What Is Bronchial Asthma?

Bronchial asthma refers to a chronic inflammatory disorder of the bronchi, the smaller, tree-like airways that branch out from the windpipe. It is characterized by airflow obstruction, airway hyper-responsiveness, and ongoing airway inflammation. Bronchial asthma may be “allergic” or “non-allergic” depending on the cause. In allergic bronchial asthma, the airway is inflamed and narrowed by white blood cells, known as eosinophils, and by a type of immune cell called a cytokine. Causes include allergies, viral and bacterial infections, and irritants. (Source: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/asthma/).

What Is Bronchial Asthma? – Related Questions

What is the main cause of bronchial asthma?

Bronchial asthma is a condition in which your airways become narrow and swollen due to inflammation. There are several different factors that can cause it – from allergies to exercise and stress. The main cause of bronchial asthma is allergy to dust or inhaled particulate matter. When you’re allergic to a particular substance, your immune system reacts to it. This causes inflammation in the airways, which makes them swell up. With each breath, the swollen airways make it harder to breathe. Inflammation can occur in any airway. However, inflammation of the bronchial tubes leads to bronchial asthma. If you have bronchial asthma, you may have a family history of allergies or asthma. However, it can occur as a result of any type of allergy. The incidence of asthma has increased over the past few decades. This is thought to be due to several factors, including an increase in allergies and changes in the environment. These include changes in temperature, atmospheric pollution and increased stress levels in certain populations..

What is the difference between asthma and bronchial asthma?

Both bronchial asthma and asthma share some of the same characteristics. In terms of symptoms, both are the same. But there are some differences between asthma and bronchial asthma..

What is the best treatment for bronchial asthma?

Bronchial asthma is caused by the narrowing of the bronchial tubes by swelling and contraction of the muscles surrounding the bronchial tubes, which results in obstruction of the air passage in the lungs. Hence the treatment should target the swelling of the bronchial tubes. This can be done with the help of anti-inflammatory drugs like steroids and montelukast, or bronchodilators, which help in relaxing the muscles surrounding the bronchial tubes. You can also use inhaled corticosteroids, which are a specific type of anti-inflammatory drugs..

What are the signs and symptoms of bronchial asthma?

It is a common misconception that asthma is a single disorder, but it is actually a broad term that describes several breathing disorders. Bronchial asthma is one of them and is one of the most common respiratory ailments. Bronchial asthma can be linked to allergies and is characterised by inflammation in the lining of the bronchial tubes. Signs and symptoms include wheezing, tightness in the chest, coughing and shortness of breath. Bronchial asthma can be treated by avoiding triggers, such as exercise and certain food items, and can also be controlled with medication..

How serious is bronchial asthma?

Asthma is a very serious disorder. It is a chronic inflammation of the bronchi, a part of the respiratory tract. Asthma is a disease of the small airway of the lungs, which goes into the bronchial tubes, usually the smaller ones. Asthma is the most common chronic disease among children. Asthma is caused by the inflammation of the airways and bronchi, which causes narrowing of the airways, making it difficult for the person to breathe. Asthma can be fatal. The classical symptoms of asthma are wheezing, chest tightness, and coughing. Asthma attacks may be acute (due to a trigger) or chronic (without a trigger). Acute asthma occurs suddenly, usually due to a trigger or to vigorous exercise or exposure to a respiratory allergen (e.g., cigarette smoke, dust mites, or pollen). Chronic asthma occurs more frequently and lasts longer than acute asthma..

What is the most well known symptom of bronchial asthma?

The most well-known symptoms of an asthma attack is wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath (Dawson, 2014). It can also be accompanied by dizziness and fatigue..

What are the 3 types of asthma?

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that affect millions of people world-wide. It is associated with a wide range of symptoms, severity of disease and a substantial burden of illness. Although asthma can occur at any age, the peak incidence is in early childhood. Asthma affects people of all ethnic groups and socioeconomic groups and occurs among urban and rural populations worldwide. Asthma can be fatal and is the biggest cause of school absenteeism in children..

How long does bronchial asthma last?

Bronchial asthma is a chronic health condition of the respiratory system, which causes inflammation and narrowing of the bronchial tubes. This leads to a number of symptoms, including coughing, wheezing, excess mucus and breathlessness. According to research, asthma is more common in children but can persist for a lifetime. The severity of asthma symptoms ranges from mild to life-threatening severe. The common symptoms of an asthma attack include: Shortness of breath, especially during exercise Coughing and wheezing Chest tightness and pain or pressure, especially in the morning and at night Running nose or nasal congestion A whistling sound when you breathe, wheezing, coughing or hoarseness Neurobehavioral: Depression, irritability, learning disabilities and other problems in school or with friends.

How do you prevent bronchial asthma?

There is no known cure for asthma. Even, the researchers have not yet been able to understand what causes asthma. However, there are ways to prevent it and to control it so that it remains in check. 1. Minimize the triggers: The triggers may include certain foods, pets, pollen, and even weather changes. Try avoiding the triggers, if possible. 2. Take the necessary medications: Asthma medication is taken regularly to avoid attacks. However, these medications may be expensive and some of them may come with side effects. So it is advisable to always consult your doctor before starting any asthmatic medications. 3. Watch your weight: If you are overweight, then you are more prone to asthma. Hence, watch your weight and maintain a healthy BMI. 4. Avoid tobacco: If you want to live a happy and healthy life, then avoid tobacco. It is one of the main triggers for asthma. 5. Exercise regularly: Exercise helps in reducing stress and keeps your heart healthy. Apart from that, exercise also helps to make you physically fit, which in turns helps in keeping asthma in control..

What are the types of bronchial asthma?

There are two main types of bronchial asthma: Digestive bronchial asthma and Lung bronchial asthma. Digestive bronchial asthma occurs with the dysfunction of the digestive system. It is characterized by the difficulty of breathing. Lung bronchial asthma occurs with the dysfunction of the lungs. The difficulty of breathing is in this type of bronchial asthma only temporary..

What is the diagnosis for bronchial asthma?

A diagnosis of asthma is usually based on your medical history & symptoms, results of, physical exam, lung function tests and sometimes, a chest X-ray, pulmonary function tests or breathing tests. Different types of asthma can have a different pattern. Type I is usually associated with allergic asthma. It is typically associated with a lifetime of symptoms, usually beginning in childhood. Type II is usually associated with nonallergic asthma. It is typically associated with a more recent onset of symptoms and often occurs in adulthood. In all types, asthma has a tendency to be cumulative, meaning that over time, symptoms tend to get worse over time. In addition, symptoms can come and go without warning. This can make asthma difficult to control, since it’s hard to guarantee that the triggers of your symptoms can be avoided all the time..

Is bronchial asthma reversible?

Asthma is an inflammatory condition of the airway, with symptoms of wheezing and coughing. In asthma, inflammation occurs when the immune system, which is supposed to protect the body from infections, misinterpret certain stimuli as harmful and causes the airway to swell and divide into smaller airways that are the lungs, and the bronchus. In this case Asthma is reversible..