Asthma is a condition that makes it difficult for patients to breathe. The problem strikes in the tubes carrying air to your lungs. The narrowing of the airways due to inflammation and swelling and the production of mucus restricts the free movement of air. This makes it difficult to breathe.

Asthma can be both a minor as well as a major issue that goes on to interfere with daily life activities.

Signs and Symptoms of Asthma

The intensity of the symptoms and also the types of symptoms may vary from person to person. Some might face frequent asthma attacks whereas others face it not very often. The most common symptoms include:

• Pain in the chest or tightness.
• Shortness of breath.
• A whistle-like noise or wheezing while exhaling.
• Sleeping is difficult due to the enhanced coughing or wheezing and shortness of breath.
• Fatigue, lightheadedness, and palpitations.

Cold or flu worsens the coughs and wheezing attacks.

Asthma-Types, Classification, and Details

Various factors contribute to the development of asthma in a person. There are primarily eight different types of asthma, such as:

1. Occupational asthma: The only way to find out of it is the workplace that is giving you the trouble you could stay away from your workplace for a few days and see if your condition improves. This occurs most commonly with people working in factories or around chemicals, where the irritants in the air tend to impact your health negatively.
2. Exercise-induced Bronchoconstriction: This condition develops when the airways narrow down as a result of physical activities. The common symptoms of EIB include cough, lowered stamina, wheezing, sore throat, upset stomach and shortness of breath.
3. Asthma COPD Overlap: Asthma COPD overlap is a syndrome that occurs to people with both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The latter is a set of pulmonary diseases that interferes with airflow and causes breathing problems. The symptoms would include shortness of breath, fatigue, wheezing, difficulty breathing, excess phlegm, etc.
4. Allergic Asthma: In some people, certain allergens like dust or pollen can trigger asthma-like symptoms or asthma attacks. Not everybody with allergies will have asthma and vice versa. This is what is known as allergic asthma.
5. Non-allergic asthma: If your asthma symptoms start showing up in extreme weather conditions, stress or when you are sick, you are most likely suffering from non-allergic asthma. This condition could be a result of drugs and certain food habits, exercise, viral respiratory infections, and irritants in the air.
6. Adult-onset asthma: For some people, the symptoms of asthma stay unexposed until they become adults. This is referred to as adult-onset asthma. The most frequent symptoms could be breathing trouble, wheezing, tightness in chess, coughing and shortness of breath.
7. Cough-variant Asthma: This type of asthma is characterized by a persistent dry cough.
8. Nocturnal Asthma: The symptoms of this type progressively worsen towards night time.

What Factors Are Responsible For Asthma?

The exact causes of asthma have not been confirmed yet. It is to be believed that various factors contribute to the patient’s development of this breathing condition:

1. A child with multiple viral infections is more prone to developing asthma in the later years.
2. For some, it is a play of genetics. If the family has a history of it, it is very likely for an individual to contract it.
3. One who is exposed to allergens and irritants on a regular basis could most likely develop asthma.
4. Another possible reason could be what is referred to as the hygiene hypothesis. It is said that babies in their initial months are not exposed to enough bacteria and hence, their immune systems do not develop capable of fighting off conditions like asthma.

Furthermore, these factors can trigger asthma symptoms like:

• Irritants in the air: The presence of irritants like smoke, fumes, chemicals, and dust in the air may affect the patient adversely.
• Allergens: The presence of allergens in the air like animal dander, pollen, and dust mites can trigger symptoms of asthma.
• Illness: Flu or pneumonia-like respiratory conditions may trigger asthma symptoms.
• Exercise: An increase in the range of motion may cause difficulty in breathing.
• Emotions: A patient might face an asthma attack while laughing, shouting or crying out.
• Weather extremities: Asthma patients are sensitive to low temperatures as well as very humid weather conditions.
• Particular medications like beta-blockers, ibuprofen, and naproxen among others can act as asthma triggers.
• Other risk factors would include habits like smoking and conditions like obesity.

Asthma Prevention and Traditional Treatment

As stated before, asthma has no cure; although healthcare professionals can help you reduce the occurrence of attacks and make the symptoms bearable.

1. To prevent the occurrences of asthma flare-ups, its recommended one gets vaccinated for flu and pneumonia.
2. Follow the asthma action plan outlines by your doctor since asthma is an ongoing condition and requires to be monitored regularly and take your medications as per schedule.
3. Make sure you monitor your breathing to be vigilant of any possible attacks.
4. Identify what agents trigger your symptoms and try to avoid them as much as possible.
5. Pay a visit to the doctor if you feel like you are over dependant on your quick-relief inhaler.
6. You can prevent asthma by not indulging in smoking habits.
7. Patients with acute severe asthma are treated with oxygen.
8. Bronchodilators like beta-2 agonists, theophylline, and anticholinergics are prescribed which makes breathing easier by opening the airways of the lungs. However, NSAIDs and painkillers often have dire side-effects if used for a prolonged period. Chiropractic therapies are a safe alternative for pain and inflammatory conditions that affect our musculoskeletal system.
9. To calm airway inflammation, steroids or anti-inflammatory drugs are used. They are administered orally, through inhalation or injection.

How can Bowen assist with Asthma 

A Final Thought

Eating a healthier diet, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight and quitting smoking can help manage asthma. A better lifestyle and the treatments available will help you live through asthma and carry on with your normal life. The only key to a healthier life would require you to be well informed about your condition.