Asthma occurs in waves. This means that in between, the symptoms always improve or disappear completely.
The bronchial tubes are a widely ramified system of tubes that carry the air from the trachea to the small alveoli in the lungs. Here oxygen enters the blood and carbon dioxide is removed.
sthma: causes and triggers
Depending on the trigger, a distinction is made between allergic and non-allergic asthma. If the respiratory disease is caused by an allergy, certain allergens trigger an asthma attack, such as pollen, house dust or mould. The disease often occurs together with other allergies and usually begins in childhood. Non-allergic asthma, on the other hand, usually develops only in the course of life. There are also mixed forms of both types of disease.
Common triggers for allergic asthma
The complaints occur mainly when the patients have been exposed to certain allergens. Typical triggers for allergic asthma are
Pollen
Dust (house dust mites)
Pet hair
Moulds
Food
Medication
Common triggers for non-allergic asthma
In non-allergic asthma, the asthma attack is caused by unspecific stimuli. These include:
Physical exertion (exertion asthma)
Cold
Tobacco smoke
Perfume
Air pollutants (ozone, nitrogen dioxide and others)
Stress
Metal fumes or halogens (especially at work)
medicines like acetylsalicylic acid
Respiratory infections
Asthma: risk factors
The exact origin of asthma has not yet been conclusively clarified. It is assumed that both environmental factors and genetic influences play a role. People who already have an allergic disease, such as hay fever or neurodermatitis, or relatives with asthma or allergies are more likely to develop asthma. There is also an increased risk of asthma if the parents smoke during pregnancy. According to several studies, prolonged breastfeeding during infancy reduces the risk of developing asthma in children.
Asthma: symptoms
Typical asthma symptoms are nocturnal coughing and shortness of breath. Such symptoms may be permanent, while other asthma symptoms may start suddenly and increase to an asthma attack.
Read here which symptoms asthma triggers and how an acute asthma attack announces itself: Asthma symptoms
The bronchial tubes are a widely ramified system of tubes that carry the air from the trachea to the small alveoli in the lungs. Here oxygen enters the blood and carbon dioxide is removed.
sthma: causes and triggers
Depending on the trigger, a distinction is made between allergic and non-allergic asthma. If the respiratory disease is caused by an allergy, certain allergens trigger an asthma attack, such as pollen, house dust or mould. The disease often occurs together with other allergies and usually begins in childhood. Non-allergic asthma, on the other hand, usually develops only in the course of life. There are also mixed forms of both types of disease.
Common triggers for allergic asthma
The complaints occur mainly when the patients have been exposed to certain allergens. Typical triggers for allergic asthma are
Pollen
Dust (house dust mites)
Pet hair
Moulds
Food
Medication
Common triggers for non-allergic asthma
In non-allergic asthma, the asthma attack is caused by unspecific stimuli. These include:
Physical exertion (exertion asthma)
Cold
Tobacco smoke
Perfume
Air pollutants (ozone, nitrogen dioxide and others)
Stress
Metal fumes or halogens (especially at work)
medicines like acetylsalicylic acid
Respiratory infections
Asthma: risk factors
The exact origin of asthma has not yet been conclusively clarified. It is assumed that both environmental factors and genetic influences play a role. People who already have an allergic disease, such as hay fever or neurodermatitis, or relatives with asthma or allergies are more likely to develop asthma. There is also an increased risk of asthma if the parents smoke during pregnancy. According to several studies, prolonged breastfeeding during infancy reduces the risk of developing asthma in children.
Asthma: symptoms
Typical asthma symptoms are nocturnal coughing and shortness of breath. Such symptoms may be permanent, while other asthma symptoms may start suddenly and increase to an asthma attack.
Read here which symptoms asthma triggers and how an acute asthma attack announces itself: Asthma symptoms
Asthma: treatment
Asthma therapy is divided into basic therapy, seizure therapy and prevention. The treatment methods are correspondingly varied.
Asthma therapy: medication
The drugs used in the basic therapy of asthma make the symptoms disappear and prevent the disease from progressing further. Depending on the severity of the asthma, glucocorticoids (cortisone) and/or long-acting beta-asympathomimetics are administered. The drugs are usually inhaled via an inhaler, as this is when they have the most specific effect. In severe cases glucocorticoids are also administered in tablet form.
Glucocorticoids inhibit the inflammatory reaction in the bronchial tubes, while beta-agonists relax the bronchial muscles and thus dilate the airways. These include drugs such as formoterol or salmeterol.
Other drugs such as Monteluklast or Omalizumab can also be used in the treatment of asthma. Before reducing the dose or stopping the medication completely if treatment is successful, the patient should be free of symptoms for at least three months. Such a change in therapy must be discussed with your doctor.
Asthma therapy is divided into basic therapy, seizure therapy and prevention. The treatment methods are correspondingly varied.
Asthma therapy: medication
The drugs used in the basic therapy of asthma make the symptoms disappear and prevent the disease from progressing further. Depending on the severity of the asthma, glucocorticoids (cortisone) and/or long-acting beta-asympathomimetics are administered. The drugs are usually inhaled via an inhaler, as this is when they have the most specific effect. In severe cases glucocorticoids are also administered in tablet form.
Glucocorticoids inhibit the inflammatory reaction in the bronchial tubes, while beta-agonists relax the bronchial muscles and thus dilate the airways. These include drugs such as formoterol or salmeterol.
Other drugs such as Monteluklast or Omalizumab can also be used in the treatment of asthma. Before reducing the dose or stopping the medication completely if treatment is successful, the patient should be free of symptoms for at least three months. Such a change in therapy must be discussed with your doctor.