WHAT TAKES YOUR BREATH AWAY?

We find ourselves breathless for many reasons — coming close to a stunning personality and watching a swashbuckling game are some common ones. But when one feels breathless without reasons like these, there is a medical condition behind it; and in a growing number of cases this winter, it has been found to be asthma.

For the unintimidated, asthma basically means hyper-reactivity of breathing tubes; which is genetically determined. This chronic condition can affect children and adults of all age. (Sonia Gandhi is still in hospital complaining of a 'chest infection'.)

Spasms (or tightening of muscles around the breathing tube), thick, sticky mucus production blocking the tubes and swelling at the breathing tubes – are all reasons that lead to symptoms of asthma.

These include frequent coughing, breathing difficulty, tightness in the chest, sleep disturbance, reduction in exercise capacity etc. We got Dr Alpa Dalal, pulmonary and critical care specialist, Dr. LH Hiranandani hospital to offer tips to help you avoid/overcome the ailment as also on how to deal with a family member suffering with the same.


What exactly triggers asthma?
An asthma attack can be triggered by exposure to dust, smoke, cold weather, fire crackers, emotional disturbance.
Causes of asthma

Although heredity is the main cause of asthma, there may be other causes too which can trigger this ailment—

•  Obesity makes a person more prone to asthma

•  An infection during childhood can also trigger this ailment

•  Low birth weight.


Warning signs
Asthma can start either very early in life or at a much latter stage. These are   the symptoms:

•  Frequent coughing

•  Sneezing

•  Breathing difficulty

•  Increased use of reliever medications like Salbutamol (asthalin) over a period of time can cause a lot of discomfort

•  Using the inhaler for more than twice a week means that asthma is getting out of control

•  If these signs are ignored, it can lead to severe attack requiring hospitalisation or can even lead to death.


Diagnosis of asthma
It can be diagnosed in the OPD using a small instrument called Peak Flow Meter or a more detailed Lung Function Test. One can suspect asthma if there are above mentioned symptoms or family history of asthma and known trigger factors.


Prevention and treatment
Asthma is a lifelong condition. But there are various levels of medication to help deal with it.

•  Preventive medicine is the best treatment which reduces inflammation, swelling and cough production. It is to be taken regularly even when symptoms are not present.  It prevents acute attacks as well as long term complications

•  Best preventive medicines are inhaled steroids alone or in combination with reliever medicine

•  The reliever medicine like Salbutomol inhaler is to be used for immediate relief and not for regular use

•  When you see a patient with acute attack, immediately give reliever medicine (Salbutomol inhaler) and take him to the nearby hospital urgently

•  Inhaled steroids are the best preventive medicine and they can be used safely for many years.  It is also safe in young children and pregnant women

•  While inhalers are the first level of treatment, aminothylline tablets is the second level of treatment

•  Smoking cessation and avoidance of second-hand smoke is strongly encouraged in asthmatics

•  Asthma patients must also stay away from second-hand smoke from automobile emissions

•  Some newer therapies like anti-leucoterine medication are also used for inflammation.


Support from family
•  The family of the asthma patient must be well educated about the disease and they should be a main source of support to the patient

•  They have to identify the triggers and keep the house free from any kind of smoke and dust

•  The family members should identify the symptoms early. Find out the triggers well in advance

•  Never make the patient feel like he is a liability to the family. Help the person become independent. 

•  Rush the patient to the hospital if breathlessness persists for long.