10/12/2017
Asthma is a chronic disease that affects the airways. The airways are the tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. In asthma, the inside walls of the airways are inflamed (swollen). The inflammation makes the airways very sensitive, and they tend to react strongly to things that one is allergic to or find irritating. When the airways react, they get narrower, and less air flows through to the lung tissue.
Symptoms-
Common symptoms of an asthmatic episode include:
· Coughing. Coughing from asthma is often worse at night or early in the morning, making it hard to sleep.
· Wheezing. Wheezing is a whistling or squeaky sound when you breathe.
· Chest tightness. This can feel like something is squeezing or sitting on your chest.
· Shortness of breath. Some people say they can't catch their breath, or they feel breathless or out of breath. You may feel like you can't get enough air in or out of your lungs.
· Faster breathing or noisy breathing.
Common Signs of an asthmatic episode include:
· Wheezing,
· Rapid breathing (tachypnea)
· Prolonged expiration.
· A rapid heart rate (tachycardia)
· Rhonchous
lung sounds (audible through a stethoscope),
Over-inflation of the chest.
Here are a few of the common signs and symptoms that a person suffering from asthma experiences.
1. Breathlessness is the main symptom. The patient experiences a difficulty in breathing and has to exert in order to breathe.
2. The child usually has a cough, which causes problems. This cough may be dry or with congestion in the chest and comes on very frequently.
3. A wheeze may be heard while breathing. This is because of the narrowing of the bronchial tubes.
4. Thick mucous may be present which makes respiration more difficult.
5. There might be other respiratory symptoms like cold and blocking of the nose, which makes the child breathe through the mouth.
6. Flaring of the nostrils, using the neck and other accessory muscles of respiration is not a good sign.
7. There might be a fever and the patient feels exhausted and fatigued.
8. The child may become cranky and his or her behavior might change.
9. The asthma patient normally experiences a tightness of the chest. They feel as if a load is there.
10. The appetite decreases as the breathlessness and heaviness of the chest is worse after eating.
During very severe attack:
An asthma sufferer can turn blue from lack of oxygen, and can experience chest pain or even loss of consciousness. Just before loss of consciousness, there is a chance that the patient will feel numbness in the limbs and palms may start to sweat. Feet may become icy cold.
Despite the severity of symptoms during an asthmatic episode, between attacks an asthmatic may show few signs of the disease.
ASTHMA PROBLEMS IN WINTER
Though in our city the winters are mild and the temperatures do not touch zero there are certain health problems that are seen more often in our clinics than others. Asthma is one of the most common health problems seen during this time of the year. This is especially true in the case of children.
WHY DOES WINTER BRING ON ASTHMA?
There are a number of reasons and factors, which make people suffering from asthma more susceptible to getting an attack during the winter months. This increases the level of pollution in the air. Also in winter the air pollution stays at a lower level in the atmosphere making it hard for asthmatics to breathe. The characteristic SMOG that we see during the winter months contains many particles, which trouble the respiratory system. This can trigger an attack in a susceptible individual.
In this weather the humidity in the air decreases to very low levels. This makes the air dry and devoid of moisture. In order to compensate for the dryness in the air the lining of the lungs produces more mucus than normal. This additional thick mucous can block the airways triggering an asthma attack.
During winter months in those places where the temperature plunges to nearly zero people tend to stay more indoors. This makes an asthmatic patient exposed to all the household allergens like dust mites, irritants like sprays, strong smells and perfumes, cockroaches, molds and several bacteria and viruses. This closed environment makes an asthmatic more prone to get infected with some respiratory tract infection which could trigger an attack.
Also winter months bring on the colds and Flu season. There are several viruses that cause these respiratory problems. Staying with someone or being in close contact with a person suffering from viral cold or flu makes you prone to getting it. This is especially true for children who are asthmatic.
Physical exertion during these winter months can also bring on an asthma attack. This is seen more at a higher altitude where the air is thin and temperatures are very low. Cold air, which is low in humidity, tends to increase the narrowing and drying effect exercise has on the airways.
WHAT PRECAUTIONS CAN BE TAKEN TO AVOID ASTHMA DURING WINTER?
There are a few ways in which you can protect yourself against getting an attack of asthma.
1. Make sure your immunity is in good shape. This can be achieved if you lead a healthy lifestyle and diet. If you are allergic to something or if you are aware of what triggers your attack you should avoid consuming it.
2. Stay away from those who are already suffering from viral infections especially colds or flu. If you are in the same house make sure your things are separate from the infected person. Wash your hands before you touch your eyes, nose or eat anything.
3. Cover your body well if you have to go out in the cold. Children should be well clad when going out in this weather. Cover their mouths and noses with a scarf, this helps warm the air before it enters the air passages.
4. Increase the child's liquid intake. By this I mean his water intake and not aerated drinks, milk, tea, coffee etc… it is best to drink plenty of pure water throughout the day. This will help in loosening the mucous, which might be blocking the airways.
5. Do not use sprays, pesticides, strong smelling perfumes and odors in the house especially during these months. Try and make your home as dust and allergen free as possible.
6. Do not allow your child to over exert. Though exercise and playing sports is good it should be done in limit.
7. Keep your asthmatic child away from the fire-cracker pollution if possible. It is a good idea to take a holiday to some place where this will be minimum.
