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Do you ever get short of breath after climbing only a couple of flights of stairs? Your first inclination may be to blame it on being out of shape, but in fact you may have asthma and not know it. Asthma is a very common chronic disease of the lungs. Its symptoms are usually coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Some sufferers say it’s like having a steel band tighten around the chest, or like being under water and clawing for air. Still a mystery Although it is pretty common, no one really knows why so many people continue to develop asthma. In fact, because asthma is generally under-diagnosed worldwide, many people are living with asthma and don’t even know it. For some reason that no one really understands, asthma rates are still relatively low in developing countries, but the industrialized world is in the middle of an asthma epidemic. More than 150 million people around the world suffer from the condition. What the experts do know is that genetics may determine who develops asthma. The tiny airways in the lungs of asthmatics are more sensitive than those of other people. In an attack, the bronchi tighten, restricting the airways. At the same time, a chemical chain reaction floods mucus into the bronchi cutting off access to air even further. What are asthma "triggers"? Medication is a vital part of proper asthma management. But it’s also important to avoid the things that can make asthma worse. These are known as “triggers” and they fall into two categories: Inflammatory and Symptom.
- Inflammatory triggers include animal allergens, smoke, dust mites, colds or chest infections, pollens, moulds and certain air pollutants.
- Symptom triggers don’t cause inflammation but can cause asthma symptoms when inflammation is present. These include exercise, perfumes, cold air, weather changes, chemicals, emotions, some food additives, and certain air pollutants.
Where possible, avoid or minimize the triggers and you can help control your asthma symptoms. Your doctor can help With the help of your doctor, the symptoms of asthma can be controlled with proper medication. It’s important that you see your doctor to find out more about the variety of treatment options available. He or she can help you find the solution that’s right for you. Up to now, sufferers have relied on two groups of drugs to control their asthma - Controllers and Relievers. Controllers, also known as preventers, are usually hormones called corticosteroids, delivered with an inhaler, that help reduce inflammation and prevent asthma attacks over the long term. The corticosteroids in the inhalers should not be confused with the steroids associated with the athletic world. In fact, these inhalers are amongst the safest and most effective medications available to treat asthma. Relievers are also inhaled medications that quickly reduce symptoms in an asthma attack. Asthma inhalers have been developed that offer a softer, warmer spray with finer particles. As a result, the medication in the inhaler distributes more easily throughout the entire lung, even the tiny airways. This type of inhaler can also be inserted directly into the mouth without using a spacer device. You should ask your doctor if this new form of inhaler is suitable for you. Although the search for a cause continues, recent research is beginning to yield new insights and new treatments. Hopefully it is only a matter of time before experts can knock the wind out of asthma.
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