asthmaclinics@outlook.com

KIFISIA: 2106231056 - PATRAS, KALAVRITA: 2610241233
Follow Us:
 

Asthma

What is asthma?

 

Asthma is a chronic condition characterised by inflammation of the airways. The airways (bronchi) are the tubes that carry air to the lungs.

When an asthma patient inhales an irritant from the environment, an exaggerated bronchial response is triggered by a contraction of the smooth muscle fibres of the airways (bronchospasm), which leads to a narrowing of the airway lumen. Inflammation of the bronchi is characterised by swelling and production of secretions that are thick and sticky, with the end result being a worsening of the narrowing of the bronchial lumen. This restricts the flow of air through the bronchi.

 

A schematic illustration of the mechanisms by which inflammation causes airway obstruction in patients with asthma is shown in the next figure.

Asthma patients have a genetic (hereditary) predisposition, but symptoms appear after exposure to certain triggers. Such factors are infections (especially viral ones), irritants in the environment (dust, pollens, animal dander, humidity, smoke, drugs, etc.) and exercise.

Symptoms of asthma

 

The diagnosis of asthma is made by the doctor based on the patient's symptoms and history.

 

The typical symptoms of a patient with asthma are:

  • Chest heaviness (discomfort)
  • Coughing
  • Tinnitus (wheezing ("hissing" when breathing - especially when exhaling)
  • Dyspnea (difficulty breathing)

 

These symptoms occur episodically and may pass either with appropriate treatment or - sometimes - without treatment. Typically, these symptoms worsen with exercise, at night or early in the morning, during certain seasons (usually spring and autumn), after viral infections and after exposure to environmental irritants.

 

Asthma patients may often be woken up at night by coughing or difficulty breathing.
Some asthma patients may experience only coughing without any other symptoms.
The cough may be dry (without sputum) or productive (with sputum).
When patients with asthma produce sputum, it is typically sticky, with a characteristic white or yellow colour.

 

When a patient's asthma is in a stable state they may not have any symptoms at all.

 

Diagnosing asthma can be particularly difficult in some age and social groups:

  • Very young children (especially under 5 years of age) may often experience coughing and wheezing without necessarily having asthma. At such ages, long-term monitoring is necessary and - if symptoms persist and the child responds to antiasthmatic therapy - a diagnosis of asthma is made.
  • Older people may have a reduced awareness of their symptoms and often consider breathing difficulties to be a normal consequence of their age. Asthma symptoms in older people are also not always typical.

Allergy & Asthma

 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 85% of asthma cases that occur from childhood have an allergic etiology.

More than half of people with asthma also have hay fever. Of those with allergic rhinitis, about 1/3 will eventually develop asthma symptoms.

 

The typical symptoms of hay fever are:

  • sneezing
  • itchy nose
  • nasal congestion and/or runny nose
  • itching sensation in the throat, ears or mouth
  • headache
  • inability to concentrate

 

Often patients with hay fever also have allergies in the eyes (allergic conjunctivitis). In this case they have red eyes, which often water and itchy feeling.
Some patients experience all the symptoms, while some experience only some of them.
Some patients experience symptoms only in spring or autumn and suffer from "seasonal allergic rhinitis".

 

These patients usually have allergies to pollen (from plants, trees, grass or flowers) or fungi (present in moisture). Some patients, however, may have symptoms all year round and then we talk about "year-round allergic rhinitis". These patients generally have allergies to allergens present in everyday life, such as dust mites, pet dander and certain chemicals or foods.