Bronchial Asthma is a more specific term used to describe what is traditionally known as simply asthma, which is a chronic inflammatory disease that effects the airways by causing coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath “attacks“. More than twenty-two million Americans are suffering from various intensities of Bronchial Asthma. While not all cases of asthma have an element relating to allergies, a large number of them do. There is a strong genetic component for Asthma as well, so having a family history of Asthma is typically a reliable indication of a future with Asthma as well.

Asthma

Because of the symptoms that are commonly associated with asthma, the disease is regularly associated with mast cells, T lymphocytes and Eosinophils. Mast cells are the cells that create allergies by releasing histamines and other chemicals. Histamine is a substance that is responsible for nasal stuffiness and dripping when you have a cold or are suffering from hay fever, as well as the constriction of airways that is common during an asthma attack, and the itchy areas when reacting to a skin allergy. Eosinophils are white blood cells that are associated with allergic diseases, and T lymphocytes are white blood cells, but these are associated instead with inflammation and allergies.

These cells that are most commonly associated with Asthma, as well as some other inflammatory cells, are all involved in the development of airway inflammation problems that contribute to airway hyper-responsiveness, respiratory symptoms, airflow limitation and chronic problems with disease. This inflammation may result in the feeling of breathlessness or chest tightness in some individuals, especially at night in the case of nocturnal asthma or in the early morning hours. Other sufferers of Asthma only feel symptoms during exercise, and this is known as exercise-induced asthma. Because of the inflammation, the hyper-responsiveness of the airways tends to occur only as a result of specific triggers. Allergies and Bronchial Asthma are strongly linked to one another, as well as to a number of other respiratory-related diseases, including middle ear infections, chronic sinusitis and nasal polyps.

The following is a brief list of potential triggers for Bronchial Asthma:

  • Tobacco Smoke
  • Infections including colds, flu and pneumonia.
  • Allergens including foods, pollen, dust mites, pet dander and mold.
  • Exercise, in the case of exercise-induced asthma.
  • Air pollution and other toxins.
  • Specific weather conditions, especially when the change in temperature is extreme.
  • Specific drugs, including Aspirin, NSAIDs and beta-blockers.
  • Certain food additives, including MSG.
  • Both anxiety and emotional stress, or other extreme emotions including singing, laughing and crying.
  • Smoking, perfume sprays or strong smells.
  • Acid reflux.

If suffering from bronchial asthma, any of the following symptoms and signs may apply during an asthma attack. It is common for people not to experience all of these symptoms at once, but many people do.

  • Shortness of breath or breathlessness.
  • Tightness in the chest.
  • Wheezing
  • Excessive coughing or a couch that keeps you awake during the night.

Because asthma attacks can not necessary be queued, it is difficult to diagnose. This is why it is important to describe any and all signs and symptoms of asthma to a doctor for an accurate appraisal. You should also indicate when and where the symptoms typically appear, such as during exercise, at night, or after you smell smoke. There are several different asthma tests which may be administered, including a PFT or Pulmonary Function Test that measures your capacity for breathing, a PEF or Peak Expiratory Flow which monitors how well your asthma is doing, especially at home, and chest x-rays which can rule out other diseases that cause similar symptoms.

Once Bronchial Asthma has been correctly diagnosed by your physician, your specialist doctor will be able to recommend a specific asthma medication including asthma inhalers or management medications, and he or she will likely recommend changes to your lifestyle that will help to treat and to prevent any future asthma attacks. Long-acting anti-inflammatory asthma inhalers, for example, are often necessary in order to treat the inflammation that is associated with an asthma attack. These inhalers essentially deliver a low dose of steroids directly to the lungs, and if used properly this has significantly minimal side effects. There is also a “fast acting” bronchodilator that works immediately by opening airways during an asthma attack.

You should learn how to use both of these inhalers and your doctor will take the time to walk you through when and how to use them before you leave his or her office. There is no real cure to asthma yet, but there are plenty of asthma medications that can be utilized to prevent the signs of asthma. With the right amount of asthma support, there is no reason why you cannot live a completely normal and active life, even when suffering from this disease.

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