Asthma
Although not a life threatening condition, without proper management asthma can severly hinder a person’s quality of life. Managing asthma symptoms can be tricky because of a number of factors including the environment, aging, and because asthma symptoms tend to be sporadic and occur at any time. Creating daily methods to manage triggers and health can increase the number of days without asthma symptoms.
One in 12 people (about 25 million, or 8% of the U.S. population) had asthma in 2009, compared with 1 in 14 (about 20 million, or 7%) in 2001. It’s important to be aware of the symptoms of asthma. What you might think is just being out of breath, could actually be a warning sign for asthma.
The biggest thing to look out for is if these symptoms persist past a few days. Sometimes we just get a chest cold that lasts a few days, but if these symptoms persist or become more severe, it might be time to see a doctor.
Asthma is a chronic disease and it can be caused by a variety of factors including genetic history, viral infections, and environmental factors. However, no one really knows why some people are affected by asthma and others are not. Although we do not exactly know what causes asthma, we know the causes of some of the main symptoms.
Inflammation
This inflammation makes the air passages particularly sensitive to irritants and asthma triggers. This inflammation narrows the passageways and makes it harder for you to breathe.
Airway Construction
Some people just have more narrow passageways when it comes to breathing. Those born with a narrower passageway will have harder time breathing. Mucus can also build up within the throat, making it difficult to breathe as well.
Irritants and Triggers
Irritants can also cause inflammation that can lead to asthma. These include:
Most doctors will examine your breathing ability first to see if there could be other factors playing into your respiratory issues. They will listen to your chest while you perform a handful of tests. They also might test you for various allergens to see if your asthma has been triggered by allergies. Through various breathing tests and other examinations, your physician should be able to pinpoint the cause of your respiratory issues.
Begin by raising your overall health. The body is on entity in which different parts influence each other. Ensuring the whole body is healthy will lessen the symptoms of asthma. Putting forth extra effort to include a healthy diet and healthy lifestyle can greatly reduce unnecessary interruptions in the joy of living.
Take Your Medication
Obvious to some but still an issue with others, taking your asthma medication is key to symptom management. Occasionally those living with asthma will feel that the medications they are taking are not effective. On the contrary, medications prescribed by the doctor are necessary and should not be ignored. Daily exercise and a healthy diet will not fully prevent or manage asthma properly so it is important to take asthma mediciation as well.