Asthma is a disease that primarily affects your lungs. It is one of the most common long-term diseases in children and adults. Asthma causes wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing at night or early in the morning. In the following, we also present several problems related to the respiratory system and breathing problems.

 

ASTHMA: Symptoms of Asthma | Consult a doctor | Causes of Asthma | Diagnostic procedures | Treatment | Conventional Medicine | Alternative Medicine | Prevention | Myths and facts | Questions and Answers | Sources/references

RESPIRATION, PROBLEMS, DIFFICULT BREATHING: Symptoms | Consult with a doctor | Causes of breathing problems | Diagnostic procedures | Treatment | Conventional Medicine | Alternative Medicine | Treatment at home | Questions and Answers | Sources/references

PNEUMONIA: more available at the link Pneumonia

LUNG CANCER: more available at the link Lung cancer

PLEURITIS: more available at the link Pleuritis

Symptoms

• Restlessness or insomnia.
• Increasing but relatively painless pressure in the chest.
• Mild to moderate shortness of breath.
• They are squeezing or whistling sounds when breathing, which can be completely quiet or very loud in intensity.
• Cough, sometimes accompanied by purulent sputum.

CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR IF:

• You or someone else experiences an asthma attack for the first time; asthma is a chronic disease that can be a severe condition if not treated properly.
• the prescribed anti-asthma medicine does not work after a specific time when it should have worked; you need another treatment, or you have a very severe attack,
• you or someone else with asthma experience choking that makes it difficult to speak;
• fluttering of the nostrils, if the skin between the ribs visibly indents and when the lips or the skin under the nails appear gray or bluish. These are signs of severe oxygen deficiency. Seek emergency help and immediate treatment.

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that, like bronchitis or emphysema, causes a feeling of tightness in the chest and breathing problems.

Figure: cross-section showing the condition during an asthmatic attack.

However, these symptoms are not always present in asthma. Instead, they appear in attacks triggered by various "triggers" from the environment or are emotionally conditioned, e.g., pollen, animal hair, cigarette smoke, and stress.

Some people with asthma only have mild and infrequent attacks, so the condition only bothers them occasionally. In others, attacks can be frequent and severe and require emergency treatment. If you have asthma, you should go for regular medical check-ups and seek emergency help and treatment immediately in case of a brutal attack. If you know your triggers, you can learn to reduce the number of attacks and their intensity, and you may even be able to avoid them altogether.

Asthma is not a problem where you can't breathe in but a problem where you can't live out. During an asthmatic attack, muscle spasms and swelling of the bronchial tissue narrow the thin airways in the lungs, which then become clogged with excess mucus. As a result, unfresh air is trapped at the base of the lungs. This forces you to use the upper parts to gasp for air. Mild and moderate attacks occur as short episodes of choking and wheezing. In severe cases, however, the airways in the lungs become so narrowed and blocked that breathing becomes impossible.

Video content: Asthma, animation

Such an attack can pass quickly or last all day. However, sometimes the symptoms suddenly recur with incredible intensity. Such a "second wave" of attack can be more severe and dangerous than the first attack and can last for days or weeks.

Asthma is a fairly common disease. It is more common in children than in adults and is a common cause of absenteeism and admissions to children's hospital wards. Although it is rarely fatal, it can be a severe illness. If you have asthma, you should seek help from your doctor before deciding on possible alternative treatments.

CAUSES

Asthma is not the result of just one cause but is triggered by many different factors acting alone or in combination. Among the leading causes are allergies. About 50 to 90% of people with asthma are allergic. The most common allergens or substances that trigger allergies are pollens, grasses, dust, molds, tobacco smoke, and animal hair. If inhaled, such substances can trigger the release of histamine and other chemicals in the body. These cause allergic reactions and asthma attacks. Other allergens include chemical fumes; acetylsalicylic acid or similar substances, e.g., phenylbutazone, indomethacin, ibuprofen, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; and sulfites, which are found in high levels in certain types of food or drink. Heredity is also a factor in the development of allergy-related asthma: scientists have discovered a gene that makes some people more susceptible to the disease.

Infections can also trigger asthma. For example, bronchiolitis, a viral respiratory illness that usually affects children under two, is a prevalent cause of childhood asthma. In adults, asthma can develop due to an upper respiratory disease, e.g., bronchitis. Other asthma triggers include physical activity, emotional stress, and environmental stress, e.g., air pollution.

Air is trapped in blocked airways, and breathing becomes difficult.

DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES

The doctor will order a pulmonary function test to confirm asthma, which measures exhalation strength. Under normal conditions, a person without asthma can exhale about 75 to 85% of the air in their lungs in one second and empty them in three seconds. On the other hand, a person with asthma needs six or seven seconds to push the air out of the lungs. The most common pulmonary function test is the measurement of peak flow. It is done with a device that can read the maximum air flow during exhalation. Your doctor can prescribe the device with a particular prescription. That way, you can have the meter at home to monitor your condition at all times.

TREATMENT

If you have asthma, you should see your doctor regularly.

Video content: treatment of asthma

For severe conditions, conventional treatment is always required. But, of course, several alternative medicines can be very successful if you take them as an addition to traditional therapy.

CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE

After a confirmed diagnosis that you have asthma, the first step is to create a treatment plan together with your doctor. As part of the plan, your doctor will likely suggest that you keep a daily journal of any environmental or emotional triggers that trigger your asthma attack. This will help the doctor control your disease more efficiently and help you know the motivations of asthma attacks and avoid them.

To treat asthma with medication, doctors usually prescribe bronchodilators that help widen narrowed airways in the lungs. These drugs can be used in two forms: sprays or tablets. Bronchodilators in the form of sprays (sometimes even with an attachment for measuring the amount) are similar to adrenaline. Doctors usually recommend bronchodilators in the form of sprays, e.g., isoproterenol, metaproterenol, isoetarin, and albuterol, because they go directly to the lungs and contain as much as 1000 times less medicine than in tablet. Usually, one or two puffs are enough to relieve wheezing and chest tightness in mild to moderate attacks.

WARNING: Bronchodilators are potent drugs. If used excessively, dangerous side effects, such as high blood pressure, may occur.

Video content: asthma and COPD treatment.

The bronchodilators that we consume include theophylline, metaproterenol, albuterol, and terbutaline, and they can be syrup, tablets, or capsules. They are often prescribed to people who cannot tolerate sprays or have chronic asthma. In addition, you may be prescribed corticosteroids in severe cases, but a doctor must carefully monitor this type of treatment as dangerous side effects can occur. In emergencies, you may need an injection or puffs of adrenaline to open the airways in the lungs.

If your asthma is triggered by allergies (especially pollen or insect stings), your doctor may recommend immunotherapy. Gradually exposing your body to specific allergens (through a series of injections), your immune system will slowly build up its defenses. Over time, allergic reactions will soften or even disappear entirely.

ALTERNATIVE MODES

Many people report success with alternative treatment, but even advocates of this type of treatment recommend it only as an adjunct to conventional methods.

Remember: Once you are diagnosed with asthma, a doctor must manage your disease. In severe cases, you will always need conventional treatment.

ACUPRESSURE

Asthma discomfort can be alleviated by gentle pressure on specific body points. For example, with the right hand, go over the left shoulder and press hard on the back between the left shoulder blade and the spine (Bladder 13), take five deep breaths, then repeat on the other side. Alternatively, you can place your fists on your chest, thumbs up, and find a sensitive point near the sternum just below the collarbone (Kidney point 27). Press hard on it for two minutes.

ACUPUNCTURE

Several medical studies have confirmed that acupuncture can relieve asthma symptoms. However, only a licensed acupuncturist can perform the procedure.

AROMATHERAPY

Essential oils such as eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus), gorse (Hyssopus officinalis), anise (Pimpinella anisum), lavender (Lavandula officinalis), pine (Pinus sylvestris), and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) can ease breathing and reduce congestion nose.

Image: aromatic essential oils as self-help for asthmatic complications

We inhale them through the nose by putting a few drops on a handkerchief or other cloth, making breathing more accessible in a mild asthma attack. If you also have a blocked nose (not only during an attack), mix a few drops of essential oils in a container full of hot water, put a towel over your head, and inhale the scented steam through your nose.

CHINESE HERBS

The Chinese herb ephedra (Ephedra sinica) is a potent bronchodilator.

WARNING: Large amounts of this herb can have the same effect as large amounts of adrenaline; you should not use ephedra if you have high blood pressure or heart disease. Prepare an infusion of a combination of 5 grams of camphor, 4 grams of cinnamon sticks (Cinnamomum cassia), 1.5 grams of Ural licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis), and 5 grams of apricot kernels (Prunus armeniaca). Soak the mixture in cold water, then boil and drink hot.

HERBS

Great oman (Inula helenium) is a rhizome that acts as a mild expectorant to clear excess mucus from the body.

Video content: 5 natural ways to relieve asthma and prevent it.

Make a concoction from 1 teaspoon of the crushed root. Pour a full cup of cold water over it; let it stand for 10 hours, then strain and drink hot three times a day. An infusion made from small-flowered verbena (Verbascum thapsus) is recommended to soothe the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, especially at night.

HOMEOPATHY

Homeopaths recommend a range of medicines to alleviate asthmatic symptoms. To name just a few, take the Arsenicum album (30 C) as often as needed to calm restlessness and anxiety.

For symptoms that are worse at night or in cold weather or that come on suddenly, take Aconite (C6) as often as needed. For symptoms aggravated by dampness, take sodium sulphuricum as often as needed. For other medicines, consult a licensed homeopath.

REFLEXOLOGY

Massage the skin between the big toe and the forefinger; this area corresponds to the throat and lungs. Then stretch your toes and massage the pad on your foot; this area should reach the lungs and chest.

YOGA

Yoga can help you breathe more deeply and relax, helping you more effectively deal with stress, a common asthma trigger.

PREVENTION

• Learn to recognize triggers: write down in a diary every day for several months all the environmental or dietary factors that affect you. For example, when you have an asthma attack, look in your journal and find out what factor or combination of factors might contribute.

Image: asthma triggers. Avoid them as much as possible

• Record changes or fluctuations in lung capacity measured by a physician-prescribed peak flow meter. If you are aware of your lower ability to exhale, you can reduce the severity of an asthma attack by taking preventive measures.

Video content: how to prevent asthma attacks?

• Avoid foods and drinks that contain a lot of sulfites, e.g., beer, wine, vinegar, instant tea, grape juice, lemon juice, grapes, fresh crab, pizza dough, and dried fruit (e.g., apricots or apples), canned vegetables, instant mashed potatoes, corn syrup, fruit dressings, and molasses. In addition, some nutritionists recommend avoiding foods that produce a lot of mucus, such as milk, as much as possible.

• A daily dose of B complex vitamins (50 to 100 mg) and magnesium (400 to 600 mg) can reduce the frequency and intensity of asthma attacks.

Asthma is a severe disease, so it is necessary to recognize its symptoms and respond to them in time.

RESPIRATION, PROBLEMS, DIFFICULTY BREATHING

SYMPTOMS

• I was wheezing and breathing with effort.
• Cough and expectoration of mucus,
• Chill and fever.
• Fatigue.

Respiratory problems can accompany:

• rapid breathing and rapid pulse;
• shortness of breath;
• chest pains;
• mild headache;
• general fatigue;
• cold symptoms: runny nose, sore throat, and sneezing.

CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR IF:

A
• cold or cough lasts more than 7 or 10 days and does not improve with medication in free sale.
• You have a feeling of tension in your face, pressure behind your eyes, sneezing in your throat, and bad breath. These are signs of sinusitis.
• You have been coughing for a long time, cough up colored mucus or have shortness of breath. These can be signs of bronchitis, emphysema, or lung cancer.
• You have a high fever (above 38.5 °C), chills, chest pain, and cough with bloody sputum. These can be signs of pneumonia or other serious illnesses.

• You are breathing so hard that you are worried; many diseases cause difficulty breathing.

Respiratory problems are divided into three groups: infections of the upper and lower respiratory tract, e.g., colds, sinusitis, pneumonia, and tuberculosis; chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, e.g., asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema; and occupational lung diseases, nidr. asbestosis and pneumoconiosis.

CAUSES

Respiratory infections, either mild or very dangerous, are mainly caused by viruses and bacteria that settle in the respiratory tract. The body's ability to fight these infections depends on age, the presence or absence of other diseases, and smoking.

The causes of chronic obstructive diseases are numerous. Chronic inflammation of lung tissue, typical of asthma, can, e.g., be triggered by pollen, airborne irritants, and exercise. The deterioration of lung tissue resulting from emphysema is caused by smoking or a congenital enzyme defect.

Occupational lung diseases are caused by individual hypersensitivity to substances at the workplace or by inhalation of certain foreign substances such as asbestos fibers, coal, or silicon dust (which causes silicosis).

DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES

Doctors use several diagnostic procedures and tests to identify respiratory diseases, MD. Chest X-ray, other lung imaging, computed tomography (CT), sputum sample analysis, and lung function tests.

When they need specific data, they use invasive tests. For example, arterial blood gas analysis (AAB), e.g. determine the concentration of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood; with a lung biopsy, samples are obtained and examined under a microscope.

Asthma and bronchitis affect the trachea and large bronchi, while pneumonia and emphysema impair the functioning of the microscopic air sacs in the lungs.

HEALING

Respiratory infections usually heal on their own within a week or ten days. Conventional and alternative medicine offers a range of simple remedies to reduce symptoms.

CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE

Your doctor will prescribe an appropriate antibiotic if you have a bacterial respiratory infection. With a cold, sinusitis, and acute bronchitis, you will feel better if you rest in bed, drink plenty of fluids, increase the air humidity in the room (or inhale steam), take medicines for fever and pain, if you smoke, your doctor will advise you to stop.

Inhaled drugs help chronic obstructive diseases such as asthma and emphysema. However, there is no effective treatment for occupational lung diseases such as asbestosis and silicosis except to stop exposure to respiratory irritants - including second-hand smoke - and, if you smoke, to quit.

ALTERNATIVE MODES

Alternative treatments help relieve the symptoms of breathing problems. An aromatherapist or herbalist can recommend essential oils and herbs for massages and steam inhalations that reduce congestion and calm inflammation. A Chinese medicine practitioner may recommend acupuncture, acupressure, or many Chinese herbs. Homeopaths prescribe a wide range of medicines for respiratory problems. Doctors mostly agree that a healthy diet and proper eating habits can strengthen the immune system and keep it healthy. Try recommended daily doses of vitamin A, B complex vitamins, vitamins C, mineral zinc, and selenium.

HEALTH AT HOME

A respiratory infection usually lasts from 7 to 10 days. During this time, the best way to relieve symptoms is to rest in bed, drink plenty of fluids, increase air humidity or inhale steam, and take antipyretic and antipyretic drugs.

Questions and answers

What is the leading cause of asthma?

Common triggers:

• External allergens such as pollen from grasses, trees, and weeds.
• Indoor allergens include pet dander, dust mites, cockroaches, and mold.
• Airborne irritants such as smoke, chemical fumes, and strong odors.
• Exercise (although people with well-controlled asthma can exercise)^[1].

What are the first warning signs of asthma?

Symptoms:

• Shortness of breath.
• Chest tightness or pain.
• She wheezed when exhaling, a common sign of asthma in children.

Figure: more severe and later symptoms of asthma

• Difficulty sleeping due to shortness of breath, coughing, or wheezing.
• Coughing or wheezing attacks are worsened by a respiratory virus such as a cold or flu^[2].

At what age does asthma start?

Asthma often starts in childhood, usually before the age of 5. As a result, many children face asthma - the most common chronic disease in childhood. It can cause children to miss school and end up in the hospital.

Can a chest x-ray indicate asthma?

Doctors use a variety of physical and imaging tests to diagnose asthma. For example, a chest X-ray can help detect additional conditions that may be causing or worsening an individual's symptoms. However, doctors cannot diagnose asthma based on X-rays alone.

How do you get tested for asthma?

The primary test used to help diagnose asthma are the FeNO test - you breathe into a device that measures the level of nitric oxide in your exhaled air, which is a sign of inflammation in the lungs. Spirometry – you blow into a device that measures how fast you can exhale and how much air you can hold in your lungs.

What are the four factors that can trigger asthma?

Psychological problems; certain medications; lousy weather such as thunderstorms or high humidity; inhaling cold, dry air; certain foods, food additives, and fragrances

Is asthma a severe disease?

If symptoms are severe, people with asthma may need emergency medical care and be admitted to the hospital for treatment and monitoring. In the worst cases, asthma can cause death.

What is the last stage of asthma?

Moderately persistent asthma is an advanced stage of asthma. People with this condition experience asthma symptoms every day. They may also experience symptoms at least one night per week. Outbreaks can last for several days^[3].

Sources and references

Source: Family Health Guide. Conventional and alternative treatment, Dr. Jajo Lajovic, Publishing House Mladinska knjiga

1. What Causes Asthma? - https://acaai.org

2. Asthma - https://www.mayoclinic.org

3. Asthma https://www.who.int