How Can Asthma Be Managed
You have to realise that a large part of managing your asthma is going to be your responsibility. Your doctor will explain to you the nature of asthma and how to deal with asthma. You or your child’s asthma and lung function will also need monitoring regularly, either by peak flow or by spirometry. Peak flow measurements are quick and easy to do, and you can do it at home. Spirometry might require you to see your doctor.
It is important that you avoid any factors that make your symptoms worse. This might involve avoiding animals or pets, or avoiding dusty places or places with lots of air pollution. Asthma can be triggered by a mould or house dust mite allergy as well both of these organisms can be removed by reducing the humidity of your house and cleaning regularly. If your child suffers from asthma when he or she is doing exercise, you might need to explain this to school so they can have special provisions made. Avoiding the cold weather is difficult wear lots of layers during the cold months. Central heating can encourage growth of moulds and house dust mite colonies, so this might not be a great idea if you or your child has a mould allergy or a house dust mite allergy.
There are also medications available to help you out. Inhalers are given out by prescription by your doctor.
Diagnosis Of Asthma In Children
Diagnosing asthma in children younger than 5 years can be difficult because children cough or wheeze for many different reasons. Take your child to the doctor if:
- the wheezing happens more than once with or without an illness
- constant coughing or bouts of coughing become worse at night
- you are concerned about any breathing problems in your child.
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Risk Factors For Asthma
Risk factors for developing bronchial asthma include being exposed early in life to indoor allergens, such as dust mites, moulds and cockroaches, and having a family history of asthma or allergy. Exposure to tobacco smoke before birth or during early childhood also increases the risk of developing bronchial asthma.
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Asthma Emergencies In Children
Symptoms of an asthma attack can worsen and develop into an asthma emergency. To prepare for an asthma emergency, make sure your childs doctor has written an asthma action plan for your child.
Have a copy of your childs asthma action plan pinned up somewhere easy to access at home, and send a copy to anyone who cares for your child, including their school, kinder, childcare service, family members and friends. You may like to take a photo of their asthma action plan so you always have a copy with you.
Effects Of Asthma On The Cardiovascular System
Acute, severe asthma alters profoundly the cardiovascular status and function . In expiration, because of the effects of dynamic hyperinflation, the systemic venous return decreases significantly, and again rapidly increases in the next respiratory phase. Rapid right ventricular filling in inspiration, by shifting the interventricular septum toward the left ventricle, may lead to left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and incomplete filling. The large negative intrathoracic pressure generated during inspiration increases left ventricular after-load by impairing systolic emptying. Pulmonary artery pressure may also be increased due to lung hyperinflation, thereby resulting in increased right ventricular afterload. These events in acute, severe asthma may accentuate the normal inspiratory reduction in left ventricular stroke volume and systolic pressure, leading to the appearance of pulsus paradoxus . A variation greater than 12 mmHg in systolic blood pressure between inspiration and expiration represents a sign of severity in asthmatic crisis. In advanced stages, when ventilatory muscle fatigue ensues, pulsus paradoxus will decrease or disappear as force generation declines. Such status harbingers impeding respiratory arrest.
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Side Effects Of Steroid Tablets
Oral steroids carry a risk if they are taken for more than three months or if they are taken frequently . Side effects can include:
- muscle weakness
With the exception of increased appetite, which is very commonly experienced by people taking oral steroids, most of these unwanted effects are uncommon.
However, it is a good idea to keep an eye out for them regularly, especially side effects that are not immediately obvious, such as high blood pressure, thinning of the bones, diabetes and glaucoma.
You will need regular appointments to check for these.
Want to know more?
Does Asthma Increase Heart Rate
shortness of breath with or without wheezing cough rapid, shallow breathing an increase in blood pressure and heart rate and.
Can Asthma Cause Heart Pressure?
If you have asthma, your immune system can cause your airways to become inflamed and swollen when youre near certain irritants. This can lead to chest tightness, pressure, or pain. Studies show that chest pain, along with other nonrespiratory symptoms, frequently occurs before or during an asthma attack.
Can asthma be confused with heart problems?
Asthma is not heart failure. Heart failure is not asthma. The treatment for the two conditions is different. Yet they both share common symptoms of shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing.
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The Right Location And Conditions
As you already know, the conditions of your environment can have a lot to do with the severity of your symptoms. This is even more important where it comes to exercise. Of course, the particulars of what triggers asthma symptoms are very individual.
Keeping track of what commonly triggers your symptoms is a very good place to start. Once you are aware of these triggers, you can choose the best times and locations for you.
Exercising in warm temperatures is typically better for asthma sufferers than people with asthma who exercise in cold weather. Warm, moist air will keep your airways lubricated and relaxed, whereas cold air is more likely to cause airway constriction and an increased difficulty with breathing.
Treatment Of Asthma During Pregnancy
Guidelines from the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program emphasize that most asthma medications are safe for pregnant women. The guidelines recommend that pregnant women with asthma have albuterol available at all times. Inhaled corticosteroids should be used for persistent asthma. Patients whose persistent asthma does not respond to standard dosages of inhaled corticosteroids may need a higher dosage or the addition of a long-acting beta-agonist to their drug regimen.
For severe asthma, oral corticosteroids may be necessary. The NAEPP notes that while it is not clear if oral corticosteroids are safe for pregnant women, uncontrolled asthma poses an even greater risk for a woman and her fetus. Pregnant women with asthma face increased risks for complications including pre-eclampsia and preterm delivery.
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Bronchial Asthma And Cardiac Asthma
by myDr | Asthma, Heart & Stroke
Bronchial asthma is another name for asthma. The term bronchial is occasionally used to differentiate it from what is sometimes called cardiac asthma, which is not a form of asthma, but actually breathing difficulties caused by heart failure. Although the two conditions have similar symptoms, including shortness of breath and wheezing , they have quite different causes and so treatment differs.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Asthma
During an exacerbation of asthmatic symptoms, signs and symptoms can include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing, and tightness in the chest. These can first occur at any age. Wheezing is a high or low pitched whistling sound that can be heard when someone suffering from asthma breathes out, it is often polyphonic .
The symptoms can be persistent or can only occur at certain times following certain triggers. Asthma with constant symptoms is more common in adults, whereas asthma with episodic symptoms is more common when asthma has started in childhood. Triggers can include cold weather, dust, airborne allergens or air pollution, certain drugs, anxiety or stress, or exercise.
The signs and symptoms of asthma can vary through the day. Symptoms may be much worse at night or the early hours of the morning and you may be kept awake by coughing.
An asthma attack is a dangerous exacerbation of asthma. Signs and symptoms include very fast and heavy breathing, an inflated chest, sweating, and a fast heartbeat. If you see the nail beds or lips turn blue, it means that the asthma attack is very severe. Slow breathing and no breathing sounds are very ominous signs.
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What Asthma Treatment Options Are There
You have options to help manage your asthma. Your healthcare provider may prescribe medications to control symptoms. These include:
- Anti-inflammatory medicines: These medicines reduce swelling and mucus production in your airways. They make it easier for air to enter and exit your lungs. Your healthcare provider may prescribe them to take every day to control or prevent your symptoms.
- Bronchodilators: These medicines relax the muscles around your airways. The relaxed muscles let the airways move air. They also let mucus move more easily through the airways. These medicines relieve your symptoms when they happen.
- Biologic therapies for asthma when symptoms persist despite being on proper inhaler therapy.
You can take asthma medicines in several different ways. You may breathe in the medicines using a metered-dose inhaler, nebulizer or other inhaler. Your healthcare provider may prescribe oral medications that you swallow.
The Impact Of Asthma On Daily Life
Asthma is often under-diagnosed and under-treated, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
People with under-treated asthma can suffer sleep disturbance, tiredness during the day, and poor concentration. Asthma sufferers and their families may miss school and work, with financial impact on the family and wider community. If symptoms are severe, people with asthma may need to receive emergency health care and they may be admitted to hospital for treatment and monitoring. In the most severe cases, asthma can lead to death.
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Complications Of Acute Severe Asthma
Pneumothorax eventually associated with pneumomediastinum, subcutaneous emphysema ,2), pneumopericardium and tracheoesofageal fistula 3) are rare but potentially severe complications of acute, severe asthma. Myocardial ischemia should be considered in older patients with coronary artery disease. Mucus plugging and atelectasis are not rare and usually respond to effective treatment. Other complications to consider include theophylline toxicity, lactic acidosis, electrolyte disturbances , myopathy and ultimately anoxemic brain injury .
Pneumomediastinum-bilateral pneumothorax in an intubated patient in status asthmaticus. Radiolucent stripes along the soft tissues of the mediastinum, and the continuous diaphragm sign indicate the presence of pneumomediastinum. Bilateral pneumothorax is also seen . Subcutaneous emphysema is also seen on the left of the figure.
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What Happens To The Heart During A Heart Attack
During a heart attack, your heart muscles receive less blood.
This can be because one or more arteries are unable to deliver a sufficient flow of blood to the heart muscles. Or, the cardiac demand is higher than the cardiac supply available.
Blockages and artery spasms can both restrict blood flow to the heart. This reduction in blood flow can start causing damage to heart muscles within minutes .
This lack of oxygen leads to the breakdown of the heart muscle at the cellular level. As the oxygen depletion continues, this damage continues.
The can affect how much damage your heart will take during an attack:
- how quickly you receive treatment
- how much blood flow the blockages stop
- the size of the area the blockage affects
Since the heart muscle cannot easily regenerate itself, the heart heals after an attack by forming scar tissue. The heart tissue not affected by the oxygen loss may get bigger over time, and the heart may change shape.
There are three types of heart attacks, and each can affect heart rate in different ways:
- NSTEMI , which has many subtypes
The ST segment is part of the pattern on an electrocardiogram . This is a test that measures your hearts electrical activity and displays it on a monitor as a continuous line. A persons ST segment will typically appear as a flat period between peaks.
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Symptoms Of Bronchial Asthma
The symptoms of bronchial asthma include:
- a feeling of tightness in the chest
- difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath
- wheezing or whistling in the chest and
- coughing persistent cough is a common symptom it may be worse at night.
For most people with bronchial asthma, the pattern is they feel well most of the time and can breathe normally, but have periodic attacks of narrowing of their airways and wheezing. However people with severe asthma may alternate between chronic shortness of breath and episodes in which they feel even more breathless than usual.
Investigating Heart Risks Associated With Asthma Meds
Using records collected by the IMS LifeLink Health Plan Claims Database the researchers looked at new users of controller medications between ages 5 and 24. Excluding patients with history of arrhythmias or congenital heart disease, they ended up with 7,656 cases of arrhythmia and 76,304 controls, roughly 10 controls for each case.
We were relying on pharmacy records, says Lee. While we cant be sure they were actually using the medications, we know they had a sufficient amount of this medicine on-hand the day they experienced their arrhythmic event.
Active IAC use, characterized by having the drugs on hand, was associated with a 1.56-fold increase in arrhythmia risk compared with non-active users and non-users, they found. Lee says duration of use and association varied. It could have been a few days or a longer period of time.
Theories about whats causing arrhythmias is unclear and controversial, Lee says, but while the risk is there, the actual number of events is quite low.
Patients and physicians trying to decide the benefit of using IACs to control asthma have to think of the overall picture. It might be more important to control asthma symptoms than to worry about a small chance of an arrhythmic event, says Lee.
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Diagnosing Asthma In Older People
). Doctors may use the term “rescue treatment” to describe treatment of an acute attack and “maintenance treatment” to describe treatments aimed at preventing attacks. Most of the drugs used to prevent asthma attacks are also used to treat an asthma attack but in higher doses or in different forms. Some people need to use more than one drug to prevent and treat their symptoms. The Drugs for Preventing and Treating Asthma Drugs for Preventing and Treating Asthma Drugs allow most people with asthma to lead relatively normal lives. Most of the drugs used to treat an asthma attack can be used to prevent attacks. (See also Asthma… read more are discussed in more detail elsewhere.
Therapy is based on two classes of drugs:
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Anti-inflammatory drugs
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Bronchodilators
Anti-inflammatory drugs suppress the inflammation that narrows the airways. Anti-inflammatory drugs include corticosteroids , leukotriene modifiers, and mast cell stabilizers.
Bronchodilators help to relax and widen the airways. Bronchodilators include beta-adrenergic drugs , anticholinergics, and methylxanthines.
Immunomodulators, drugs that directly alter the immune system are sometimes used for people with severe asthma, but most people do not need immunomodulators. These drugs block substances in the body that cause inflammation.
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What can trigger an attack
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What helps to prevent an attack
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How to use drugs properly
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When to seek medical care
Getting Active Is Good For Your Asthma
If your asthma is stopping you from getting active, you’re not alone. Physical activity can be more difficult when you have asthma.
But in fact, regularly getting your heart rate up through exercise can actually improve your asthma symptoms by:
- improving your lung function, helping you control your asthma
- supporting your immune system to fight colds and viruses, which are common asthma triggers
- helping you stay to a healthy weight, which lowers your risk of an asthma attack
- lowering your risk of stress, which can be an asthma trigger.
Studies show that regular exercise improves overall quality of life for people with asthma.
If you have severe asthma, have a look at our exercise advice for people with severe asthma.
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Whats The Outlook For People With Cardiac Asthma
Cardiac asthma is a secondary condition caused by heart failure. The outlook for people with heart failure improves the sooner they receive proper treatment. However, it can vary widely between people.
The life expectancy of somebody with cardiac asthma depends on how far their heart failure has progressed, the underlying cause, and their overall health.
Mortality rates at 1 year and 5 years after heart failure diagnosis are about
What Are Early Signs Of An Asthma Attack
Early signs of an asthma attack include:1,5
- Feeling out of breath, gasping for air, fast breathing
- Chest tightness
- Peak expiratory flow less than 80% of predicted or personal best
You may notice other signs of an attack. Try to remember what symptoms you felt before your last asthma attack, so that you can be alert for another one.
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What Is The Most Common Complication Of Asthma
Asthma attack and respiratory failure People with severe asthma also have an increased risk for respiratory failure. Respiratory failure occurs when not enough oxygen travels from your lungs to your blood.
Can an asthma attack cause low blood pressure?
The following signs and symptoms indicate your asthma attack is worsening: bluish lips. silent chest, which means the attack is so severe that you dont have enough airflow to wheeze. low blood pressure.
Can asthma affect your heart?
According to new research, active asthma can double the risk of a cardiovascular event like a heart attack, stroke, or related condition, and taking daily medication for asthma can increase the risk of a cardiovascular event by 60 percent over 10 years.