Causes And Symptoms Of Asthma
Asthma causes inflammation and constriction of the airways. Asthma is considered to be due to an oversensitive immune system similar to the way that an hypersensitive immune system can cause allergies.
With asthma, the immune system targets a harmless substance as if that substance pose danger to the individual. The immune system releases histamine which causes the airway constriction and inflammation.
Hypersensitive immune systems can be inherited. Inherited hypersensitivity of the immune system is called atopy. In families where there is atopy, there may be an extensive family history of eczema, allergies, and asthma.
An episode of asthma symptoms is commonly referred to as an asthma attack. Asthma attacks can be triggered by the inhalation of cold air or an allergen.
Common asthma symptoms are wheezing, tightness in the chest, coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath. Asthma medication corrects the inflammation and constriction thereby relieving the symptoms of asthma.
There is more than one type of asthma. Nighttime or nocturnal asthma can interfere with the person’s ability to sleep. Wheezing and coughing are common symptoms of nocturnal asthma.
Asthma that is triggered by allergens is sometimes called allergic asthma. The immune system’s reaction to allergen causes the release of histamine which causes asthma symptoms.
Cough-variant asthma is a type of asthma that can cause a severe cough. The person with cough-variant asthma may not experience other symptoms of asthma besides a persistent cough.
Exercise-induced asthma is a common form of asthma that is triggered by the narrowing of the airway during exercise. Many people with exercise asthma will wheeze and have difficulty catching their breath.
Asthma patients often experience more severe symptoms at night time and when they have a cold or allergies. If the person has a cold or allergies, the physician may prescribe medication to use specifically at those times to prevent a worsening of asthma symptoms.
There are two main types of asthma medication. A daily medication is a preventative medication to help reduce the frequency of asthma attacks. The second type of asthma medication, usually in the form of inhalers, is used when the person experiences symptoms.
Filed under: Allergies