Asthma is a medical condition that affects your airways and can make it difficult to breathe. It’s caused by a complex combination of factors, genetic predispositions and environmental triggers. Although there’s no cure for asthma, you can work with your doctor to better manage the symptoms that come with it.
People with certain health conditions (such as diabetes) are much more likely than those without these conditions to develop asthma problems later in life. The same goes for people who have grown up on farms or in rural areas where allergens are common—these environments tend to trigger allergies even if they’re no longer present when we’re young adults!
Asthma is typically diagnosed in childhood, but it can start at any age. The symptoms of asthma include wheezing and shortness of breath that may begin with a cough or chest tightness. Asthma affects about 10% of children, making it the most common chronic disease among children ages 5 to 17 years old.
The risk for developing asthma increases with age, starting as early as 5 years old and continuing through adulthood (the average age for diagnosis). About 25% of people with asthma have no family history of the disorder; however, others develop it after growing up without knowing they had it until later in life.
The signs and symptoms of asthma include:
Chest tightness or chest pain
Breathing problems, such as coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath
Cold symptoms like a stuffy nose or sneezing that come on suddenly. These can be mild in children’s first year with asthma, but can become more severe as they grow older. Children who develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at any age are at risk for developing life-threatening lung infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis if left untreated by their doctors. A person with COPD may also have trouble breathing during exercise or activity outside the home due to decreased lung function caused by chronic inflammation in their airways
Wheezing is a whistling sound that occurs when air passes through the narrowed airways. Shortness of breath is a feeling of not getting enough air in your lungs. Medication can be used to control symptoms, but it’s important to talk with your doctor about what’s best for you. You may need different types of treatment depending on how severe your asthma is or how often symptoms occur (for example, if they occur at night).
There are several steps you can take to manage your asthma symptoms.
Use your inhaler as prescribed. doctor has told you to use an inhaler at certain times of day, do so. Don’t use a different medicine or method of delivery that isn’t prescribed by a doctor (for example, using eucapnic or tiotropium bromide).
Avoid triggers such as smoke, dust and mold that could make asthma worse. These may include:
Smoky environments like bars or restaurants where little ventilation exists;
High pollen counts;
Dusty construction sites where there is structural damage caused by traffic or equipment moving around;
Avoid exercise-induced asthma (EIA). This occurs when physical activity increases airway resistance during physical exertion due to increased sympathetic nervous system activity after exposure to stressors such as cold weather conditions or high humidity levels in outdoor environments which cause increased respiratory rates.* Avoid asthma attacks by avoiding triggers as much as possible.* Use your inhaler before symptoms get worse! It’s important not only because it helps relieve symptoms but also because using medication ahead of time means less risk for side effects if needed later down the road.”
If you think you might have asthma, talk to your doctor. If symptoms are severe and interfere with your ability to live a normal life, see a specialist for further evaluation.
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