Asthma

Asthma is one of the most common health conditions and has different types such as:

• Childhood asthma- It is a common condition among children and can occur at any age, however, it is identified to be more prevalent in children than adults
• Adult-onset asthma- As discussed, asthma can occur at any age, including during adulthood. There are certain risk factors which lead to developing asthma in adulthood. It includes respiratory illness, hormonal factors, allergies, allergens exposure, obesity, stress, and smoking
• Occupation asthma- It occurs as a consequence of allergen exposure or irritants present in the workplace. It is found in a study that more than 21% of working adults having this condition experience worsening of their symptoms at work
• Seasonal asthma- It occurs as a response to allergens present in the surrounding atmosphere at certain times of the year

One of the most common asthma symptoms is wheezing. Other symptoms of asthma are:

• Chest tightness
• Difficulty talking
• Coughing
• Anxiousness or panic attack
• Fatigue
• Trouble sleeping
• Chest pain
• Rapid breathing
• Frequent infections

It is recommended to visit a healthcare expert right away if the patient experience symptoms like:

• Air gasping
• Confusion
• Severe breathing difficulty
• Blue lips or fingernails
• Pale lips or fingernails
• Dizziness

There are different reasons why an individual can have an asthma condition. Here are some of the most common asthma causes:

• Genetics
• Viral infections history
• Hygiene hypothesis
• Health conditions like respiratory infections
• Environmental irritants
• Extreme weather conditions
• Intense emotions
• Vigorous exercise
• Medications like aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• Pests

For asthma diagnosis, the doctor will perform a physical exam so that other possible conditions are ruled out like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and respiratory infection. Further, depending on the symptoms, here are other tests that might be ordered:

• Spirometry
• Peak flow
• Lung function tests
• Imaging tests- chest X-ray
• Allergy testing
• Nitric oxide testing
• Methacholine challenge
• Provocative testing for cold-induced asthma and exercise

There is no permanent cure available to treat asthma. There are different options for asthma treatment to manage the condition. Here are some options usually recommended by a doctor to control asthma symptoms:

• Bronchodilators: These are the medications which help in relaxing the muscles around the airways. It also allows the mucus to move smoothly through the airways. These medications are useful in relieving the symptoms when they occur and are used for chronic asthma
• Anti-inflammatory medicines: These medicines benefit in reducing the formation of mucus and reducing swelling in the airways. The doctor might order these medicines to be taken regularly to control the asthma symptoms
• Biologic therapies: It is used for severe asthma when symptoms keep appearing even after using inhaler therapy.

Rukmani Birla Hospital in Jaipur is a multispecialty healthcare service offering compassionate and best care to patients. We are among the best asthma treatment hospitals in the city. We have departments for every health condition integrated with the latest and advanced technological equipment. The team of professional doctors assist patients experiencing asthma conditions to regain their lives with their best treatment. If you have asthma and are looking for long-term treatment with a long-term association with the doctor, then book your appointment with us. Our doctors will ensure offering the best treatment and any other assistance you require.