Asthma is one of the medical conditions that can cause dyspnea, that is, shortness of breath. This illness is chronic and inflammatory in nature, and affects the patient's airways. It is a relatively common condition, with an estimate of around 300 million people affected as of the time of this writing. In the last several decades, the incidence of asthma has risen considerably.

Symptoms

As mentioned, dyspnea may be brought on by a case of this disease. However, there are also other medical signs and symptoms that might appear in an individual who has this disease. Coughing commonly occurs. The person might experience chest tightness. Wheezing is also frequently noted as a symptom. In some people, symptoms may be more continual. In others they are not frequently experienced but only noted from time to time, such as when brought on by a trigger.

Causes

Asthma is understood to be brought on by factors of both genetics and environment. Additionally, certain factors can trigger an attack (or episode) in a person who has the condition but was not experiencing any severe symptoms from it. Infections that occur in the upper respiratory tract, whether bacterial or viral in nature, have the potential to worsen a case of asthma. Some things that may be found in the home and that can lead to an acute attack include house dust mites, dust, molds, and animal dander. Many children and females with asthma have it worsened by exposure to perfumes.

Diagnosis

A diagnosis of this illness is made by someone who is a professional, such as a doctor. At this time, there is no one test that is used to make this diagnosis. Information related to symptoms and how the patient responds to therapy that is given can be taken into consideration. There are also many differential diagnoses that may need to be considered when someone is initially suspected as having something that could be asthma. Several of these include COPD, heart disease, allergic rhinitis, and pulmonary embolism (these vary based on age, and naturally, what it is that the patient is experiencing).

Treatment

When a person has asthma, treatment involves both monitoring the situation and managing symptoms. Plans for treatment vary from one case to the next. They also need professional input; please do not rely on anything on this page to attempt to find a way to treat a case of asthma. In general, lessening the amount of exposure to those allergens that worsen the condition is a positive. Medication is sometimes used, particularly when avoiding triggers is not sufficient to improve the significantly improve the condition of the patient. Of course, asthma inhalers are a well-known treatment method.