What you should know about asthma:
It is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, characterized by coughing, expectoration, wheezing, and a feeling of shortness of breath. We frequently hear of asthmatic bronchitis, allergic cough, and spasmodic bronchitis, which correspond to mild or intermittent bronchial asthma.
Asthma is caused by 2 factors:
- Family hereditary genetic predisposition: can be transmitted from parents to children and grandchildren.
- Environment: allergenic substances (house dust, fungi, plant pollen, animal hair, etc.), respiratory infections, environmental pollution, among others.
Recommendations:
- Avoid cigarettes.
- Avoid rugs, stuffed toys, books, and anything that collects dust in the bedroom.
- Keep your bedroom clean and dry.
- Wash bedding frequently.
- Avoid having animals at home.
Medicines:
- Anyone with asthma needs quick-relief medicine to stop asthma attacks, such as bronchodilators that are used by inhalation and only when there is a bronchial spasm.
- Persistent asthmatic patients also need control medications that are given on a daily basis and for long periods. Most are used by inhalation and oral route.
- Preventive medicines do not cause addiction even if they are used for many years. They disappear the inflammation of the airways in the lungs.
Warning signs in asthma:
- Severe cough or loud wheezing.
- Difficulty speaking.
- Shoulders hunched to breathe.
- Nostrils open more than normal for breathing.
- Pale skin or blue/purple lips.
- Peak flow meter reading in the danger zone. This will be explained by your doctor.
If you have at least one of these signs you should go to the ER.
