Recognizing the Early Signs of Asthma

Asthma is among the most common breathing disorders among children. An asthma attack occurs when the airways of the patient tighten up. An asthma attack causes great discomfort in the patient as the patient struggles to breathe and finds it hard to regain his natural breathing rhythm. In a large number of cases, the problem subsides, as the child steps into his teens. But it is important for parents to recognize these early signs of asthma, so that appropriate care and treatment can be incorporated.

Asthma Causes & Triggers

The swelling of bronchial tubes causes the tightening of air passage, which causes the patient to breathe with difficulty. It is not known, that what exactly triggers an asthma attack. However, certain factors which may be a mix of environmental and genetic factors are held responsible for this disorder. Some of the reasons for early signs of asthma are:

o Family history of asthma
o Allergies
o Respiratory or viral infection during growing years, which causes the immune system to become weak and thus prone to allergies
o According to another theory, tremendous emphasis on hygiene during early childhood makes children susceptible to infections and allergies, when they step outside the protected environment of their homes.
o Some medications
o Strenuous physical exercise

Prevention Of The Disease

The most important thing for people with early signs of asthma is to avoid contact with allergens or factors causing allergy. These may include: dust, cat or dog hair, cockroach waste, mold, pollen, etc. Some other factors may also irritate the normal functioning of the respiratory tract of the patient. That may include pollution from vehicles, chemicals, cigarette or tobacco smoke, etc. Rigorous exercise and physical activity must also be avoided by the patients.

Common Symptoms Of Asthma

Symptoms of asthma may vary from one patient to the other and from time to time in the same patient. Attacks of asthma are often preceded by the symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, tightness of chest, and wheezing.

The intensity of an asthma attack may be mild or severe. Mild asthma attacks are common and occur more often. They subside in a few minutes to a few hours, when the airways open up. The patient suffers discomfort during such time, but his condition is under control. Severe asthma attacks occur rarely but in such cases, immediate medical attention is required. Patients prone to severe attacks must always have an inhaler within easy reach.

Treating Asthma

Treatment of asthma is a combination of medical care and prevention.
Three step regimen is followed for treating this disorder.

1. Steering clear of trigger factors
2. Medication
3. Observing and controlling symptoms

More important than curing asthma is to control the symptoms of asthma. This can only be done when the patient and their family recognize the symptoms in time.