Asthma

What is asthma?

Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways to the lungs. It makes breathing difficult and can make some simple physical activities like talking or walking difficult or even impossible. The World Health organization (WHO) estimates that there are 300million people world-wide suffering from asthma with a country incidence rate of 1.5/1000 per year for Ghana.

Normally, with every breath you take, air goes through your nose or mouth, down into your throat, and into your airways, and finally to your lungs. There are lots of small air passages in your lungs that help deliver oxygen from the air into your bloodstream.

In asthma however the lining of your airways swells and the muscles around them tighten. Phlegm then fills the airways, which causes the airways to become smaller preventing enough air from reaching your lungs. This then brings on an asthma “attack,” which is the coughing and tightness in the chest that’s typical of asthma.

What are the symptoms of asthma?

The most common symptom of asthma is wheezing. This is rough whistling sound that occurs when you breathe. Coughing, especially at night, when laughing, or during exercise. Tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, difficulty talking, tiredness, chest pain, rapid breathing and frequent infections. You should also seek treatment if you experience symptoms of an asthma emergency or if someone you know is experiencing them

What some causes and triggers of asthma?

Although asthma is especially common in children, many people don’t develop asthma until they are adults. Asthma is believed to be caused by a variety of factors. These factors include:

• History of asthma in one’s family, Prolonged exposure to air pollutants
• Hygiene hypothesis. This theory explains that when babies aren’t exposed to enough bacteria in their early months and years, their immune systems don’t become strong enough to fight off asthma and other allergic conditions.

Many factors can also trigger asthma and cause symptoms to worsen. These include:

Health conditions, such as respiratory infections, exercise, environmental irritants, allergens (perfumes, smoke, dust), intense emotions, extreme weather conditions, pests and certain medications, including aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

How is the diagnosis of asthma made?

There’s no single test that will determine if you or your child has asthma. Instead, your doctor will use a variety of conditions to determine if the symptoms are the result of asthma.

• Health history. If you have family members with the breathing disorder, your risk is higher. Alert your doctor to this genetic connection.
• Physical exam. Your doctor will listen to your breathing with a stethoscope. You may also be given a skin test to look for signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives or eczema. Allergies increase your risk for asthma.

Doctors don’t typically perform breathing tests in children under 5 years of age because it’s difficult to get an accurate reading. Instead, they may prescribe asthma medications to your child and wait to see if symptoms improve. If they do, your child likely has asthma. This too applies to adults.

What are some misconceptions about asthma?

You can outgrow asthma

This is probably the myth that most people believe. Asthma is a chronic disease that changes over time. It can disappear as a child becomes a teenager and adulthood, but almost always returns later in life. If it does not, chances are pretty good that the person didn’t have asthma, but another condition that mimics asthma.

How is asthma treated?

Acute flares can be prevented by avoiding triggers, however in the event of an episode quick-relief asthma treatments. These medications should only be used in the event of asthma symptoms or an attack.

Bronchodilators

They work within minutes to relax the tightened muscles around your airwaves and decrease symptoms quickly. They work by inhaling the dry powder of the drug using an inhaler via the mouth.

Long-term asthma control medications

These medications are taken daily to help reduce the number and severity of your asthma symptoms.

• Anti-inflammatories: Taken with an inhaler, corticosteroids and other anti-inflammatory medications help reduce swelling and mucus production in your airways, making it easier to breathe.
• Anticholinergics: These helps stop your muscles from tightening around your airways. They’re usually taken daily in combination with anti-inflammatories.

*A review of epidemiological studies of asthma in Ghana. Ghana Medical Journal, 46 (2 Suppl), 23-28.