and has provided defenses against them, yet many factors, both environmental and genetic, remain to be researched in order to fully overcome the disease. Following are a few environmental causes held responsible for causing asthma:
- tobacco smoke
- maternal cigarette smoking
- poor air quality or pollution
- high ozone levels
- viral respiratory infections
- a sudden increased amount of allergens or irritants in the air
- severe usage of antibiotics in early life
- caesarean sections
Genetic causes are currently under study and have been known to be an effective cause of asthma only when paired with an environmental cause. The scientists and researchers report that the genetic factors only surface due to environmental factors: the elimination of all environmental factors should solve the problem.
Symptoms of Asthma
The most common symptoms of asthma in steady state are:
- night time coughing
- complaints of a tight feeling in chest
- shortness of breath
- long term "throat clearing cough"
Treatment of Asthma
No permanent treatment has been developed yet but research is under way to contain the condition and eliminate it completely. However, some means and methodologies for the management of the condition have been developed in the form of therapy and targeted medication. The best "management technique" would be to identify the specific cause behind the asthma and to eliminate it.
For instance, if ASPIRIN® acts to trigger asthma in a patient then the trigger (ASPIRIN® in this case) must be eliminated and minimal contact with it be established to minimize exposure to it. Both forms of treatment, fast acting and long term, are applied through inhalers. These medications are easily accessible but still would require substantial efforts from the patient's part to avoid triggering agents.
How to Deal with Asthmatic Attacks
The following symptoms point towards an asthmatic attack:
- shortness of breath
- wheezing
- chest tightness
The onset of an asthma attack may be sudden and immediately present the patient with constriction in the chest and wheezing. The asthma attack will include the signs of lengthened expiration, wheezing, tachycardia and lung sounds not audible to human ear without the use of a stethoscope. Severe asthma attacks constituent the patient turning blue due to oxygen deficiency, severe chest pain and loss of consciousness. Asthma attacks may lead to respiratory arrest or death if untreated or unresponsive to medication.
Medications that May Help Recover from an Asthma Attack
Following are the recommended and generally applied medications; however, the advice of a specialist is prudent before the selection and application of the medication in order to determine the type of medicine that will suit the patient best in the event of an asthma attack.
- Salbutamol MDI (Metered Dose Inhaler)
- Levalbuterol
- Terbutaline
- Bitolterol
Asthma attacks are an acute condition of steady state asthma and may prove to be fatal if not treated immediately and with the correct medication. Avoidance of triggering agents is the best way to manage chronic asthma. Research to find a permanent end to this suffering is being conducted worldwide and results will surely be positive. Until then, management of the causes or the triggering agents is the best option there is other than medication.
Junaid Ali - Junaid Ali got his start in the writing business as an academic writer in the freelance commerce. After realizing that the field was too ...
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