Inspirations

Asthma Does Not Have to Limit Your Life

by Emily J Weitz

I grew up in a household of inhalers and wheezing. My mom, dad, and brother, are all sufferers of asthma. And out here in the country, their asthma always intensifies. I recently decided to look into what exactly asthma is and how the people I love can maintain an active lifestyle despite asthma.

Asthma is a chronic disease of the airways in which certain passageways in and out of your lungs become blocked or restricted. This results in breathing difficulties that can, but don’t have to, impede your lifestyle.

The airways in an asthmatic patient are swollen, which makes them very sensitive. When they are irritated, they react by getting narrower. This means that less air flows to the lung tissue. This causes symptoms like wheezing, which is a whistling sound when you breathe. Asthma can also cause coughing, chest tightness, and trouble breathing.

As a chronic disease, there is no cure for Asthma. However, by remaining abreast of new developments and keeping in close touch with your doctor, you can keep your symptoms under control so that you can maintain an active lifestyle.

I used to think the things that caused asthma were the same as the things that caused allergies. For example, pollen, dust, and pet dander are all causes of allergies and they seem to bring on asthmatic episodes in my family members. However, these are actually just called triggers. This means that they do bring on asthmatic symptoms, but they do not cause asthma. Asthma is a hereditary disease, passed down from generation to generation. If you are born with asthma, it could remain latent. It is when you are exposed to certain triggers that your asthma symptoms appear.

There are as many different triggers as there are variations in how people respond to these triggers. Some common triggers include irritants in the air like cigarette smoke, wood fires, or paint fumes. Asthma can also be brought on by sickness. When you develop a cold or the flu, it is likely that you will experience asthmatic symptoms. This is because any time your airways are constricted, your breathing will be altered. This alteration is what causes asthma. Even exercising, though beneficial, can give rise to asthmatic symptoms. This does not mean you shouldn’t exercise. Instead, you need to talk to your doctor about what preventative measures you can take to be sure your asthma does not adversely affect your life.

Any kind of exercise that makes you breathe hard can be an asthma trigger. That means running, yoga, even laughing and sex! Does this mean you are going to hole yourself away and never laugh again? Of course not. So what can you do to be sure that you will not suffer for being active and engaged?

There are two basic types of asthma treatments. The first is short term, or quick relief. These treatments usually involve a bronchodilator, or inhaler. This device is a small, hand-held contraption that you can carry with you wherever you go. These fast-acting medicines act quickly to soothe your symptoms. They relax tightened muscles to open up your airways again. These should be used at the first sign of asthma symptoms, like chest tightness or wheezing. If you know you are going to be involved in an activity that may stimulate your asthma, you may use the bronchodilator before activity as a preventative, but you should consult your doctor first. This preventative approach is only recommended in some patients.

The other form of asthma treatment is the long-term control medicine. These medicines are taken every day over a long period of time to prevent symptoms from arising. After taking them consistently for a few weeks, you will begin to feel the effects. If you have any stage of persistent asthma, you will need to take a long-term control medicine. Some long-acting treatments include corticosteroids, inhaled long acting beta-antagonists and cremolyn. If you suffer from persistent asthma symptoms, you may want to talk to your doctor about trying a long-acting treatment.

Asthma is a widespread problem across the world. It affects men and women alike, though the cases of women with asthma are on the rise. Even though there is no cure as yet, asthma does not need to limit your life if you take control and care of your body. If you have experienced some of the symptoms discussed in this article, or if you have a history of asthma in your family, talk to your doctor about getting diagnosed. It’s a simple and painless test, the results of which could enable you to participate in the activities you love.