I saw my PCP last week for a check up. I had several things that concerned
me- one was the frequent severe headaches I've been having and the other was the
dry hacky cough I'd had since the day before. That morning I had noted some
wheezing which seemed to relieve after a cup of hot coffee.
When I left the office, I wondered at that diagnosis of "asthmatic
bronchitis".. granted I was coughing more , but it felt loose. I hadn't noticed
the increase in the wheeze, but she found that there wasn't anywhere on my chest
that didn't have wheezes.
So now I'll tell you about asthma.
The exact cause of asthma isn't known, though the tendency can run in
families via genetics. Environment plays a
part as well. Air pollution may play a part in adult-onset asthma.
Infantile respiratory infections also have been shown to
damage lung tissue and thus long term lung function.
Allergies .. at least certain ones.. are linked to people
who develop asthma.
Asthma is a serious problem , but with proper management, one can lead a
fairly normal life.
When you breathe in a 'trigger', your airways become swollen and
inflamed . The 'trigger' could be a cold, weather, air contaminants,grass,
dust, chemicals or pet dander for a few examples.
When you breathe more of these triggers, your airways make extra mucus and
swell even more. This makes it hard to breathe.. this is generally referred to
as an asthma attack.
Flare ups make one exhausted, but once the episode is over, the risk of
another is increased. It's important to recognize the 'triggers' and avoid
them.
One of the things I use to manage my asthma is a PEAK-FLOW meter. It's a
portable device, hand held, that is used to measure how much air you can expel
from your lungs. There is one made for children and one for adults.
The meter is used to determine if asthma is getting worse or better. Peak
flow rate is based on age, height, sex, and race. The normal is determined from
a healthy population.
Symptoms of asthma are many times different for other people, but the most
common ones involve wheezing, shortness of breath, frequent cough, and sometimes
chest tightness.
The medications are pretty much the same for everyone..
bronchodilators to relax the muscles around the airways. There are long
acting and short acting. The long acting ones normally have anti-inflammatory
medication combined.
The anti-inflammatory meds help reduce swelling and mucus inside the
airways. These are inhaled corticosteroids or steroids. It's really important
to rinse the mouth after EVERY use of them to avoid thrush. If you don't
respond well to these .. there are pill form steroids that will be of assistance
short term.
Antibiotics or antivirals are frequently used because the flare up can make
you more susceptible to bacterial infection or viral infection..
