Tag Archive for: asthma treatment options

Everything You Need To Know About Asthma: Causes, Symptoms, & Treatments

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What is Asthma

Asthma is chronic condition in which airways to the lung is restricted because they are inflamed and narrowed. Inflamed airways are sensitive and can react to anything in the environment such as anything being inhaled. As a result, your airways narrow even more and they produce mucus which makes it harder for air to flow to the lungs.

Asthma Symptoms and Causes

Some common symptoms of asthma include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness or pressure. You may not have all of these symptoms or you may have different symptoms at different times. These symptoms may vary from one asthma attack to another, ranging from mild to severe. Some people with asthma may go extended periods of time without having any symptoms and others may have them everyday. Your asthma may become apparent during vigorous exercise or colds.

It is important to take note the symptoms of an actual asthma attack. An asthma attack is the episode in which bands of muscle surrounding the airways are triggered to tighten. This tightening is called bronchospasm. There tends to be rapid breathing, difficulty talking, a sweaty face, and possibly blue lips or fingernails.

Asthma Treatment

Asthma medication can help you live an active and normal life. There are two basic drugs that are used in asthma treatment:

Steroids and Other Anti-Inflammatory Drugs prevent asthma attacks and work by reducing swelling and mucus production in the pathway leading to your lungs. They airways tend to be less sensitive this way and less likely to react to the environment.

Bronchodilators relieve the symptoms of asthma by relaxing the muscles that can tighten around the airways. This helps to open up the airways.

Short-acting bronchodilator inhalers are often referred to as rescue inhalers and are used to quickly relieve the cough, wheeze, chest tightness, and shortness of breath caused by asthma. They are also used prior to exercise. These should not be used daily in the routine treatment of asthma. If you need to use a short-acting bronchodilator as a rescue inhaler more than twice a week, then your asthma is not optimally controlled.

Long-acting bronchodilators are sometimes used in combination with inhaled steroids for control of asthma symptoms or when someone has ongoing asthma symptoms despite treatment with a daily inhaled steroid.

Asthma inhalers are the most common and effective way to deliver asthma drugs to the lungs. They are available in different types that require different techniques for use. Some inhalers deliver one medication and others contain two different medications.

If you’re having difficulty using small inhalers, your doctor may prescribe an asthma nebulizer. This machine requires a mouthpiece or mask and is typically used for anyone who has difficulty using inhalers with spacers. The nebulizer changes asthma medications from a liquid to a mist, so that they can be easily inhaled into the lungs. This takes a few more minutes than using inhalers.

Asthma is a very important concept to have information on regarding your own health and people close to you. It’s a common health issue and almost anyone can have it. It is vital to take the time to know about it and to acquire the best treatment option if you have it. That’s where we can help! Schedule an appointment with our pulmonary specialists, who can walk you through the appropriate treatment plan to help you deal with your asthma and get back on your feet.

The Difference Between Asthma And COPD

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It’s safe to say that nearly anyone who’s ever had a cold knows what it’s like to not be able to breathe properly. In fact, it’s probably one of the worst parts of being sick. But, when symptoms like this persist, or when they happen when a cold isn’t present, then it’s likely that the root of the issue is a respiratory disease.

Asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) are two of the most common kinds of lung disease. Given that the main symptoms for both of them are coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath, it’s often difficult to identify which condition you have. Despite their similarity in symptoms, both Asthma and COPD have some very distinct differences that allow for them to be easily told apart.

Asthma Vs. COPD

Asthma is a lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways. While most of the symptoms of Asthma and COPD are the same, the way in which they present themselves is largely different.

Most people who suffer from asthma are diagnosed as children. Though the disease is always there, it may not always show symptoms. Rather, the symptoms of asthma come and go depending on “triggers” such as environmental factors, air quality, physical activity, dust, dander, pet hair, etc.

Though there is no clear reason why people develop asthma, most studies have shown it to be a genetic occurrence. And, last of all, asthma is not generally known as a progressive disorder. Meaning that the disorder may improve over time and some people come to completely overcome it.

COPD Vs. Asthma

COPD is an umbrella term used to diagnose people with chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or a combination of both. COPD symptoms are very much like those of asthma, but they are distinguishably different in a few aspects.

Most of the people diagnosed with COPD are adults, usually 40 or older. This is likely because COPD develops over time as a result of lifestyle factors such as smoking. The symptoms of COPD are milder than those of people with asthma but they are constant, and when patients with COPD are around “triggers” their symptoms become much worse. COPD is also progressive, which means that it will likely become more serious over time. Nonetheless, there are ways to stabilize and manage the disease.

Asthma Treatment Options & COPD Treatment Options

In many cases, both lung diseases treatments are the same, such as Bronchodilators and inhalable steroids, but there are also a few treatment options that are specific to each condition.

People with asthma may be encouraged to stay away from triggers or avoid going outdoors when pollen levels are high. In cases of people with severe asthma, a bronchial thermoplasty may be recommended. The procedure burns off some of the muscles in the airway, reducing their ability to constrict.

On the other hand, people with COPD may be encouraged to alter lifestyle habits, such as quitting smoking, to help prevent any further damage. They may also be prescribed oxygen or pulmonary rehabilitation. In severe cases of COPD, procedures like lung volume reduction surgeries and lung transplants may be suggested.

Both Asthma and COPD are treatable diseases that will require some lifestyle changes. Staying informed on your options and taking care of your health is very important in managing lung diseases. For any further questions about these conditions and their treatments, click the link below!