BRONCHIAL ASTHMA. WHEN IT IS HARD TO BREATHE.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) 250 million people currently suffer from asthma.

It is a pathology caused by a chronic and reversible inflammation of the bronchial tubes that allow air to be inhaled but not exhaled.

SYMPTOMS.

One of the following symptoms can emerge by itself or in conjunction with any of the others listed below.

• Dyspnoea or shortness of breath when doing exercise and even when resting, in serious cases.

• Irritant dry cough, frequently present at night and wakes the person suffering from it (It is not usually coupled with mucous however, when it is, the mucous is clear, scarce and sticky).

• Respiratory sounds, coming from the chest, that sounds like whistling when air is exhaled.

• Patients experience chest tightness due to the effort that the muscles make when trying to breathe.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES?

• CHILDREN.

The main cause for this pathology in children is allergies or a reaction to the inhalation of certain substances such as dust, fungus, pollens, etc. or Changes in temperature or pollution can also encourage the development of asthma.

They usually have a prior family history.

• ADULTS.

Asthma usually emerges in adults after the ages of 35-40 and they do not have any prior family background. It is due to stress, environmental or psychological factors, etc.

DIAGNOSIS.

Spirometry.

Even though there are a number of tests that can be used to diagnose asthma, a spirometry is the main way to do so; this consists in measuring the lung capacity of a patient through blowing into a device named spirometer.

TREATMENT.

Inhaled Corticosteroids are commonly used as a baseline treatment for asthma as they reduce the inflammation of the bronchi and long acting bronchodilators open them.

They are currently used in conjunction with one another, in the morning and at night, whether the patient suffers from any symptoms or not.

During the times when the patient suffers from an asthmatic crisis or when the symptoms are exacerbated, salbutamol will be added to the treatment as it is a fast acting bronchodilator that acts by opening the bronchial tubes.

In more severe cases treatments such as oral corticosteroids can be used.

In the cases where the patient does not respond to treatment, especially in adults, the presence of other related pathologies will be taken into account such as chronic sinusitis, gastro-oesophageal reflux, nasal polyps, etc.

The ingestion of certain medication such as aspirin, or certain antihypertensive drugs, etc. can worsen asthma; therefore, they should be exchanged in accordance to the medical judgement of a doctor.

Do not forget that asthmatic crisis can emerge progressively or spontaneously.

Dr J. Hurtado Martínez
Medical Director of HealthSalus