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3 Faqs About Asthma

9 April 2019 by Ross Martin

According to the latest statistics from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), more than 26 million people in the United States have asthma. Unfortunately, these numbers only continue to increase. If you want to know more about this respiratory condition, here are the answers to three frequently asked question concerning asthma.

1. How Do People Get Asthma?

Like many medical conditions, a person's chances of having asthma increases if one of their parents has the condition. Considered a chronic respiratory disease, other people can get asthma if they have sensitive airways. When the airway gets filled with certain triggers, it can produce an asthma attack.

Some common triggers include:

• Cold air
• Pollen
• Pet dander
• Smoke
• Mold and mildew
• Cockroach droppings

For those who have allergies and asthma, many allergens can also cause an asthma attack. This is due to the fact that allergens cause the airway to become inflamed. An attack can also be brought on while exercising or experiencing stress or strong emotions.

2. What Are the Symptoms of Asthma?

Some people with asthma have symptoms all the time, while other symptoms are only brought on during an asthma attack. Symptoms vary from one person to the next, but the most common symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath
• Tightness or pain in the chest
• Trouble sleeping due to coughing
• Whistling sounds while exhaling

If these symptoms persist, or they decrease a person's quality of life, they need to see a doctor and seek asthma treatment. It's also important to know that when certain symptoms last for a prolonged period of time, they can become life threatening.

3. How Is Asthma Treated?

Once a person is diagnosed with asthma, they will have it for the rest of their life, as there is no cure for this respiratory disease. The condition can be controlled, however, and it symptoms can be managed. Treatment for asthma usually involves avoiding triggers that cause attacks. When they can't be avoided, it's important to treat the symptoms as quickly as possible. This usually involves prescription medications or using an inhaler. An inhaler can quickly administer mist to the lungs, making it easy to breathe and lessen the severity of an asthma attack.

Many people who have asthma see an allergist or a pulmonologist. This kind of doctor will find the most effective form of asthma treatment for a person's specific case. When an effective asthma treatment is found, coughing and shortness of breath should start happening less frequently and asthma attacks should no longer warrant a trip to the emergency room.

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