Asthma is a chronic condition of the lungs that makes breathing difficult. It has been found that currently, it affects 25 million people in the country, including over five million children. One of the typical signs of the condition is a wheezing sound produced when the individual breathes. An asthma attack can be triggered by various factors, such as pollution, emotional distress, and more. Here is all you need to know about asthma.
Asthma and its types
Asthma, also called bronchial asthma, is an inflammatory disease of the airways leading to the lungs. It causes the air passage to become swollen, narrow and accumulated with mucus. During this condition, respiration becomes strenuous, and some physical activities are hard to perform. This condition can be distinguished as the following:
Intermittent
This kind of asthma comes and goes and makes individuals feel normal between the flares.
Persistent
It means that the person may have mild to moderate and severe symptoms. These are present during a majority of the time.
Allergic
The attacks are caused by the individual’s allergic reaction to mold, pet dander and pollen.
Non-allergic
Certain external factors like stress, weather, illness, and exercise may lead to asthma flare-ups.
Adult-onset
In this case, a person develops asthma after the age of eighteen years.
Pediatric
It is also called childhood asthma and usually starts before the age of five.
Asthma signs and symptoms
The signs and symptoms of asthma may mimic certain respiratory infections, and these are:
Wheezing
Coughing, particularly at night
Shortness of breath
Chest tightness
Asthma causes
Asthma can have several causes, such as the following given below:
Allergies
Allergies in individuals raise the risks of having asthma.
Respiratory infections
Several respiratory infections like RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) may damage the developing lungs of young children.
Genetics
Genetic factors also contribute to this condition.
Treatments for asthma
To diagnose this condition, the healthcare provider may order tests such as spirometry, skin test, blood test, and chest X-Ray. The treatment is administered according to the overall health of the individual, case history, etc,.
Asthma remedies
While there are various natural remedies available for asthma, it is always advised to follow them after consulting a healthcare provider. Acupuncture, biofeedback, and yoga are some of these options.
Foods to help with asthma
Vegetables and fruits
Vegetables and fruits are storehouses of antioxidants such as beta carotene and vitamins C and E. These are effective in blocking free radicals, which may else cause harm to the cells and could irritate and inflame the lungs.
Nuts and seeds
Nuts and seeds like hazelnuts, almonds and raw seeds are loaded with Vitamin E. It consists of tocopherol, which can help reduce the frequency of wheezing and coughs resulting from asthma.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D-rich foods are also helpful in dealing with this condition. It helps lessen the airway’s swelling by strengthening and boosting the immune system response.
It is always best to connect with the healthcare provider to manage this condition well. Self-treatment is not advisable, whether following any meal plan or going for any natural remedy for asthma. In addition, this post is for information purposes only. The advice and recommendation of a specialist should not be ignored.
