Asthma

Asthma is a chronic condition of the lungs. In asthma, the lungs are inflamed. It can occur in both children and adults. Because of the inflammation, people with asthma have difficulty breathing. Symptoms can also worsen during an asthma attack.

What is asthma?

Asthma is a condition in which there are always small areas of inflammation in the lungs. Because of these inflammations, the lungs are extra sensitive to triggers such as smoke, dust mites, exhaust fumes, chemicals, or pets. These triggers can worsen asthma symptoms. Asthma does not have to cause symptoms every day. It often occurs in asthma attacks, which are temporary worsenings of symptoms.

When the airways are irritated, the mucous membranes in the nose, throat, and lungs swell. They therefore produce more mucus and fluid. The muscles around the airways cramp due to the irritation. The airways become narrower, which makes breathing more difficult. All these reactions make breathing in and out much harder.

What is the difference between asthma and pneumonia?

In pneumonia, the lungs are inflamed due to an infection or bacteria. This can be treated well with medicines, so pneumonia is temporary. In asthma, the lungs are chronically, and thus permanently, inflamed. The inflammation in asthma is a reaction to triggers and not to an infection or bacteria. The symptoms can be completely absent temporarily.

What are the symptoms of asthma?

Asthma causes a number of well-known symptoms such as:

• Breathlessness. This is the best-known symptom; during an attack, it can even feel like choking.
• Wheezing. This is caused by the narrowing of the airways.
• Shortness of breath. This means being out of breath quickly and the feeling of gasping for air.
• Coughing. This is because the mucous membranes are irritated. By coughing, the body wants to get rid of the mucus.
• Lack of energy. Because breathing takes more effort, fatigue can occur.

What are the different types of asthma?

There are different types of asthma. People often have a combination of several types:

• Allergic asthma. Symptoms occur due to inhaling substances to which someone is allergic.
• Non-allergic asthma. Symptoms are not due to an allergic reaction. They can be caused by smoky rooms, cold air, or, for example, perfume.
• Exercise-induced asthma. This is asthma that arises through exertion, especially in sports. Symptoms occur when starting activity too quickly. Starting sports gently prevents many symptoms.
• Severe asthma. This is a form of asthma that is difficult to control. All of the above types can also be severe asthma.

How is asthma treated?

Treatment depends on the symptoms and the person. Asthma cannot yet be cured, but medicines can reduce the symptoms. Medicines that can be prescribed are bronchodilators and anti-inflammatories.

Bronchodilators open up the airways more, which reduces breathlessness. The medicines can be taken with an inhaler or as a tablet. By inhaling via an inhaler, the medicines reach the lungs directly.

Anti-inflammatories reduce the inflammation, which in turn reduces symptoms. When asthma is due to an allergy, medicines against that allergy can also be given.

What can you do yourself if you have asthma?

There are various things you can do yourself to reduce symptoms:

• Do not smoke. And ask friends/family not to smoke in your presence.
• Maintain an active lifestyle. Exercise trains the lungs.
• For allergic asthma, try to avoid allergic triggers. For example, do not keep a pet and use fabrics that attract less dust mite.
• Choose a good holiday destination. Clean air is important; this can be in the mountains or by the sea. Try to avoid busy cities because of exhaust fumes and fine dust.

What is the difference between asthma and COPD?

People often think that COPD and asthma are the same, but they are not. Asthma and COPD are both respiratory diseases, but there are a number of differences. In COPD, the airways are narrowed as a result of damage, such as by smoking.

Unfortunately, a true single cause for asthma has not yet been identified. Symptoms in asthma are intermittent, while in COPD they are continuous. The treatment and course of asthma are often better, and patients can, on average, live longer with it. In COPD, symptoms often gradually get worse, and life expectancy is shorter.

If you have lung symptoms, contact a specialist respiratory physiotherapist.