Asthma – All About Asthma, Causes, Treatment & Preventing Steps

Family History: If one or both of your parents have asthma, you are more likely to develop the condition. Asthma can run in families, and certain genes can make you more sensitive to allergens or irritants that trigger asthma. 

Dust Mites: Tiny bugs that live in dust can trigger asthma symptoms. 

Pollen: Pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds can cause allergic reactions and trigger asthma attacks. 

Pet Dander: Fine flakes produced by a pet's skin can trigger asthma in sensitive persons. 

Mold: Spores in the air from mold can also trigger asthma.

Smoking: Smoking, or exposure to secondhand smoke, can affect the lungs and worsen asthma symptoms. 

Secondhand Smoking: Smoke from other sources can also irritate the airways of people suffering from asthma, triggering an attack. 

Cold Air: Some individuals become sensitive to cold, dry air, and asthma symptoms are activated. 

Hot, Humid Air: For others, hot and damp air worsens asthma symptoms. 

Strong emotions like stress, excitement, or anxiety can trigger asthma symptoms in some people. When you’re stressed, your breathing can become faster and more shallow, which can worsen asthma. 

• Wheezing: A high-pitched whistling sound when exhaling, usually during the attack. 

• Shortness of Breath: Difficulty breathing, especially during physical activity or at night. 

• Coughing: This coughing is very much marked nocturnally or in the morning and may be worse after workout or due to exposure to triggers.
  

• Chest Tightness: There may be tightness in the chest, and the patient may feel as though someone is sitting on his chest. 

• Increased Mucus Production: Airways may produce more mucus than usual and cause coughing and difficulty in breathing. 

• The doctor will first inquire about your symptoms, how often you encounter them, and whether there is a family history of asthma or allergies. In addition, your lifestyle, exposure to allergens, or smoking or other form of passive smoking might be asked for. 

• The doctor will use a stethoscope to listen to your chest and check for signs of wheezing or other abnormal breathing sounds. 

• It measures how much air you can breathe in and how much air you can breathe out, as well as the rate at which you breathe out. This can help confirm asthma as a potential cause of your symptoms, as well as assess the function of your lungs. 

• A peak flow meter is a small device that can measure how fast you can exhale air. This tool keeps track of asthma over time and even picks up on early warning signs of an asthma attack. 

• If the doctor thinks that allergies are the major culprits behind your asthma, they can advise for allergy testing. Skin tests or blood tests can be conducted to find out which particular allergens are behind the symptoms. 

• Sometimes chest X-ray is required to rule out other conditions that could cause similar symptoms as asthma; this might include infections or lung diseases.
  

• Quick-Relief (Rescue) Medications: These are drugs that help in providing quick relief at the time of an asthma attack. The muscles covering your airways relax the patient. The most common quick-relief medication is albuterol, which is delivered through an inhaler. 

• Long-Term Control Medications: These are usually administered to avoid asthma symptoms and inflammation in your airways on a regular basis. Amongst the most common long-term medications are: 

• Inhaled Corticosteroids: These drugs prevent inflammation in the airways and thus asthma attacks. 

• Leukotriene Modifiers: These reduce inflammation and are available as pill formulations. 

• Long-Acting Beta-Agonists (LABAs): These drugs make the airways open for an extended period. They are often prescribed with corticosteroids. 

• Biologic Medications: Biologic medications target specific parts of the immune system to suppress inflammation and prevent asthma symptoms in patients with severe asthma. 

• Metered-Dose Inhalers (MDIs): They deliver medication in a mist form. 

• Dry Powder Inhalers (DPIs): They provide medication in a powder form. Inhalers should be correctly used so that the drug is delivered to the lungs. Your doctor or nurse will also demonstrate the correct use of the inhalers. 

• If allergies constitute a major trigger, antihistamines or allergy shots (immunotherapy) may reduce the frequency of asthma attacks. 

• If an asthma attack is very severe and after medications, the patient remains the same, then emergency care is required. This can involve oxygen, IV liquids, or oral steroids.
  

• Fruits and Vegetables: Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables can help reduce inflammation in the body and support your immune system. Foods like oranges, berries, and leafy greens are especially helpful.
  

• Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Foods high in omega-3s, such as salmon, walnuts, and flaxseeds, have anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce asthma symptoms. 

• Avoid Food Triggers: Some foods can trigger asthma symptoms. Common food triggers include sulfites (found in wine and dried fruits) and dairy products. 

• Vitamin D: Studies have shown that vitamin D may help control asthma. Foods like eggs, fortified milk, and fatty fish are good sources of vitamin D. 

• Activities like walking, swimming, and cycling are usually easier on the lungs than high-impact exercises like running or playing sports. Swimming is particularly beneficial because the warm, humid air in indoor pools is less likely to trigger asthma symptoms. 

• Always warm up before exercise and cool down afterward. This helps prevent sudden asthma flare-ups during physical activity. 

• Use your rescue inhaler before exercising according to your physician's advice to avoid worsening of symptoms.
  

1. Avoid Triggers: Identify and avoid your asthma triggers. This may include avoiding allergies such as pollen or dust, staying out of smoking, or wearing a scarf during the cold weather. 

2. Take Medications Regularly: Even if you feel well, you should take your long-term medications exactly as prescribed by your doctor. 

3. Monitor Your Symptoms: Keep track of your symptoms and lung function so you can notice early signs of an asthma attack. Your doctor may recommend using a peak flow meter at home. 

4. Get Vaccinated: Respiratory infections, such as the flu, can exacerbate asthma, so vaccination can reduce your risk.