What is asthma?
Asthma is a disease of the respiratory tract (in the lungs). Normally the airway wide enough to breathe easily. Check In asthma, the airways are narrowed from time to time. There may be less air through the breathing is difficult and can be stuffy.
In asthma, the airways are sensitive to certain stimuli. In response to these stimuli, the muscles around the airways pull together. The mucous membrane along the inside of the airways become inflamed: it swells up and produces more mucus. As a result, the airway narrowing.
What are the symptoms of asthma?
- In asthma, you may suffer from:
- Stuffiness.
- Mucus in the airways.
- Wheezing, humming or simmering breathing.
- For weeks cough, especially at night.
- Recurring periods when you cough. Much
- Fatigue due to breathing takes effort.
- A less good condition, so sports is heavier than before.
What causes asthma?
Not everyone responds to the same stimuli. You may be allergic to one or more stimuli. Usually, the airways react immediately after the stimulus, sometimes after hours.
There are various types of incentives:
allergic stimuli
Many people with asthma respond to:
dust mites;
pet dander (cats, dogs, rodents and horses);
pollen from trees, grasses or weeds;
fungi.
Non-allergic stimuli
Your airways may (also) to respond to other stimuli, such as:
cold, steam, fog, smoke, air pollution, baklucht, paint air and perfume odors;
physical exertion;
respiratory infections such as colds or flu.
Medications
In some people, the airways react to drugs, such as certain painkillers, such as aspirin.
Heredity
Heredity plays a role in asthma. Within one family often people come for asthma. If one or both parents have asthma, there is a greater chance that their child will get asthma.
Allergy
Maybe you have noticed for what incentives you are sensitive. The cause remains unclear, then blood test can show whether you are allergic, and if so, for which substances. If you know what incentives you respond, try to avoid both at home and at work. Those
Smoking
If you have asthma, smoking or passive smoking very unwise. Smoke stimulates the respiratory tract and that has several implications:
Your airways are more sensitive to other stimuli and pulling together more often.
The lining of the airways is constantly (chronic) inflammation. Your lungs become so damaged more and more. You will increasingly suffer from breathlessness, coughing and giving up mucus.
Asthma Medications less and less work properly.
COPD may result. In COPD are the small branches of the airways permanently damaged and constricted.
Benefits of quitting smoking:
The inflammation of the airways can heal; airway constriction and mucus production are reduced.
Your asthma medications work better; you have less or no medication needed.
When you stop smoking in time, you can prevent permanent damage occurs to the respiratory system. If there is damage occurred, stopping important to prevent further damage.
Exercise
It may be that you are cramped with exertion. However, it is important to exercise. Especially with asthma, you should stay as good as possible condition. Care for your workout for proper warming up. Breathe through your nose as possible when it is cold. In the nose, the air is heated up and all that excites respiratory therefore less.
Try to move (eg walking, cycling, swimming or fitness). Daily half-hour
Flu shot
People with asthma may be extra sick from the flu. Therefore, take the flu shot every year.
Dust mites
House dust mite often plays an important role in asthma. You can create less dust mites at home by himself:
To make the house (especially the bedroom) less moisture (pierced with the window ajar).
To lay smooth, wet removable floors especially in the bedroom (linoleum / sail).
Sheets and comforters weekly wash at 60 degrees.
Regularly vacuuming.
How is asthma treated?
Asthma is usually treatable. Medications can not really cure asthma. With careful use of medications or reduce the symptoms or long stay away. Could The medication you breathe in that they act directly on the airways. These so-called inhalation agents can be divided into two groups: bronchodilators and anti-inflammatories.
The bronchodilators ensure that you can breathe. Instantly better
The anti-inflammatory drugs reduce inflammation and thereby the phlegm and shortness of breath. These medications work after a few days.
What next for asthma?
Asthma can be treated very well, but is not really about. It may be that you have no symptoms for years, but the predisposition to asthma remains. With the approach of incentives, adequate exercise and medications you can ensure that you minimize the burden of your asthma.
If regular exercise or sports fails properly, for example because you are afraid of the trouble, talk to your doctor. Register in advance at what time you are stuffy. Also note how much you are able to move (eg, a short walk) and where you see dread.
You regularly use asthma medications? Please at least twice a year, contact your doctor to discuss how it goes.