Asthma

Asthma or Bronchial Asthma is a disease condition that primarily affects the lungs. When the patient comes in contact with a trigger, there is airways constriction followed by reduced airflow and clogging with sticky mucus. This may produce symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, chest pain, coughing and wheezing.

Asthma can be mild and intermittent or persistent enough to interfere with day-to-day activities, leading to life-threatening asthma attacks. Asthma can be triggered by allergens such as dust, pollen, pet dander, mould, etc., or by other non-allergic factors such as exercise, cold temperatures, stress, respiratory infections, etc. While there is no cure for it, asthma can be easily managed by medical professionals and ayurvedic practitioners, enabling patients to live symptom-free lives. Treating asthma early on may also prevent long-term lung damage and help keep the condition from getting worse over time.

The symptoms and severity of asthma vary from patient to patient. They may range from infrequent asthma attacks to the continuous presence of symptoms to symptoms only on exercising or exposure to chilly weather or occupation-related. Commonly seen symptoms include:

a) Shortness of breath.

b) Chest tightness or pain.

c) Wheezing when exhaling, which is a common sign of asthma, especially in children.

d) Troubled sleep caused by shortness of breath, frequent coughing or wheezing.

e) Coughing or wheezing attacks worsened by viral respiratory infections.

f) Rapid breathing or shortness of breath when walking, talking or eating.

Since the onset of symptoms can lead to a life-threatening asthma attack, you will need to consult a doctor or take your fast-acting rescue medication at the earliest.

There are three main stages involved in the proper diagnosis of asthma. These include:

a) Medical History – Your doctor will ask you detailed questions about your symptoms, their severity and what triggers them. He will also want to know if anyone in your family has similar symptoms, your occupation and if you have any known allergies.

b) Physical Examination – The doctor will examine your nose, throat, and sinus as well as look for swollen lymph nodes under the jaw. He will also check your skin for eczema or skin allergies. Finally, he will listen to your breathing very carefully.

c) Lung Tests – He will also ask you to blow into a Peak flow meter as well as have a pulmonary function test (PFT) or Spirometry conducted to check how well your lungs are functioning.

Additionally, X-rays and CT scans of the lungs and sinus may also be done along with a GERD assessment and blood and sputum tests. A skin allergy test could also be performed.

As the name suggests, exercise-induced asthma is brought on by strenuous physical activity and is more common in those with persistent asthma. Asthmatic symptoms may develop 5-20 minutes after starting exercise or 5-10 minutes after a session of brief physical exertion. Also known as exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB), it’s estimated that around 90% of asthmatics develop asthma symptoms upon physical exertion.

Normally, the air we inhale gets warmed up and humidified in the nasal passage as we breathe in. But during physical exertion, people tend to breathe in through their mouth, and this air is cooler and drier. As a result, the muscles of the airways contract, thus narrowing the airways, leading to symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, etc. You will need to take your rescue medication immediately or consult a doctor.

It’s possible for people with asthma to also lead normal lives and engage in physical activities. However, only certain activities that involve brief, intermittent periods of exertion such as volleyball, gymnastics, baseball, walking, and wrestling are better tolerated.

Sports that require prolonged periods of activity may not be so well tolerated, including football, long-distance running, basketball, and field hockey, as well as cold-weather sports activities like ice hockey, cross-country skiing, and ice skating. Swimming is one endurance exercise that is well-tolerated by asthmatics and doctors recommended. Even if you have asthma, it’s still very important to remain active for better physical and emotional health. So go ahead and engage in sports and other activities – just keep your rescue medications on hand.

The truth is that regular exercising strengthens the lungs and helps lessen the severity of symptoms of asthma. It also prevents the worsening of inflammation within the airways. The key here is, of course, knowing which exercises to indulge in and how much to push yourself.

One of the most popular exercises for those with asthma is swimming. Walking is another fantastic low-intensity exercise option. Breathing is made simpler by the moderate nature of these activities. Another outdoor activity is going for a leisurely hike. Select a trail that is primarily flat or slopes upwards gradually to reduce exertion. The following sports are appropriate for people with asthma:

1. Swimming
2. Gymnastics
3. Volleyball
4. Baseball
5. Golf

These pursuits will have to include periodic rest periods to make it easier on the lungs.