Asthma seems to stick up its ugly head usually early in one's life but can also show up in later life. It comes in two types, episodic and chronic. Episodic is also called intermittent and chronic as ongoing.
With chronic asthma the symptoms are ongoing and frequent.
With episodic asthma the symptoms happen just ever so often.
Since every one is different a doctor should be involved in setting up your personal route controlling asthma.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases claims asthma is a major problem from these statistics:
often asthma can bring about death
asthma is rising in the number of deaths it causes
it touches 15 million individuals just in the USA alone
4.8 million children are affected by this disease making it the most chronic disease in childhood.
on the average a typical trip to the emergency room can cost as much as $1700
$6.2 billion is the estimate for costs associated with hospital visits, medicines used and missed school and work.
What asthma does
First of all, folks that don't have asthma easily breath in and out. Air comes in through the mouth and nose and travels to the lungs. Unaffected people have the air flowing freely to their lungs.
Now folks with asthma. They have swollen and inflamed airways. Along comes asthma triggers like dust, pollen and cold air that causes the airways to narrow and usually an asthma attack.
The airways in an asthma attack is narrowed mainly from:
swelling
mucous
the muscles surrounding the airway tighten up
When the airway becomes swollen the muscles around the airway will tighten and they will become narrowed. What happens then is the air can't travel in the airways and breathing is really difficult. This is an asthma attack and brings on wheezing and a constant cough.
Keep in mind that you don't have to be wheezing or coughing to be having an asthma attack.
Symptoms and Signs
How can you tell if someone is has asthma? This disease can feel like a cold or a illness of the lungs. Following are signs or symptoms of asthma and you should be seeing a doctor.
Coughing - Constant coughing especially if wheezing is also happening
Wheezing - When it is difficult to breathe and/or your breathing cause a whistling sound.
Heredity - it is about 3 times more likely that you will get asthma if one of your parents has it.
Trouble breathing after or during exercise - when performing in sports you feel a tightening in the chest, rapid gasping or a constant cough.
Problems during the night - feeling a shortness of breath or waking up with a cough.
How do I know I am having an asthma attack?
A doctor should be able to determine if you possess a few signs of a possible attack. Here a few of those signs:
chest tightens up
wheezing and coughing
flaring of the nose
breathing is difficult
breathing fast
constant coughing at night
seem to be more tired than usual
chest and belly appear sunken
pale inner eyelids or bluish or pale lips
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