Asthma is an acute as well as chronic respiratory disease affecting millions of people around the world. Also known as COPD, asthma typically ranges in severity from mild to moderate and can have serious consequences if not controlled properly. It is a condition that inflames, narrows and partly blocks your lungs. It can be triggered by several things, including allergies, exposure to a specific irritant in the environment, stress or cold air.
For some people asthma is manageable when they stay current with medications and use an asthma action plan, but others may experience severe attacks and health complications that require hospitalization. This post will cover everything you need to know about asthma symptoms, triggers, treatment options and must-know facts about the disease.
1Symptoms Of Asthma
People who have asthma may experience a number of symptoms. Symptoms of asthma include wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and coughing. In addition to these main symptoms, people with asthma may experience symptoms in their upper body, including fatigue, difficulties sleeping and mood changes. People with the condition may also find that they are out of breath when exercising.
Shortness of breath
Shortness of breath is the most common and troublesome symptom among asthma sufferers. But exactly how does shortness of breath manifests in people with asthma? What are its causes? How can it be prevented? Here are some answers to these types of questions.
Asthma is inflammation of the airways with over-reactive and over-production of muscle contractions. The airway narrows and the lung tissue inflates and becomes constricted, restricting oxygen and can also restrict blood flow to vital organs. When you have asthma, shortness of breath may be brought on by asthma symptoms like wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and phlegm. It can occur at rest or during exercise, when you eat certain foods, and from other triggers. There are several different causes of shortness of breath including: breathing in irritating substances or vapors, pneumonia (lung infection), being in deep water, smoking or withdrawal from smoking, heart failure (a weak heart), or prescription medications.
The National Lung Institute states that asthmatics experience shortness of breath when they have an attack. Shortness of breath can either occur suddenly or slowly grow worse and cause patients to take deeper breaths and inhale more often, creating a vicious cycle that makes breathing more and more difficult.
