An overview of the symptoms, triggers, and treatments for asthma

A chronic inflammatory condition, asthma causes the airways in the lungs to contract and swell, leading to the accumulation of excess mucus, which results in difficulty in breathing. People with asthma can find it incredibly difficult or at times, even impossible to do certain physical tasks. Though it can’t be cured, its symptoms can be managed so patients can go about their lives comfortably.

Common signs and symptoms of asthma

Asthma symptoms vary across patients. Some people might experience breathlessness only while doing physically strenuous tasks such as exercising while others might have to deal with it every day, without a particular trigger. The following are some common signs and symptoms of this condition.

• Tightness or pain in the chest
• Shortness of breath
• A wheezing or whistling sound while exhaling (wheezing is common in kids with asthma)
• Trouble sleeping due to difficulty while breathing, coughing, or wheezing
• Coughing and wheezing that’s aggravated further due to a cold or a flu

Signs that one’s asthma is getting worse:

• Frequent recurrence of the signs and symptoms mentioned above
• Increased need to use a quick-relief inhaler
• Increasing difficulty in breathing

Asthma triggers

There are no concrete results yet on why only some people are affected by this condition. Studies reckon that a combination of genetics and environmental factors are at play across cases. Various asthma triggers include the following:

• Cold and dry air
• Physical activity
• Respiratory infections like the common cold
• Allergies cause due to airborne substances such as cockroach waste, dust mites, pet dander, mold spores, and pollen
• Stress
• Air pollutants and irritants
• Sulfites and preservatives in certain types of foods and beverages such as beer, wine, dried fruit, shrimp, and processed potatoes
• Specific types of medicines such as beta-blockers and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

Types of asthma

Understanding what form of asthma one has can help them pick the most viable treatment solution.

• Allergic asthma

The link between allergies and asthma is quite common. Allergic rhinitis inflames the inner lining of the nose, causing the immune system to release histamines in response. Allergy symptoms such as excess mucus, swollen nasal passages, sneezing, and constant runny nose can trigger the condition.

• Exercise-induced asthma

As the name suggests, this type of asthma is triggered by exercise or physical exertion. With exercise-induced asthma, the airways start narrowing after 5 to 20 minutes of exercise. One may experience asthmatic symptoms such as coughing and wheezing during this time.

• Cough-variant asthma

Cough-variant asthma is vastly undiagnosed as well as undertreated. In this type of asthma, severe coughing is one of the predominant symptoms. Cough caused due to sinusitis with asthma is also pretty common. This type of asthma can be triggered by exercise and respiratory infections.

• Occupational asthma

This asthma type results from triggers such as pollutants or irritants in the work environment. Instead of the typical wheezing symptoms, individuals suffer from a runny nose, eye irritation, congestion, or cough. Common patients of occupational asthma are painters, woodworkers, nurses, breeders, and hairdressers.

• Nocturnal asthma

Most people might experience asthmatic symptoms during nighttime because it is strongly affected by circadian rhythms (sleep-wake cycle). This could be because of several factors including the reclining position, cooling of the airways, increased exposure to allergens, and even hormone secretions.

Prevention and treatment options for asthma

There is no way to prevent this condition, however, a proper treatment plan along with some precautions can help alleviate the frequency and intensity of the attacks.

Treatment methods for asthma
Medications

The type of medications used for treatment is influenced by several factors such as symptoms, triggers, age, and what works best for the individual.

Long-term asthma medications

• Generally taken daily, preventive medications can help keep asthma symptoms at bay. These include inhaled corticosteroids, combination inhalers, long-acting beta agonists, theophylline, and leukotriene modifiers.
• Apart from oral medications and inhalers, doctors might also prescribe FDA-approved medicines like FASENRA (benralizumab) that are intravenously administered to control severe asthmatic symptoms in adults and children. FASENRA is a monoclonal antibody that regulates the levels of white blood cells that contribute to the asthmatic symptoms. Its dosage is once every 4 weeks, which is gradually reduced to once every 8 weeks, depending on the patient’s immune system response.

Quick-relief or rescue medicines

Unlike preventive medications, these help in assuaging the asthmatic symptoms during the attack. The healthcare provider may use quick-relief medications in the form of bronchodilators, oral and intravenous corticosteroids, and short-acting beta agonists.

Allergy medications

If asthma is triggered due to allergies, then the doctor will recommend immunotherapy (allergy shots) once a week for the first few months to increase resistance to allergens in the body.

Bronchial thermoplasty

This treatment is typically used for patients who are suffering from severe asthmatic symptoms. An outpatient treatment procedure, bronchial thermoplasty heats the inner part of the airways with the help of an electrode to reduce the smooth muscle in it. This restricts the airways’ ability to tighten and helps one breath easily, lowering the chances of an attack.

3 ways to prevent an asthma attack

To ensure that one doesn’t have to weather a severe asthma attack, they should not only stick to their treatment plan and avoid triggers but also take the following precautions.

• Monitor breathing

This can help one identify any warning signs of an impending attack. Doing so will help the patient take timely measures such as using medications or calling for emergency help.

• Vaccination for pneumonia and influenza
  These two conditions can easily trigger asthma, making it essential to ensure that one is inoculated well in advance to prevent any serious flare-ups.
• Use of quick-relief medications
  If one has been frequently using rescue medications, they must immediately notify their doctor as it could be a sign that their asthma is not under control.

Natural remedies for asthma

While following an asthma plan recommended by the doctor is the best treatment method, one can also try some alternative solutions to prevent flare-ups.

• Buteyko breathing technique
  This breathing technique focuses on breathing through the nose and not the mouth. This is because breathing through the mouth can make the airways drier and make them even more sensitive.
• Honey
  If one is having a cold, then they can consider having honey to soothe the throat and to alleviate the cough. It can be mixed with herbal tea to help prevent flare-ups due to cold.
• Yoga
  Practicing yoga involves breathing and stretching exercises that can distress the body. This could be a good option if one’s trigger for asthma happens to be stress. One can also consider meditation, which may help them be more mindful of their thoughts and physical sensations.
• Acupuncture
  This alternative treatment involves placing tiny needles in specific parts of the body for relieving tension.

Best foods to eat for asthma

The following food items can be consumed if one is suffering from asthma. A proper diet can help lower the frequency and severity of flare-ups.

• Foods rich in vitamin D (milk, fortified milk, eggs, salmon, and fortified orange juice)
• Apples
• Foods abundant in magnesium (spinach, salmon, Swiss chard, pumpkin seeds, and dark chocolate)
• Bananas
• Cantaloupe
• Carrots
• Flax seeds
• Beans
• Turmeric

This article is for information purposes only. Always consult and seek the advice of a physician/licensed healthcare professional with any questions regarding a medical condition or medication.