About
Asthma can range from being mild to causing life-threatening Asthma attacks. Patients who have Asthma suffer from swollen, narrow air passages which produce mucus and make breathing difficult. There is no cure for Asthma, but medicines and treatments can help make Asthma more manageable.
Causes
Doctors aren’t sure why Asthma affects some people and not others, but it is believed that Asthma is caused by genetic or inherited factors. It is also believed that environmental factors can cause Asthma in children and adults alike. There are different “triggers” that can cause an Asthma attack, and these triggers are different for each person. Cold-air, exercise, allergic reactions, air pollutants and irritants, stress and certain medicines can all lead to Asthma attacks.
Symptoms
- Coughing
- Whistling or wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- Tightness in the chest
- Increased difficulty in breathing
Treatments
While there is no cure for Asthma, there are different medications and treatment options that are available. The right type of treatment will depend on the severity of the patient’s Asthma and certain factors including age, triggers and symptoms. Treatment options include inhalers, oral medications, shots and corticosteroids.
Sources:
www.aafa.org
www.cdc.org
www.mayoclinic.com