Asthma is a chronic condition that causes temporary and reversible narrowing of the airways in the lungs. The disease results in inflammation and swelling of the mucous membrane lining the bronchi and the contraction of the bronchial wall. The consequence of this inflammatory state is a decrease in the caliber of the bronchi and an alteration of the regular airflow.
Asthma: symptoms
Allergic Asthma: causes
Often, allergic asthma is discussed, despite the causes of this disease not being fully understood. Recent studies seem to demonstrate that the condition is due to the interaction of three distinct factors: a genetic component, environmental conditions, and diet.
Among the environmental conditions contributing to the onset of asthma are exposure to allergens typically found at home (such as dust mites or pet dander), which may be associated with the development of the condition in older children and adults.
Furthermore, it is demonstrated that diets low in vitamin C and E and omega-3 fatty acids are correlated with the onset of asthma, as well as obesity. Since asthmatic individuals have hyperactive airways, in many cases, a slight stimulus is sufficient to trigger an attack, such as the action of allergens, irritants, exhaust fumes, dust, strong odors, smoke, temperature and humidity changes. This often leads to the inaccurate classification of asthma as allergic asthma.
Asthma Diagnosis
To diagnose asthma, spirometry is used, an examination capable of measuring lung function. The practice involves verifying whether a bronchodilator can improve the condition if the examination reveals bronchial obstruction, through a specific test. If the examination does not show alterations in lung function, it is necessary to confirm the diagnostic suspicion with a bronchodilation test, which involves inhaling increasing doses of a substance irritating to the bronchi and evaluating the reaction.
To refine the diagnosis, subsequent investigation is carried out to identify triggering causes. For this purpose, the medical history is examined, and allergy tests are prescribed, including skin tests and the search for specific antibodies.
Asthma treatments
To treat asthma, it is crucial to discuss with the specialist the most suitable therapy. The available therapies are usually pharmacological:
Short-acting bronchodilators Long-acting inhaled corticosteroids Long-acting bronchodilators Oral medications