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Asthma or bronchial asthma is a life-long condition that involves your lungs. Medical advice helps you significantly control the discomforts out of this lung disease. With asthma, you experience chest discomfort, shortness of breath, coughing, etc. Bronchial asthma is a medical condition in which your lung airways become inflamed and narrow. This inflammatory disease is one of the common lung conditions amongst all. But medical support is there to prevent complications. Let not breathing difficulties stop your activities. Talk o the best doctor specialist in pulmonology in Siliguri.
What are the signs of asthma?
Symptoms of bronchial asthma differ from individual to individual. Some of the common discomforts due to asthma include:
- Shortness of breath/dyspnea
- Chest pain/feeling of tightness in your chest
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Difficulty sleeping caused by dyspnea, coughing
Symptoms of childhood asthma
- Chest tightness
- Frequent coughing
- Wheezing sound while breathing out
- Fatigue/tiredness
- Difficulty sucking/eating in infants
- Trouble sleeping
Consult a paediatrician immediately after seeing your kids struggling with coughing during physical activities. Plus, if you notice any of the above-mentioned discomforts in your child, reach out to a specialist at the earliest.
When to visit a pulmonologist/chest specialist?
If you undergo breathing difficulty, frequent coughing, chest discomfort, sleep-or related issues, speak to your pulmonologist. A chest specialist/pulmonologist looks after all types of respiratory conditions. Also, a pulmonologist is a specialist in sleep medicine. To receive quality asthma treatment, connect with the best pulmonologist in the Siliguri region.
Does asthma need emergency help?
Yes, one might require immediate medical assistance to relieve the intensity of asthma. Seek emergency support if you see:
- Breathing issues are not improving even with a quick-relief inhaler
- Worsening of shortness of breath
- Increasing chest tightness/discomfort
Understanding the types of asthma
The types of asthma have been grouped into the following classes:
Intermittent
This kind of asthma has symptoms that appear no more than two days a week along with nighttime asthma flareups twice a month.
Persistent asthma
It’s a type of asthma in which symptoms persist. These discomforts range from mild, moderate to severe.
Other types involve:
Adult-onset asthma
The name itself defines the meaning of this health condition. Generally, adult-onset asthma starts after 18.
Childhood asthma
Typically, this form of asthma begins before 5. However, infants and toddlers also can have childhood/paediatric asthma.
Non-allergic asthma
Non-allergic asthma, also known as non-atopic asthma, can result from stress, irritants, extreme weather, etc.
Allergic asthma
Exposure to allergens (pollen, molds, pet dander) can trigger allergic asthma.
Exercise-induced asthma
Narrowing of lung airways due to strenuous exercise/physical exertion can result in coughing after workouts, wheezing, severe fatigue, breathing difficulty.
Occupational asthma
Being around lung irritants for a prolonged period leads to occupational asthma.
Asthma COPD overlap syndrome
In this medical condition, both COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and asthma coexist.
What is an asthma attack?
Allergies are responsible for asthma attacks, medically called asthma exacerbation. During an asthma attack, you may develop severe shortness of breath, excessive wheezing, persistent coughing, chest tightness, et al.
Allergens like pollen, molds, pet dander can trigger asthma attacks. Other factors that may put you at risk of this concern include upper respiratory infections, inhaling dry air, tobacco consumption, stress, GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).
Knowing asthma triggers – Significant risk factors
Several factors that can contribute to triggering asthma include:
- Air pollution due to car exhaust, factory emissions, indoor/outdoor smoke
- Smoking tobacco
- Exposure to molds, pets, secondhand smoke, cockroaches, other household pests
- In contact with strong smells/chemicals
- Vigorous workouts
- Obesity
- Family history of asthma
- Occupational chemicals
Can bronchial asthma be treated?
Since asthma is a chronic disease, medical treatment successfully helps manage the problem. Therefore, asthma cannot be treated but managed optimally.
How can you prevent bronchial asthma?
Your lifestyle is key to your good health. To control asthma problems, make sure to:
- Stick to your asthma action plan as guided by your chest specialist. You can pen down step-by-step actions for relieving asthma attacks. It helps you get friendly to the plan quickly.
- Know the trigger and try your best to avoid those irritants.
- Get vaccinated as your chest specialist suggests.
- Refrain from smoking, alcohol consumption,
- Keep yourself from exposure to secondhand smoke
- Take asthma medication accordingly prescribed by your doctor.
- Know how effectively you can use an inhaler
- Practice workouts that suit your purpose. You must understand vigorous exercise is not the only way to manage obesity or lead a healthy life.
- Pay attention to your health, if you get a viral infection or flu, see your doctor fast.
- Wash your hands thoroughly; focus on proper hygiene.
- Get in touch with your doctor if you experience sleep disturbances.
On appropriate diagnosis, your chest specialist decides suitable treatments. It requires a physical examination, a different range of tests (spirometry, peak flow), chest X-ray, allergy test, blood tests, et al. Contact your health care provider to avail a promising treatment for breathing problems in Siliguri.
Pulmonologists, depending upon the type and discomfort of asthma, prescribe medications or meds in combination with medical procedures. Besides medical care, listen to your doctor’s guidance on a healthy lifestyle. Regular health monitoring is central to your wellbeing.
