Bronchial asthma

May 10, 2011

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The term bronchial asthma   It denotes respiratory disease of an inflammatory nature, in which there is bronchial obstruction . That is, during inflammation narrows the lumen of the bronchi, resulting in difficulty breathing, each breath is accompanied by a characteristic sound, the lack of air leads to bouts of coughing. On average, the world's disease affects five out of a hundred, that gives the right to speak about its prevalence.

Although bronchial obstruction is reversible, the danger of the disease lies in the fact that the consequences of such obstruction may be irreversible. In the long run in the bronchi morfofunktcionalnye violations occur, changes in microcirculation thickened basement membrane and bronchial wall after passing attack has not returned to normal.

In most cases, asthma is a kind of "response" of the organism to the impact of irritable or, easier to allergen . However, to say that the disease is extremely allergic nature as it is impossible. In medical practice, there are many examples where the inflammation of the bronchi causes damage to the human brain.

Types of asthma

There are several classifications of the disease, each of which is widely used.

By the nature of the reasons why there was bronchial asthma, isolated infectious   and not infectious and allergic   form. The first implies that the disease has developed as a complication of other diseases of the respiratory tract with the infectious nature. Most often, such negative effects could result sore throat , Pneumonia, sharp pharyngitis . Two of the three cases fall into this category.

The second form is highly allergic nature, when asthma is the standard reaction to irritants for allergy: pollen, dust, dandruff , Drugs, and other chemicals. It is noted that although in this form falls less than half of the cases, it is often inherited.

Types of asthma by severity are light . moderate   and heavy   form. That is, to what species the disease in a patient is determined by the attending physician in each case on the basis of multivariate analysis. Thus, the outcome affects the frequency and duration of attacks, what is the severity of the attacks, as the patient feels himself normally between spasms.

Here are the main features of each of the forms:

Mild.   It is characterized by the almost complete lack of strong attacks suffocation Some symptoms of asthma often do not manifest themselves several times a week and very short-lived. Night attacks that are considered characteristic of the disease, the patient's disturbed several times a month. Between attacks the patient leads a normal life.

Moderate form.   It is characterized by the same frequency, but the strong attacks of breathlessness. At night, asthma appears at least several times a month and is also accompanied by strong attacks.

Severe.   In such form, the flow exacerbation of varying severity appear regularly in a patient. Some of them are particularly dangerous in the absence of urgent action may pose a risk to life. Between attacks the patient can lead a normal life, as is short of power, and the symptoms of asthma but to a lesser extent, it is still being felt.

Naturally, the easiest form over time if there is no proper treatment of asthma, can move into a more severe form.

Symptoms of asthma

As we have seen, asthma is a disease of allergic nature, which may have an infectious or contagious nature. In either case, the symptoms of asthma appear stroke, as in any other allergies.

During these attacks the patient has a wheezing, which, however, only noticeable to others nearby, there is a non-productive cough. The patient may feel shortness of breath   different strength under standard exercise. These symptoms of asthma complementary characteristic symptom of nocturnal asthma attacks.

Some other symptoms are not experts in medicine can be misleading. Because of bronchial obstruction leads to a prolonged retention of air in them, and to breathe a person has cough. This cough can appear suddenly, last for a couple of minutes to several hours, and just as suddenly disappear.

Talking about the types of asthma, we mentioned that the types defined symptoms and their frequency. This classification is detailed in four groups, each of which is characterized by its features, including the results of analyzes.

So, the easiest course of the disease is episodic, when attacks occur day and night on the strength of just a few weeks, or even less. Exacerbations if they appear, last for a relatively short time, and between exacerbations breathing incorrect. This FEV1 and PIC must be at least 80% of the norm, but PIC is in the range of 20% of the norm of the day.

If attacks occur more often than once a week, but the day the patient no two exacerbations, say asthma is already a constant flow in the mild form . Unlike the previous form it is also that the PIC per day ranges from 20 to 30%.

At constant during non-severe asthma may go into a form of moderate severity. Seizures occur in the afternoon every day, and at night at least once every seven days. The patient can no longer do without the β2-agonictov fluctuations PIC ranged from 30% for the day, while FEV1 and PIC ranged from 60% to 80% of normal.

In the latter, the most serious form attacks do not leave a sick day or night, values ​​of FEV1 and POS 40% or more behind the norm. The patient in this state can not maintain normal physical activity.

Diagnosis of asthma

Diagnosis of the disease is carried out in some areas. Firstly, its presence indicates the characteristic symptoms of asthma, which were discussed above. Second, significant and rapid relief of an attack after inhalation drug dilates the bronchi, is another pointer to the correct diagnosis. Third, the analysis of sputum and X-ray of the respiratory system.

It is a special method Study breathing . Diagnosis of asthma, in this case is based on obtaining data on the frequency, power and speed of inhalation. Get your own results and compare them with normal values ​​and can be at home with the device a peak flow meter .

When the diagnosis of asthma was positive, studies are aimed at identifying the allergen. Most often limited skin tests in view of their efficiency and economy, but when necessary, a more complex analysis.

Treatment of asthma

Before we begin to describe the treatment of bronchial asthma, once again recall that the disease is almost inextricably linked with allergies. In other words, this reaction is a response to the body's immunity to outside influence. The essence of this "response" is inflammation of the bronchi . This inflammation leads to all the symptoms described above, and that the fight against it must be sent to the main treatment.

Asthma is one of those illnesses, which can be controlled only under the supervision of an experienced physician. Asthma treatment itself must be stepped, that is, a set of medications and frequency of application will vary depending on which symptoms appear in the patient.

The basis for therapy are most often glucocorticosteroids   in the form of inhalations. Additionally it may be administered tablets or injection means, which are used both for treatment and prevention of disease. Be sure to read the terms of use inhalers before start using them yourself.

Naturally, the anti-symptomatic treatment of asthma is only part of an integrated approach. The second important component - specific allergen that caused such a reaction, and the leveling of its impact.

If the allergen is contagious nature, it shall be required therapy aimed at fighting the infection. If the asthma is caused by non-infectious allergen, then as far as possible to restrict contact of the patient with this substance. In some cases, this approach may require a fundamental change in lifestyle such as changing jobs or moving to another city. When determining the exact allergen should heed the recommendations of the doctor, no matter how difficult to execute as they are.

One of the problems faced by the treatment of bronchial asthma is the abundance of mucus in the bronchi. From it should be mandatory to get rid of. It is recommended to make frequent hiking fresh air, do a regular performance of the special therapeutic exercises. Correctly selected gymnastic exercises allow not only to increase the ventilation of the bronchi, but also teach the patient to control the breath, so signs of asthma but not disappear completely, but are under control.

Depending on the direction in which the volume changes of drugs are two possible approaches to the treatment of disease. The first involves the use of intensive treatment from the outset. In most cases, it allows to gain control of the above symptoms, and then gradually decreasing the intensity of treatment. The second method is in accordance treat diagnosed form of the disease. If the selected rate does not lead to positive results, it gradually increases. Otherwise (if the treatment helped), the intensity is reduced, but not earlier than after 3 months of steady state.

Prevention of asthma

Under the prevention of disease refers to a set of measures aimed at minimizing the risk of seizures and complications. A basis for the prevention of disease is to get rid of the allergic nature of patient contact with the allergen. It should be understood that while the contact disappears almost any treatment of asthma will have only a short-term, limited effect.

The previous recommendation is required for patients with any degree of severity. If a patient is determined by the mild form, the prevention of asthma is complemented by sporting activities in the open air in the interval between attacks (these intervals must be large enough).

By choosing the sport should be approached with caution. On the one hand, it must allow the maximum amount of time a patient come in the open air, on the other hand should not be exaggerated exercise. Examples of suitable sports is hiking or cycling with frequent stops, tennis, rowing, cross-country skiing.

Even in Soviet times, patients received a spa treatment of asthma. This is indeed an effective method of prevention, but it only works if the climate at a place where there is a health resort, perfect patient. Otherwise, the prevention of asthma in the resort may be unsuccessful.