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*Asthama*
Most
asthama episodes or attacks start slowly.
If not stopped, the
person can difficulty breathing and become
life threatening. During an asthama attack,
the
airways get narrow, making it difficult
to breathe. Common symptoms of asthama are:
Wheezing
·
usually begins suddenly
·
is episodic
·
may be worse at night or in early morning
·
aggravated by exposure to cold air
·
aggravated by exercise
·
aggravated by heartburn (reflux)
·
resolves spontaneously
·
relieved by bronchodilators (drugs that
open the airways)
Wheezing
is a high-pitched whistling sound produced
by air flowing through narrowed breathing
tubes,
especially
the smaller ones deep in the lung. It is
a common finding in asthama and chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD).
The
clinical importance of wheezing is that
it is an indicator of airway narrowing,
and it may indicate difficulty breathing.
Wheezing
is most obvious when exhaling (breathing
out), but may be present during either inspiration
(breathing in) or exhalation.
Wheezing
most often comes from the small bronchial
tubes (breathing tubes deep in the chest),but
it may originate if larger airways are obstructed
or in certain cases of vocal cord abnormalities.
v
Cough with or without sputum (phlegm) production
shortness of breath that is aggravated by
exercise breathing that requires increased
work intercostal retractions (pulling of
the skin between the ribs when breathing)
v
Shortness of breath
Some
asthmatics have chronic shortness of breath
with episodes of increased shortness of
breath.Other asthmatics may have cough as
their predominant symptom.
Asthama
attacks can last minutes to days, and can
become dangerous if the airflow becomes
severely restricted.
When
an asthama attack occurs, the muscles of
the bronchial tree become tight and the
lining of the air passages swells,reducing
airflow and producing the characteristic
wheezing sound.
Mucus
production is increased. Most people with
asthama have periodic wheezing attacks separated
by symptom-free periods.
Emergency
symptoms:
·
extreme difficulty breathing
·
bluish color to the lips and face
·
severe anxiety
·
rapid pulse
·
sweating
·
decreased level of consciousness (severe
drowsiness or confusion) during an asthama
attack
Additional
symptoms that may be associated with this
disease:
·
nasal flaring
·
chest pain
·
tightness in the chest
·
abnormal breathing pattern, in which exhalation
(breathing out) takes more than twice as
long as inspiration (breathing in)
·
breathing which temporarily stops
·
coughing up blood
In
sensitive individuals, asthama symptoms can
be triggered by inhaled allergens (allergy
triggers), such as pet dander,dust mites,
cockroach allergens, molds, or pollens. Asthama symptoms can also be triggered by
respiratory infections,exercise, cold air,
tobacco smoke and other pollutants, stress,
food, or drug allargy.Aspirin and other
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications
(NSAIDS) provoke asthama in some patients.
There
are many kinds of triggers. They can range
from viruses (such as colds) to allergies,
to gases and particles in the air.Given
this range, you may find it hard to figure
out what starts your asthama attacks. Below
are some of the common triggers:
·
Dogs, cats, or other animals
·
Colds or flu
·
Pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds
·
Dust or mold
·
Strong odors from perfumes, paints, sprays,
or other items
·
Smoke from cigarettes or from burning wood,
paper, or other items
·
Weather changes or very cold air
·
Air pollution
·
Crying, laughing, or yelling
·
Exercising, what type of exercise?
·
Aspirin or other medicine
·
Other
Once
you find out your triggers, you can do something
to prevent your asthama attacks. This gives
you control.The result is that when and
if you have attacks, there's a good chance
that they will be less severe and you won't
have as many.
For
example, do you get an asthama attack after
you've exercised? If you do, you should
tell your doctor. You can get help.You can
often stop an asthama episode when you catch
it early and take your medicine. If you
fail to do this,your symptoms may get worse.
Learn what your warning signs are. Make
a plan with your doctor or nurse about what
to do when you notice your warning signs.
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