Warning Signals and Diagnosis of Asthma
Asthma is said to be more loyal than a wife. She may divorce you, but asthma usually does not. Such is the lingering characteristic of the disease.
Allergy and bronchial asthma are closely related. In an attack of asthma, as a result of allergy, there occurs an inflammation of the airways. Thus a swelling/narrowing of the airways manifests itself as a result of this inflammation.
The three notable early warning signs/symptoms are: cough, tightness in the chest / breathlessness and wheezing (whistling sound caused by difficult breathing through narrowed airways as a result of their inflammation / swelling). But these early warning signals are usually ignored by the patient. Since an early attack of asthma may pass off rapidly, and the patient feels normal in between the attacks, the physician is usually not consulted until the disease is at an advanced stage, when the patient feels marked breathlessness frequently. When the attack persists for hours, it is called status asthmaticus, which is a dangerous stage, and may prove fatal for want of emergency medical aid.
We cannot blame the patient either, because in early cases, after a little discomfort, i.e. cough and tightness in the chest for a while, the patient seems to get well even without medication and he/she hardly feels the need for consultation or treatment. This mild discomfort may not occur for several days/months. In children, these symptoms may appear only after exercise, and the disease is not suspected by the parents, because following some rest, the child usually becomes free of the symptoms.
Hence the disease is highly unpredictable. However, those who have a family history of asthma, those who are heavy smokers, and those working in dusty places or in flour / saw-mills, bakeries, wheat/ plastic / paint / cotton/ glue industries, etc., must be alert, and keep in mind the early warning symptoms of asthma, for immediate medical attention. In some cases, there may be only a seasonal allergy, i.e. the patient gets attacks of asthma during a particular season only, as for instance, during the months of harvesting, threshing, etc.
Once the disease is suspected and the patient reports in time; there is no difficulty in establishing a diagnosis of asthma. But another difficulty can arise. It is invariably seen that the underlying root-cause (allergen) responsible for the recurrent allergy of the airways, causing an inflammatory response in the airways, cannot be easily detected. Various skin tests for the detection of allergy have proved to be of limited value. Therefore, one has to be on drugs which give only temporary relief, and the patient is often dependent on drugs for his or her entire life. Such cases are usually perennial, i.e., they get attacks of asthma throughout the year. As soon as the drug is stopped, the patient gets an attack of asthma. This is agonizing for any person, irrespective of age.
A good deal of research work is being carried out all over the world to overcome this chronic disease of the respiratory tract, so as to give a permanent relief / cure to sufferers.
Author Sites: Home Remedies , Health Articles and Aromatherapy
Warning Signs Of Asthma
What are some of the early warning signs of AsthmaEarly Warning Signs of Asthma can help head off an attack.Early warning sig...
An Introduction To Asthma
Asthma is a respiratory disease that narrows the airways. The condition is usually caused by a persons exposure to allergens,...
Cough-Variant Asthma Treatment
Asthma, a chronic respiratory condition produces symptoms such as cough, breathlessness and wheezing. But in a certain group ...
Symptoms Of Asthma
Once you have been diagnosed with asthma, you will suffer from the disease for the rest of your life. There are medications ...
How to Prevent an Asthma Attack
The main way in which you can prevent an asthma attack is by writing down exactly what it is that triggers your asthma off. W...
The Genetics Of Asthma
With the decrease in air quality, asthma has become a very prevalent condition, especially in Western societies. An asthma al...
Five Basic Asthma Signs and Symptoms You Should Know
Tim is on his second year high schools track team. He is the best runner in the conference at 200 meter and 400 meter. He is ...
Why Do You Have Asthma?
Affecting the airways, asthma can be triggered by a number of things and the muscles around the walls of the airways tend to ...
The Link Between Asthma And Acid Reflux
Asthma is a chronic lung disorder that causes difficulty breathing. Those suffering from it have higher sensitivity - or even...
Can Asthma Be Cured?
Controlling Asthma and Lessening its EffectsThe main reason why asthma would become worse over time is if it is not properly ...
Asthma Symptoms and Signs
Asthma sufferers have a hard time enjoying life. It is hard for you to enjoy being outside, being active in sporting events, ...
The Right Asthma Clinic Treatment Plan can Be a Lifesaver
There are a number of factors a medical doctor needs to consider before determining the appropriate asthma clinic treatment p...
Natural Remedies for Your Asthma
What Are Natural Remedies or Asthma?Natural remedies are treatments which are completely natural. There are no added chemical...
Looking For Signs Of Childhood Asthma
It is estimated that nearly 5 million children suffer from childhood asthma in the United States. Asthma is one of the most c...
Asthma Management and Treatment Guidelines For Asthma
Asthma is a serious disorder affecting our respiratory system. Medical advances have improved the recognition of Asthma and i...
For Treatment You Have to Recognize the Common Indications of Asthma
Right from the first time I had an asthma attack to (some two decades ago) till the last episode (roughly 6 years or so ago),...
Asthma Herbal Remedy
If you feel that you are suffering from asthma, then the first thing you should be doing is making an appointment with your d...
Asthma Diagnosis - Testing The Lungs Capacity Of Patients With Asthma
Testing of lung capacity is commonly done by asthma specialists to detect the severity of asthma. The asthma patient is asked...
Childhood Asthma: Its Crucial to get the right Diagnosis
Why a separate title Childhood asthma? First, the majority of asthma cases begin in childhood, making it the number one chron...
Symptoms of a Kid with Asthma
Each year, almost half a million kids wind up in the emergency room due to asthma. Of these, roughly 300,000 children are hos...