Asthma Signs, Symptoms & Treatments

Asthma can generally be categorized into two types: extrinsic asthma which is caused by allergy and intrinsic asthma which is non-allergic. As the name implies, extrinsic asthma is triggered by allergens such as pollen, dust mites, smoke and other irritants. Nonetheless, asthma is caused by various different factors aside from such triggers. Asthmatic tendency has to be present so that the triggers lead to an asthma attack. The tendency to acquire the disease is said to be genetic. Although it does not necessarily come from the parents, asthmatic tendency may also be caused by the mother's lifestyle during conception. If the mother, for example, commits maternal smoking, there is a greater chance for the child she bears to acquire asthmatic tendency. Causes of intrinsic asthma, on the other hand, include respiratory irritants such as cold air, upper respiratory infections, loss of heat and moisture caused by strenuous physical activitiesas well as stress and anxiety.

It is difficult to distinguish asthmatic signs from other respiratory ailments but there are some common occurrences that can be attributed to asthma. There is a greater chance that a dry cough is caused by asthma due to the constriction of the air passages and inflammation of the bronchial membrane. If it is just a regular cough, chances are, the patient will be excreting mucus that clogs the lungs. You will also notice that asthmatic patients produce a wheezing sound when they breathe. They usually feel as if they are breathing through a straw.

The most common symptom of asthma is night time dry coughing which gets persistent and chronic despite medication. Such cough is caused by bronchial spasm which is why you will notice that you don't excrete too much mucus. Most of the time, the symptoms of asthma are indistinguishable when compared to other bronchial ailments. To confirm if the cough is asthma, it is always best to consult a physician for a thorough diagnosis.

Asthma prevention involves eliminating all possible triggers. You can determine your asthmatic tendency by consulting a physician or by mere knowledge of your family's medical history. If you have such tendency, your next step is to identify probable triggers and completely avoid them. From a simple task of creating a dust-free home to adding natural remedies such as green tea and honey to your diet, you are already on your way to a more comprehensive asthma prevention. You will be able to recognize probable asthma attacks by constantly monitoring your breathing. Consulting a physician as soon as you notice the warning signs is your best prevention.

With the help of your physician, you may design a step-by-step asthma plan to improve your living condition and prevent asthma attacks. The first step to this endeavor is to determine the triggers of your asthma attack by monitoring the activities and exposure that worsens your breathing condition. It is necessary to employ two types of medication when dealing with asthma. One is short term and provides quick relief medication during asthma attacks. The other is long term and involves a regularly used medication of corticosteroids and bronchodilators.