Asthma Disease
What is asthma?
Asthma is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by reversible airflow obstruction. Common symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Asthma can start at any age, but it most commonly starts in childhood. Boys are more likely to develop asthma than girls in early childhood.
Asthma Disease
What can trigger asthma?
If you have asthma, an asthma attack can happen when you are exposed to “asthma triggers.”
Some of the most common triggers are:
• Exposure to secondhand smoke
• Hormones:
Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism
Menstrual
cycle in some women: A small number of women with asthma find that
changes in their hormone levels can be a trigger. This may be worse
before menstruation.
• Foods such as Sulfites and preservatives added to some types of foods
• Airborne irritants: including cigarette smoke, chemical fumes and atmospheric pollution
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Emotions – including stress or laughing
Asthma Disease
What can trigger asthma?
• Allergens such as dust mites, pollens, molds, pet dander, and cockroach
• Viral infections
• Medicines: include beta-blockers, aspirin, acetaminophen and ACE Inhibitors
• Exercise, specially in cold, dry air or weather, is a common cause of asthma symptoms. This is usually called exercise-induced asthma (EIA). Symptoms of EIA usually begin 5-10 minutes after completion of exercise, and attacks typically resolve within 30 minutes. Many people with asthma take medicine before exercising to prevent flare-ups. Short-acting beta agonists, Inhaled corticosteroids, Leukotriene modifiers, or Mast cell stabilizers are the most commonly used and generally most effective pre-exercise medications.
Asthma Disease
What can trigger asthma?
- Exposure to certain substances in the workplace can cause occupational asthma.
- Weather conditions including a sudden change in temperature, cold air, windy days, hot and humid days
- Chemical fumes and other strong-smelling substances like perfumes
Asthma Disease
What are risk factors for asthma?
- A number of factors are thought to increase your chances of developing asthma. These include:
- Family History of Asthma
- Smoking: Smokers have a high risk of asthma. Those whose mothers smoked during pregnancy or who were exposed to secondhand smoke are also more likely to have asthma.
- Air Pollution: pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, ozone raise the risk for asthma.
- Viral Infections
- Being overweight
- Atopy: Atopy means a genetic predisposition that increases a person's risk of developing certain allergic conditions such as eczema (atopic dermatitis), allergic rhinitis and asthma. Some findings indicate that children with atopic dermatitis may have more severe and persistent asthma as adults.
- Allergens such as dust mites, pollens, molds, pet dander, and cockroach
Asthma Disease
What are the symptoms of asthma?
Symptoms of asthma include:
• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath
These symptoms are often worse at night and early in the morning, particularly if the condition is not well controlled. For some people with asthma specially children, a cough is the main symptom.
Asthma Disease
Treatment
Asthma medications are often divided into two groups:
bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory agents.
Bronchodilator medications
There are three types of bronchodilator medications:
• Beta2-agonists (short- and long-acting forms)
• Anticholinergics
• Theophylline
Short-acting forms beta2-agonists: Albuterol, Pirbuterol and Levalbuterol
Long-acting forms beta2-agonists: Salmeterol and Formoterol
Anticholinergic drugs
Examples of these medications include ipratropium (Atrovent) and tiotropium (Spiriva).
Theophylline
Asthma Disease
Treatment
Anti-inflammatory medications
Inhaled corticosteroids: Inhaled corticosteroids are first-line anti-inflammatory therapy.
Examples of these medications include: Fluticasone, Beclomethasone and Mometasone
Systemic corticosteroids
These medications include: Prednisone and Methylprednisolone
Leukotriene modifiers
These medications include: Montelukast and Zafirlukast
Mast cell stabilizers
These medications include: Cromolyn sodium and Nedocromil
Omalizumab (Anti-IgE)