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showAsthma or bronchial asthma is a chronic lung disease in which the airways become narrow and inflamed, and it gets blocked by excess mucus produced by these airways. This disease may be a minor irritation for some, but for others, it severely impacts their daily functioning and can also be life-threatening [1].
India has an estimated 30 million asthma patients, and it is one of the leading causes of morbidity in rural India. As per the findings of the World Health Organisation, about 80% of asthma deaths occur in low and middle-income countries [2].
Here’s a quick glance at the symptoms, causes, tests and medications for treating asthma. Take a look:
Symptoms | Breathing difficulty, coughing, whistling sound while breathing |
Complications | Interference with daily activities, side effects of medicines, etc. |
Causes | Airborne allergens like pollens, dust mites; air pollutants and smoke; cold air; respiratory infections like common cold. |
Onset | Can develop anytime during your lifespan |
Diagnosis | Physical assessment, spirometry, peak flow, imaging tests, methacholine challenge. |
Prevention | Follow an asthma action plan, vaccination against influenza and pneumonia, identify asthma attacks early and seek medical advice. |
Medication | Allergy shots, inhaled corticosteroids, leukotriene modifiers, combination inhalers |
To understand asthma in more detail, read on!
The symptoms of asthma will differ from one individual to another. You may experience irregular asthma attacks and, at the same time, witness asthma symptoms at certain times, like when working out or when doing rigorous physical activity.
People with severe asthma will experience breathing problems on most occasions. Some asthma symptoms are as follows [3]:
Here are some symptoms that indicate that your asthma may be worsening:
There are some factors that lead to a higher risk of asthma, which are as follows [4]:
Additionally, there are three situations in which asthma signs may flare up. They are as follows:
Asthma can be categorised into various types depending on the severity of symptoms, such as [5][6]:
Apart from these types, there are some types of asthma that are non-recurring in nature. The symptoms of such asthma types may flare up at certain times, but you may feel normal between asthma attacks. Some examples include:
Moreover, there are some types of asthma that may affect people at different stages of life. These include:
There can be instances of you suffering from severe asthma even when it is efficiently managed and controlled. It is important that you call a doctor or visit a hospital when you are experiencing the following [7]:
You will first be asked to undergo some lung function tests by the doctor to understand the functioning of your lungs. These tests are as follows [8]:
Asthma is a chronic disease meaning that there is no cure available for it at present. However, there is increasing evidence of normal life expectancy among people suffering from asthma if they manage it efficiently with the help of medications and devices.
It is important that people take care so that there are no regular asthma attacks. Moreover, triggers that can cause severe asthma should also be properly managed. This includes wearing a mask when outdoor air quality is bad and remaining indoors for as long as possible.
Moreover, one should maintain a distance from hazardous occupational activities that may aggravate his/her asthma [9][10][11].
Preventive long-term measures can be an effective way to stop asthma attacks before it initiates. The treatment comprises trigger management, i.e., identifying the causes of your triggers and taking steps to avoid them. In any case, medications are mandatory to keep attacks under check [12].
Long-term asthma medications depend on the severity of your symptoms, age, health profile, etc. It helps in reducing the swelling of your airways which is the main cause of developing symptoms. On the other hand, bronchodilators or quick relief inhalers give immediate relief.
Here is a list of long-term asthma medications [12]:
Quick relief medications that provide immediate relief are:
Asthma mainly occurs due to a combination of environmental and genetic factors.
Here are some steps that you can take in order to secure yourself from contracting asthma or aggravating already-developed asthma [13][14]:
Asthma is one of the major non-communicable diseases and affects people of all age groups. Especially in case of children, we have seen rising incidences of chronic asthma. It affected around 262 million people in the year 2019 and was a cause of death for 4,55,000 people. It is important to take proper care of yourself and avoid developing complications [1].
Here is a list of complications that may arise from asthma [17]:
However, you can avoid these complications with proper management under doctor guidelines.
In India, the average cost of treatment of asthma in India stands at ₹18,700 per year. However, it varies from patient to patient and their severity. At the same time, the average annual cost of medications (including inhalers like bronchodilators) stands at ₹7400 per year. Moreover, the mean annual cost of a doctor’s visit is ₹3000 per year.
The average annual charges for hospitalisations stand at ₹62,500 per year. However, these treatment costs will vary from one individual to another. It is also seen that treatment cost also varies region wise. The cost might be very high in metros and tier 1 cities and on the lower side in tier 3 cities and towns [18].
Asthma is a chronic disease that affects lakhs of children and adults in India and around the world. It is important to take care in the best possible manner and avoid the triggers that could potentially develop or aggravate an existing condition. Monitor your health regularly and consult your doctor immediately if you experience breathing problems.
With the rising medical costs, managing asthma with the right treatment could become a costly affair and put strain on your savings. Thanks to Navi Health Insurance you can avail of cashless treatments at more than 10,000+ network hospitals across the country, get unlimited online consultations, annual check-ups, hassle-free claim settlements, and many other perks with premiums starting at just ₹234 per month. Get a quote now!
It's highly likely to be asthma if your cough is accompanied by several other asthma symptoms like breathlessness, wheezing or chest tightness. Uncontrolled asthma may result in the development of thick mucus while coughing.
Asthma medications and other precautions usually continue for a lifetime. There is no effective cure available for this illness, and it can only be controlled by proper management.
Yes, air pollution and asthma are linked with each other. It has been seen that areas having high pollution levels record more asthma cases than areas that are less polluted. Inhaling of vehicular fumes, smoke and industrial gases also deteriorates lung functioning.
The cost of bronchodilators or immediate relief inhalers varies from ₹150 to ₹250. However, the cost may fluctuate as per supply and region-wise.
Quick relief inhalers are one of the most popular and effective treatments for asthma. You can also take tablets and other medications in case of severe asthma cases.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/asthma
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4284294/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/asthma/symptoms/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/asthma/causes/
https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/asthma/learn-about-asthma/types
https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/understanding-asthma/types/
https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/asthma/symptoms-diagnosis
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/asthma/diagnosis
https://toolkit.severeasthma.org.au/living-severe-asthma/prognosis/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/asthma/treatment/
https://allergyasthmanetwork.org/news/covid-19-face-mask-guidelines-for-people-with-asthma/
https://allergyasthmanetwork.org/what-is-asthma/how-is-asthma-treated/
https://acaai.org/asthma/treatment/medication/
https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/asthma/managing-asthma/create-an-asthma-action-plan
https://acaai.org/allergies/management-treatment/allergy-immunotherapy/allergy-shots/
https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/faqs.htm
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/asthma/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6034364/
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