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Asthma
Asthma is a chronic condition involving the respiratory system in which the airway occasionally constricts, becomes inflamed, and is lined with excessive amounts of mucus, often in response to one or more triggers. This airway narrowing causes symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. These episodes may be triggered by such things as exposure to an environmental stimulant such as cold air, warm air, moist air, exercise or exertion, emotional stress or allergens. In children, the most common triggers are viral illnesses such as those that cause the common cold. Between episodes most patients feel well but can have mild symptoms and they may remain short of breath after exercise for longer periods of time than an unaffected individual. The symptoms of asthma, which can range from mild to life threatening, can usually be controlled with a combination of drugs and environmental changes. Asthma that has been previously diagnosed and is controlled normally responds to bronchodilators.
Public attention in the developed world has recently focused on asthma because of its rapidly increasing prevalence affecting urban children.
Signs and symptoms:
In some individuals asthma is characterized by chronic respiratory impairment; in others it is an intermittent illness marked by episodic symptoms that may result from a number of triggering events, including upper respiratory infections, stress, airborne allergens, air pollutants (such as smoke or traffic fumes) or exercise. Some or all of the following symptoms may be present in those with asthma: dyspnea, wheezing, stridor, coughing and/or an inability to tolerate physical exertion. Some asthmatics who have severe shortness of breath and tightening of the lungs never wheeze or have stridor and their symptoms may be confused with a COPD-type disease.
An acute exacerbation of asthma is commonly referred to as an asthma attack. The clinical hallmarks of an attack are shortness of breath (dyspnea) and wheezing or stridor. Patients present primarily with coughing, and in the later stages of an attack, air motion may be so impaired that no wheezing may be heard. When present, a cough may sometimes produce clear sputum. Onset may be sudden with a sense of constriction in the chest, breathing becomes difficult, and wheezing occurs (primarily upon expiration, but it can be observed in both respiratory phases).
Signs of an asthmatic episode include wheezing, prolonged expiration, a rapid heart rate (tachycardia), rhonchi (audible through a stethoscope), the presence of a paradoxical pulse (a pulse that is weaker during inhalation and stronger during exhalation) and over-inflation of the chest. During a serious asthma attack, the accessory muscles of respiration (sternocleidomastoid and scalene muscles of the neck) may be used, shown as in-drawing of tissues between the ribs and above the sternum and clavicles and the presence of a paradoxical pulse..
During very severe attacks, an asthma sufferer can turn blue from lack of oxygen and can experience chest pain or even loss of consciousness. Just before loss of consciousness, there is a chance that the patient will feel numbness in the limbs and their palms may start to sweat. Feet may become icy cold. Severe asthma attacks, which may not be responsive to standard treatme are life-threatening and may lead to respiratory arrest and death. Despite the severity of symptoms during an asthmatic episode, between attacks an asthmatic may show few or even no signs of the disease.
Patients with respiratory ailments involving shortness of breath that do not have their condition under control should seek immediate professional medical treatment and diagnosis.
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