WORLD ASTHMA DAY: UNDERSTANDING ASTHMA AND ITS TRIGGERS

Did you know that around 30 million people in India suffer from asthma? Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease. It causes the narrowing and swelling of the airways. It causes symptoms like shortness of breath, cough, chest tightness, and wheezing.

Every year, the first Tuesday in May is observed as World Asthma Day (WAD). It is organised by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) to raise awareness about asthma and improve the lives of people living with this condition.

World Asthma Day 2023 falls on May 3rd and the theme, “Asthma Care for All” encourages the creation, as well as the adoption of efficient asthma management programs.

In our blog, we’ll explore the causes of asthma, its triggers, and the effective x strategies for management and asthma cure.

Understanding asthma

Asthma is also known as bronchial asthma. It is a noncommunicable disease (NCD) that can affect people of all ages. It is a chronic or ongoing condition. It affects the lungs. It requires continuing medical management.

Asthma is characterised by inflammation of the lungs. This causes the airways to become constricted (bronchospasm) and blocked by excess mucus. This makes it difficult to breathe. It causes wheezing (a whistling sound when breathing), shortness of breath, and cough.

Asthma can pose to be a minor problem for some people, but for others, it can be a major issue that prevents them from carrying out their everyday activities. If not treated or managed properly, asthma can even become life-threatening.

Types of asthma

There are different types of asthma categorised according to the:

Severity

• Persistent: Here the symptoms are present most of the time. They can be severe, moderate, or mild.

• Intermittent: This type of asthma occurs sporadically.

Cause

• Allergic: Allergic asthma is generally caused due to allergies to various allergens like pollen, mould, pet dander, etc.

• Nonallergic: This is caused because of factors such as weather, exercise, illness, or stress.

Age

• Paediatric: Also known as childhood asthma, paediatric asthma usually occurs in infants and toddlers before they are 5 years old. It may disappear when the child grows older.

• Adult-onset: This kind of asthma occurs in adults, over the age of 18.

Others

• Occupational asthma: Mostly occurs in people working with irritating substances.

• Exercise-induced asthma: This type of asthma is caused because of exercise of any kind.

• Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome (ACOS): This occurs in people suffering from a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma.

Causes of Asthma and Common Asthma Triggers

Asthma is caused by various factors. These include allergies, genetics, environmental factors, or respiratory infections. There are many substances or irritants, also called triggers that can cause asthma attacks.

Sometimes, the triggers may cause an attack immediately but in other cases, the asthma attack may occur several hours or even days later. For each person, the triggers can vary but knowing the common triggers can help to avoid asthma attacks.

Some of the common asthma triggers include:

• Air pollution includes vehicle fumes, factory emissions, smoke, etc.

• The dander or dried flaking skin from pets can irritate the airways and cause asthma attacks.

• Although invisible to the naked eye, dust mites can cause an asthma attack, especially in people suffering from a dust mite allergy.

• Tobacco smoke can cause asthma attacks, whether it is first-hand or second-hand smoke.

• Common pests found in homes such as mice, cockroaches, etc. can cause asthma attacks.

• Mould grows in damp and humid places. It can trigger asthma attacks.

• Exposure to things such as wood dust, flour, cleaning products, chemicals or other substances at the workplace can act as triggers. They can cause asthma attacks.

• Strong odours or chemicals

• Exercise

Asthma attack treatment

There are different treatments for asthma attacks. These include anti-inflammatory medications, bronchodilators, asthma medications such as nebulisers, metered-dose inhalers, oral medications, and biological therapies.

However, the best way to prevent asthma attacks is preventing it in the first place by eliminating the triggers in and around your home and improving air quality.

This can be done by avoiding substances that trigger asthma symptoms, limiting exposure to asthma triggers and using medications prescribed by your doctor to prevent any flare-ups.

Summary

To conclude, the key to managing asthma effectively is by understanding the triggers that cause this chronic condition.

By being proactive, taking the necessary steps to limit exposure to asthma triggers, and seeking suitable medical treatment, people suffering from asthma can manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

The Wellness Forever website offers a wide range of nebulizers, anti-inflammatory medications, and other resources that can help to manage asthma symptoms and flare-ups.

Now, you can take a deep breath and say cheers to happy breathing and good health!