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Asthma Definition

Asthma Definition

Asthma is a condition in which your airways narrow and swell and may produce extra mucus. This can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing, a whistling sound (wheezing) when you breathe out and shortness of breath. For some people, asthma is a minor nuisance.

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Asthma is a medical condition of the lungs and airways that causes difficulty in breathing. The most common symptoms are coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. But many adults also suffer from it, with symptoms ranging from mild to life-threatening.

Asthma is a complex and versatile condition that can have many causes, which leads to different types of asthma. In this article, we will tackle all things asthma from describing the anatomy and physiology of breathing to describing the symptoms of asthma. What causes it, which doctor is best suited to diagnose, how you can treat it, how to prevent it, and more!

Anatomy and Physiology of the Respiratory System

Before we dive into the subject of asthma and what it means for the physiology and anatomy of people who suffer from it, it is important to understand how the human respiratory system works accordingly. normal

Simply put, the respiratory system is responsible for taking oxygen into the bloodstream. This is achieved thanks to the airways, a pair of lungs and the muscles involved in the mechanics of breathing. However, the respiratory system also plays an important role in our lives, such as helping us talk and smelling, helping to regulate our body temperature according to the humidity of the environment we are in, and protecting our airways from different substances. that may be harmful to our bodies

In a more detailed overview, the human respiratory system contains quite a few components, such as:

• Nose and mouth – the external parts of the respiratory system responsible for bringing air into the body and coming out. The nose also acts as a defense against harmful substances, with hair and mucus forming an organic barrier.
• Sinus – empty cavities within the bones in the skull; Humans have four types of sinuses: maxillary (in the cheekbones), frontal (between the nose and forehead), ethmoid (between the eyes), and sphenoid (behind the nose); These cavities contain a layer of mucus and are usually empty except when there is an infection causing mucus buildup; The main role of the sinus is to regulate the humidity and temperature level of the air we inhale.
• Tonsils – lymph nodes located at the back of the throat that serve as a barrier against pathogenic agents;
• Cervical pharynx – A tube lined with muscles that allow air to travel from the nose and mouth to the larynx, just like food and fluids to reach the stomach through the esophagus.
• Larynx – or larynx is a cylindrical tube made up of cartilage and muscles that contains the vocal cords. It represents the first component of the respiratory system that is not common to the gastrointestinal tract as the opening into the trachea leading to the lungs.
• Epiglottis – epiglottis is a flap of tissue located at the entrance of the trachea and before the vocal cords; Its main purpose is to close and protect the vocal cords from any food or liquid that must go to the stomach through the esophagus, preventing them from reaching the lungs;
• Trachea – or trachea is the tube that connects the throat to the lungs; It begins where the larynx ends and before reaching the lungs the bronchi divide into two tubes, one for each lung. (has a small tube called a trachea or trachea); The trachea, made up of muscles, soft tissue and mucus, is a flexible component of the respiratory system, which changes in size and length with every breathing movement.
• Trachea – As we have already mentioned, the trachea is the two bronchi that allow air to enter and exit each lung.
• Lungs – a pair of organs responsible for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the air and the bloodstream. The most important components of the lungs are the pleura, lobes, trachea, weave and capillaries, which are essential in the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
• Diaphragm – The diaphragm is a muscle located in the chest area that aids in the movements involved in breathing; The diaphragm, in particular, allows the lungs to take in and send air.
• Ribs – These are the bones that make up the chest cavity, protecting the lungs and heart, while also aiding in the process of inspiration and expiration, helping the lungs expand and contract.

There are many medical conditions related to the respiratory system, especially because of the complex components that are essential for the functioning of the entire system. Some of the most common conditions involve inflammation of certain components, which can be caused by allergies, asthma, infections, or diseases such as cancer or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

So far we have seen that the respiratory system is functioning normally. But one question prevails: What happens to these organs and how are they affected if someone has asthma?

Respiratory System with Asthma – Pulmonary Asthma

What asthma does to the airways is that it causes inflammation, swelling, and narrowing of the airways, sometimes accompanied by excess mucus. This process makes breathing difficult, especially if the muscles that make up the airways are also constricted. Over the long term, asthma can cause damage to the airways, such as thickening of the walls of the airways, or even alteration of the airways with permanent structural alterations. If you are now wondering what is causing this serious and impaired symptom later, we will cover that as well.

Who has asthma?

Asthma is a medical condition that can affect people of all ages. But usually develops in the early stages of life, some grow out of it as adulthood. There are some cases of so-called adult-onset asthma that develop later in life.

Is hereditary asthma?

There is no direct answer to this question. But research shows that if your parents have this condition. If you (especially your mother) have a good chance that you will develop this condition. The explanation lies in the pathway that genes play a role in how your immune system builds.

Risk factors for asthma

There are certain risk factors for asthma and they can be divided into two categories: social and demographic factors and environmental factors.

Social and demographic factors include:

• Age – Asthma is more common among children. but it can be developed later;
• Gender – In children, boys are more affected by this condition. In adults, asthma is more prevalent in women;
• Race/ethnicity – African Americans and Hispanics are at greater risk of developing asthma than any other race/ethnicity. Children from these categories are at risk for serious complications and even death. due to asthma
• Nationality – Asthma is a common medical condition in developed countries. (eg United States, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, Republic of South Africa); However, the mortality rate is higher in developed countries.

Environmental factors include:

• Exposure to allergens – Asthma is often an allergic reaction, which means that exposure to different types of allergens may increase your risk of developing asthma. (or causing asthma if symptoms are already present); The most common allergens associated with worsening asthma symptoms are dust, mold, pollen, pets.
• Tobacco smoke – Exposure to tobacco smoke before or after giving birth has a higher risk of childhood asthma. Additionally, cigarette smoke dramatically decreased lung function in people with asthma, increasing the severity of symptoms and reducing the likelihood of treatment so symptoms could be controlled.
• Toxic Workplace – Exposure to various types of industrial dust toxic chemicals can increase your risk of asthma. (This type of asthma is called occupational asthma.)

Asthma – Symptoms

Asthma is a condition that comes in different forms, meaning that the symptoms a person experience depends on the type of asthma they have. However, these are the most common symptoms of this medical condition: wheezing (wheezing that occurs when a person breathes- wheezing ), cough, shortness of breath, a feeling of tightness in the chest, fatigue When these symptoms get worse for a period of time, this is known as asthma.

It’s important to know that everyone is different, ergo. They can have different symptoms at different intensity. Additionally, these symptoms can vary from one attack to another and the same person may have one minor symptom. but more intense next time Some asthmatics can go a long time before experiencing asthma, and others can have increased symptoms during specific activities. While mild attacks are more common and easier to manage, severe attacks are serious and often require medical attention.

Asthma – asthma with acute exacerbation

Due to the fact that asthma symptoms are not permanent as they flare and worsen, the term used to describe this phenomenon is exacerbation. (acute exacerbation of asthma) attacks (asthma) episodes or flares

Asthma is a term used to describe when asthma symptoms are worse and are characterized by bronchospasm. (tightening of the muscles that make up the airways), inflammation and increased mucus production. These physiological and mechanical conditions lead to the main symptoms of asthma. What is more specific with asthma is that these symptoms are severe for a period of time and can be accompanied by chest pain, talking problems, and anxiety. Asthma flares up quickly and asthma can easily become life-threatening if not treated properly, sometimes requiring immediate medical attention. asthma treatment Asthma attacks are discussed later in the treatment section.

Why does asthma get worse at night?

Sometimes asthma symptoms get worse at night, which leads experts to call the condition nocturnal asthma or nocturnal asthma. This condition affects the quality of rest for those who suffer from it, making it difficult to manage symptoms that occur during the day as well.

While there is no specific reason why asthma symptoms get worse at night, experts in the field have found a few possible causes, including: large amounts of mucus drained during sleep from the sinuses. (The airways are sensitive and mucus causes asthma); The lying position, which facilitates the drainage of mucus from the sinuses, increases pulmonary blood flow and airway resistance. Sleep in an air-conditioned room that reduces air humidity. have acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease gastroesophageal from the stomach, which may cause bronchospasm; Low levels of epinephrine in the blood, which is characteristic during sleep.

Asthma – Causes and Triggers

As we’ve seen so far, there isn’t much light on why some people get asthma. But research shows that genetic and environmental risk factors play a role in this.

As far as what’s causing the symptoms of asthma and asthma, things can vary greatly from one person to another. Considering that asthma is often an allergic response, some triggers may be pollen, dust, mold or pet dander. However, asthma can also be triggered by respiratory tract infections by intense exercise, smoke or other airborne pollutants, certain medications. (such as aspirin or ibuprofen), stress, or GERD gastroesophageal

Types of asthma

When considering the many triggers and causes that can lead to asthma, this condition can be classified as follows:

• Pediatric Asthma – Asthma is common in children, with attacks usually small in childhood. Most children grow out of their symptoms by the time they reach adulthood;
• Adult- Onset Asthma – Adults can also develop asthma. but usually before the age of forty;
• Exercise-induced asthma – This asthma appears during exercise and is caused by the dryness of the air a person inhales compared to the body’s humidity level.
• Allergic asthma – or extrinsic asthma is a type of asthma caused by different types of allergens that can cause allergic reactions; It is often seasonal, in conjunction with seasonal allergies;
• Non -allergic asthma – or intrinsic asthma is caused by substances in the air that have nothing to do with allergies, such as cold air smoke, pollution, perfumes, cleaning products.
• Occupational Asthma – Occurs in people whose work environment is filled with chemical fumes, dust, gases.
• Aspirin-induced asthma – This is the body’s allergic reaction to aspirin, which causes symptoms of asthma.
• Nocturnal asthma – As mentioned earlier, symptoms flare up at night.
• Cough Strain Asthma – The only symptom that exists is dry, long-term cough.

Bronchitis caused by asthma

Bronchitis is a medical condition of the bronchi, which are two ramifications of the trachea into the lungs When these tubes become inflamed, the condition is called bronchitis.

You can get bronchitis without having asthma, however, if you have asthma, your chances of getting bronchitis are also higher. The term of bronchial asthma ( bronchial asthma ) is used to describe the bronchitis you get as a direct result of asthma. Although we see that there is a link between the two medical conditions, they are different in what causes them. Bronchitis, as the name also suggests, is the result of an infection while asthma is more or less an allergic reaction.

However, the two conditions can be easily confused because their symptoms are almost the same: wheezing, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest. Medical professionals and specific tests can determine where you will suffer.

Asthma with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)

COPD is a term used to describe a group of medical conditions that affect breathing and obstruct air flow, such as severe asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema. It is possible for both . COPD overlapping syndromes, in which case the term asthma is used.

The symptoms of this disease are similar to asthma, and while it’s not always serious, it can quickly become life-threatening. Due to the similarity in symptoms, usually people with asthma are not diagnosed with COPD when there is an unfortunate case as these two conditions should be treated appropriately.

Asthma or Anxiety

One of the triggers of asthma can also be emotional stress. Experiencing stress can lead to anxiety if the person does not know how to handle stressful situations, which in some cases can trigger panic attacks. Panic attacks are episodes of intense anxiety that occur all of a sudden. While it’s sometimes difficult to differentiate between asthma and panic attacks because both of them cause breathing problems and chest tightness, there are some characteristics that make it easier to diagnose which. It’s where. For example, panic attacks are also accompanied by Hyperventilation, nausea, sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and fear of death are not the symptoms that would occur in asthma.

Asthma Diagnosis

Asthma is diagnosed by a doctor after an assessment of the patient’s medical history, a physical exam, and sometimes some additional tests. Some of the tests Specific asthma or asthma control tests include: spirometry (a test that assesses the amount of air a person inhales and exhales), methanol before and after a spirometry test to see if it stimulates. narrowed airways), chest X-ray or CT scan (to rule out the possibility of other things causing symptoms), allergy testing (to determine if the patient is allergic to something or not In this case, treatment can prevent asthma).

Asthma Nursing Diagnosis and Asthma Nursing Intervention

Generally, nursing plans for asthma are built around preventing allergic reactions, managing allergens, maintaining stable airflow and airways, and preventing further respiratory complications.

Asthma doctor/asthma specialist

You might be wondering right now, “ Which asthma doctor recommends?” Two of the most qualified specialists who can help diagnose and treat asthma are lung specialists. If you don’t know anyone with this professional experience or you don’t have access to a GP who can guide you, you can just google . ” Asthma doctors near me ” / ” Asthma specialists near me ” and choose who to make an appointment.

Asthma Treatment

While there is no cure for asthma, there are some general guidelines for treating asthma, making its symptoms easier to manage. These recommendations usually include inhalers, tablets, or other treatments that can control asthma. When you are diagnosed with asthma, your doctor will create a personalized plan for you based on your specific symptoms and severity. But keep in mind that this plan may experience changes over time as your symptoms develop and your body responds to treatment.

Asthma inhaler

There are three types of inhalers, one that relieves symptoms. (asthma inhaler or relief inhaler) that prevents symptoms from progressing (prevent inhalation) and symptoms at both.

Oxygen therapy for asthma

Another very important form of treatment, especially for children with asthma, is asthma oxygen therapy. Hypoxia, a condition in which there is not enough oxygen to the bloodstream and tissues, is the leading cause of death in children with asthma. Therefore, oxygen therapy is essential and very helpful in managing asthma symptoms.

Asthma humidifier

What people with asthma can do to relieve their symptoms is to use a humidifier in their room that can maintain a constant humidity level and can also filter out allergens and other substances in the air that may be present. cause an attack

Is asthma a disability?

It is now clear that asthma is a serious medical condition that can impair someone’s quality of life and their ability to function and function properly. Therefore, asthma is classified as a disability, as is an allergy.

Conclusion

Asthma is a lung condition manifested through breathing problems that can range from mild to severe, even life-threatening. While there is no specific asthma trigger or cure, there are some ways to adjust your environment and lifestyle in a way that prevents asthma flare-ups along with following a viable treatment plan. Get approval from a medical professional