Asthma Overview: Understanding the Basics

Asthma, a chronic respiratory ailment impacting the lungs, induces inflammation and constriction of airways, manifesting in symptoms like wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing. Globally prevalent, it afflicted approximately 262 million individuals in 2019, resulting in 455,000 fatalities. 

This condition arises from a blend of genetic predispositions and environmental or occupational exposures, including dust mites, secondhand smoke, air pollutants, viral infections, and workplace irritants. While choking lacks a cure, symptom management through treatments such as corticosteroids and bronchodilators aids in controlling inflammation and expanding air passages.

While there’s no cure for asthma, you can manage it with medication and lifestyle changes. Treatment usually involves using inhalers to open up your airways. Asthma can be caused by things like genetics, the environment, or certain jobs. It’s important to keep an eye on your symptoms and work with your doctor to stay healthy and prevent serious problems.

Experiencing Asthma: What It Feels Like

A big part of choking is when the breathing tubes get inflamed, leading to too much sticky mucus in these passages. People with asthma have trouble breathing when their airways get narrow, swollen, or filled with mucus.

One of the main signs of choking is having a hard time breathing because the muscles around the airways tighten up, making it tough for air to go in and out. Inflammation is a big deal in asthma too, causing the airways in the lungs to swell up and turn red. If this isn’t managed well, it can hurt your lungs over time.

Asthma symptoms can be different for each person. You might not have all the symptoms, or they could change each time. Your choking signs can also be mild or severe and can come and go. Some people have times when they feel fine, but then they suddenly have really bad symptoms called choking attacks.

Others might have symptoms every day, while some only get them during things like exercise or when they catch a cold. Mild choking attacks happen more often and usually go away on their own in a few hours.

But if you have a severe attack, that’s rare and needs to be checked out right away. It’s super important to catch even the smallest symptoms early to stop the big problems and better manage your choking.

Asthma Symptoms and Triggers

Asthma affects people differently and can change over time. When symptoms get worse, it’s called a flare-up or exacerbation. These flare-ups can happen for various reasons. Symptoms are often worse at night or during physical activities like exercise.

Common symptoms of asthma include:

• Coughing, especially at night
• Wheezing when breathing out, sometimes when breathing in
• Trouble breathing or feeling short of breath, even when resting
• Tightness in the chest, making it hard to take deep breaths
• Wheezing when breathing in and out
• Persistent coughing
• Breathing very fast
• Feeling pressure or pain in the chest
• Tight muscles in the neck and chest
• Trouble talking
• Feeling scared or anxious
• Pale, sweaty face
• Bluish lips or nails

Asthma can be triggered by:

• Physical activity, especially in cold or dry weather
• Substances at work like chemicals, gases, or dust
• Allergens in the air like pollen, mold, cockroach waste, or pet dander

Some people notice their symptoms get worse when they have a cold or when the weather changes. Other things like dust, smoke, strong smells, and pet hair can also trigger symptoms. It’s important to know that symptoms could be from other health issues too. If someone has symptoms, they should see a doctor for help.

Understanding Asthma Risk Factors

The exact reasons why some people get choking while others don’t aren’t completely clear. It’s probably a combination of things passed down in families and things in the environment. Many different factors can affect asthma, but it’s tough to say exactly what causes it.

• Asthma often runs in families, so if your parents or siblings have it, you’re more likely to get it too.
• If you have other allergies like eczema or hay fever, you might also be prone to getting choking.
• Living in cities can increase your chances of getting choking because of different lifestyles.
• Early life experiences like being born early or exposed to tobacco smoke can affect your chances of getting choking.
• Things like dust, mold, and chemicals at work can also make choking more likely.
• Being overweight increases the risk of choking for both kids and adults.
• Breathing in secondhand smoke or pollution can also trigger choking.
• Exposure to certain chemicals at work, like in agriculture or hair care, can contribute to choking.

 Strategies for Effective Treatment

Asthma is a condition that can’t be cured, but there are many ways to treat it. One of the most common treatments involves using an inhaler, which sends medicine straight to your lungs. Medications administered through inhalers play a vital role in managing choking, allowing individuals with the condition to lead a regular, active lifestyle. If you or someone you love has choking, it’s important to know the best ways to feel better quickly and keep asthma under control for the long term. This helps you and your doctor manage the symptoms well. If you start feeling symptoms or have an asthma attack, it’s vital to know when to call your doctor to avoid a serious situation.

 There are two main types of inhalers:   

• Bronchodilators like salbutamol help widen your airways and relieve symptoms.
• Steroids like beclometasone reduce inflammation in your airways, improving symptoms and lowering the risk of severe choking attacks and deaths.

For some people with choking, using an inhaler every day is necessary. Treatment depends on how often they experience symptoms and which inhalers they can use. However, using an inhaler can be challenging, especially for kids and during emergencies.

A spacer, a plastic device with a mouthpiece or mask on one end and a hole for the inhaler on the other can help deliver the medicine into the lungs more effectively. Even a homemade spacer, made from a plastic bottle, can work just as well. Unfortunately, getting inhalers can be difficult in many countries.

In 2021, only half of low- and low-middle-income countries had bronchodilators in public health centers, and one-third had steroid inhalers. It’s also crucial to educate people about choking to dispel misconceptions and judgments about the condition in some places.

Accessibility of Asthma Medications

Sometimes, you may need to use quick-relief inhalers to ease choking symptoms. These medications help relax the muscles around your airways, making it easier to breathe. If you find yourself using this type of medicine more than twice a week, it’s important to consult your doctor.

• Short-acting beta-agonists like albuterol, epinephrine, and levalbuterol are the preferred options for quickly relieving choking symptoms.
• Anticholinergics like ipratropium (Atrovent) not only open your airways but also reduce mucus. They may take longer to start working compared to short-acting beta-agonist
• Oral corticosteroids such as methylprednisolone and prednisone, alleviate inflammation within your air passages.
• Combination quick-relief medicines have both an anticholinergic and a short-acting beta-agonist.

Asthma Control Medications:

These medications help control symptoms and prevent choking attacks by reducing swelling and mucus in the airways. They make the airways less sensitive and less likely to react to choking triggers. Usually taken every day, they are the main treatment for asthma, keeping it in check and reducing the chances of choking attacks. Examples of these long-term control medications include

Asthma treatment with corticosteroids:

The most effective long-term control medications for choking are inhaled corticosteroids. It’s important to note that these are not the same as anabolic steroids used for muscle growth. Examples of inhaled corticosteroids include beclomethasone (Qvar RediHaler), budesonide (Pulmicort Flexhaler), ciclesonide (Alvesco), fluticasone (Flovent HFA), and mometasone (Asmanex Twisthaler). These medications help manage asthma symptoms and reduce the likelihood of asthma attacks.

Long-acting beta-agonists for Inhalation:

These medications help to relax the muscles around your airways, making it easier to breathe. You’ll often use them with an inhaled corticosteroid. Examples include formoterol, salmeterol, and vilanterol. Additionally, oral medications like montelukast (Singulair), zafirlukast (Accolate), and zileuton (Zyflo) can also relieve choking symptoms. It’s important to be aware that montelukast might cause psychological reactions like agitation or depression. If you experience any of these, seek medical help right away.

Combined Inhalation Medications:

These combination inhalers make it simple to take an inhaled corticosteroid alongside a long-acting beta-agonist, and sometimes an anticholinergic. Examples include Advair, Breo, Dulera, Symbicort, and Trelegy Ellipta. These medications like fluticasone-salmeterol (Advair Diskus, Advair HFA, AirDuo Digihaler, and others), budesonide-formoterol (Symbicort), formoterol-mometasone (Dulera), and fluticasone furoate-vilanterol (Breo Ellipta) contain a combination of a long-acting beta agonist and a corticosteroid.

Biologic Therapies for choking:

Biologic medications target specific cells or proteins in your body to prevent airway inflammation. They are usually administered through shots or infusions every few weeks. Because they can be costly, they are typically prescribed when other medications haven’t been effective. Biologics include bevacizumab (Fasenra), dupilumab (Dupixent), mepolizumab (Nucala), omalizumab (Xolair), and reslizumab (Cinqair).

Tezspire for Asthma Management:

This injection is a revolutionary medication used to help control choking in adults and kids aged 12 years and older.

How to Use Asthma Medications

Using choking Inhalers: Choking inhalers are the primary and most effective method of delivering asthma medication directly to your lungs. They come in various types, each functioning differently. Some inhalers administer a single medication, while others combine two or three medications. Your doctor will determine the most suitable inhaler for you.

Metered-dose inhaler: Utilizes a small aerosol canister to deliver a quick dose of medication through a plastic mouthpiece.

Dry powder inhaler: Dispenses medication when you inhale deeply, releasing the medicine into your lungs.

Asthma Nebulizer: Consider a nebulizer if inhalers pose challenges. It converts asthma medication into a mist, easing inhalation. With options for mouthpieces or masks, it suits various ages and abilities. Though slower, it offers an effective alternative

Adverse Effects of Asthma Medications

Many medications can have side effects. For instance, inhaled steroids might cause minor issues like thrush infections or a sore throat, or more serious ones like eye disorders or bone loss. Be sure to let your doctor know how your treatment is going and if you experience any side effects. They’ll work with you to manage your asthma with the least amount of medication needed.

Alternative Asthma Therapies

In addition to medications, there are other ways to manage asthma, like bronchial thermoplasty. This procedure targets excess smooth muscle in the airway walls, often seen in people with asthma. Your doctor uses a bronchoscope to apply heat to the walls and reduce this muscle. The treatment is usually done in three visits, spaced about 2 to 3 weeks apart.

 Asthma Management Strategy

You and your doctor will collaborate to develop an action plan, which can be in written form or accessible online. This plan will provide essential information and guidance to help you effectively manage your condition.

• Recognizing Worsening Symptoms
•  Medication Management for Well-being and Exacerbations
•  Emergency Response Protocol
•  Emergency Contact Information for Healthcare Provider
• Managing Asthma Triggers

Home Remedies for Asthma Relief

• Breathing Exercises: Reduce reliance on medication for symptom control.
• Herbal and Natural Remedies: Potential aids for improving asthma symptoms, including black seed oil, caffeine, choline, and pycnogenol.
• Black Seed Oil: Studies suggest it may assist in opening airways.
• Caffeine: Acts as a mild bronchodilator but should be avoided before lung function tests.
• Choline: Supports proper bodily function and can be obtained from various food sources or supplements.
• Pycnogenol: Available as a pine bark extract supplement.

Avoid Asthma Triggers

Many factors in your environment can trigger an asthma attack. By managing these triggers, you can reduce the likelihood of experiencing asthma-related issues. Common triggers include:

• Pet Dander: Keep pets out of the bedroom if possible.
  
• Dust Mites: Wash bedding in hot water, vacuum furniture, consider removing carpets, and wear a dust mask while vacuuming.
• Pollen and Outdoor Mold: Keep windows closed and stay indoors during peak pollen times.
  
• Tobacco Smoke: Seek help to quit smoking and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke.
  
• Cockroaches: Maintain cleanliness, use closed containers for food and garbage, and treat for pests.
  
• Cold Air: Protect yourself with a scarf or mask in cold weather.
  
• Indoor Mold: Repair leaks and clean moldy surfaces with bleach.

Exercise and Asthma: Tips for Safe Physical Activity

• Regular Exercise: Treatment can help prevent asthma attacks and manage symptoms during physical activity.
• Exercise Benefits: Exercise strengthens the heart and lungs, relieving asthma symptoms. In cold temperatures, wearing a face mask can help warm the air you breathe.
• Maintaining a Healthy Weight: Being overweight can worsen asthma symptoms and increase the risk of other health issues.
• Managing Heartburn and GERD: Acid reflux from heartburn may damage lung airways and exacerbate asthma symptoms. Seek treatment for GERD if you experience frequent or constant heartburn. Addressing GERD may be necessary for improving asthma symptoms.

Understanding Alternative Medicine

Alternative medicine refers to treatments used instead of the usual mainstream therapies. Some people call it “integrative” or “complementary” medicine. More than half of adults in the United States use some form of alternative medicine. But what exactly are these therapies?

The definition changes as doctors study and start using more of them in mainstream medicine. This article explores various popular alternative medical treatments, discussing their potential advantages and risks.

Asthma Action Plans: Personalized Strategies for Management

People diagnosed with asthma and their families need to learn a lot about the condition. This means understanding different things like the treatments available, what can trigger asthma attacks, and how to handle symptoms at home.

A crucial part of asthma education is teaching individuals how to change their treatment when their symptoms get worse. This helps prevent serious asthma attacks. Healthcare providers often give an asthma action plan to each person with asthma. This plan is personalized to their needs. It helps them take more control of their treatment. The action plan gives clear steps on how to manage asthma symptoms well. It also tells them when to get help quickly to avoid bad outcomes

WHO’s Action Plan for Asthma Control

Asthma is addressed in the WHO Global Action Plan for NCDs and the UN 2030 Agenda. WHO’s initiatives, like the PEN, enhance asthma management in primary care. Efforts include reducing tobacco exposure through frameworks like the FCTC and WHO programs like MPOWER. GARD supports global respiratory health initiatives.