Asthma is a common disease affecting the respiratory system. The prevalence of asthma has largely increased over the last decade. This is mainly due to a high level of pollution, lack of exercise, change of food habits and other factors. With the increase in the number of asthma patients, the disease is poised to become a major health problem. Asthma is a respiratory disorder that can affect people of all ages and in all places. However, it is a disease that is more common in childhood, and children below the age of 18 are affected the most.
Causes For Asthma
There are numerous factors that are responsible for asthma. If you are exposed to any of these factors, you also could run the risk of developing this ailment.
One of the main risk factors that may lead to asthma is allergy, or atopy. Allergens such as pollen, dust mites, fur, cockroaches and tobacco, among many others, can cause asthma. People suffering from allergic or atopic asthma also exhibit other allergic conditions such as eczema or allergic rhinitis.
People who develop asthma without exhibiting any allergic reactions suffer from non-atopic asthma. Other factors such as exercise, weather changes, viruses, and occupational and hereditary factors also can be a reason for development of asthma.
Early Signs Of Asthma
The key to leading a healthy life, even with asthma, is learning to read the early warning signals and taking immediate remedial action. The most common early signs of an asthma attack are:
- Coughing which is worse at night. This may intensify with other infections such as flu or cold
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty in sleeping due to both of the above
- Wheezing and a general feeling of weakness after exercise
- Pain or discomfort or a feeling of tightness in the chest
- Wheezing sound while exhaling
- Variations in lung functions while using a peak flow meter
Patients may exhibit some or all of these symptoms. Some people may also show unusual symptoms such as fatigue and anxiety. Each patient may show varied clinical features of this disease. There is no single universal or unique trait to diagnose asthma. Even within a single person, the frequency and intensity of an attack can vary each time.
Importance Of Reading Early Warning Signals Of Asthma
Even with asthma awareness spreading, patients fail to recognize the early signs, and this could prove to be fatal. The patient becomes so used to asthma that the warning signs of an attack go undetected. This is known as “silent asthma.” The early warning signals are overlooked and suddenly you are affected by a severe attack. Emergency medical treatment may be required in many of these cases. The best way of preventing a full-blown attack, therefore, is learning to be aware of the warning signals early on.