What is Asthma?
“Asthma is a chronic disease that makes your lungs very sensitive and hard to breathe” (Canadian Lung Association, 2015).
“Asthma is a chronic disease that makes your lungs very sensitive and hard to breathe” (Canadian Lung Association, 2015).
Asthma Affects the Airways In 2 Ways:
- Airways become swollen, filled with mucus
- Airways become smaller and tight
Asthma is a lung disorder that does not have a set pattern.
Symptoms can:
Symptoms can:
- Be mild, moderate or severe
- Differ from person to person
- Flare up from time to time and then not appear for long periods
- Differ from one episode to the next
TYPES OF TRIGGERS
Inflammatory Triggers (allergic) - Caused by an allergic reaction, blocks the airways by swelling of the muscles. Most common factors are:
Symptom Triggers/Irritants and others (non-allergic) - Not caused by an allergic reaction, airways begin to "twitch" and constrict passage of airway temporarily. Most common factors are:
- Animals
- Pollens
- Viral infections
Symptom Triggers/Irritants and others (non-allergic) - Not caused by an allergic reaction, airways begin to "twitch" and constrict passage of airway temporarily. Most common factors are:
- Smoke
- Cold air
- Exercise
Asthma attacks
Asthma attacks are when the airways immediately constrict due to ether the inflammatory or symptom triggers. Asthma attacks can happen to anyone at any point in their life. Typically, those who suffer from asthma are able to see symptoms in their childhood.
Symptoms:
Symptoms:
- Feelings of breathlessness
- Coughing or wheezing
- Difficulty speaking, eating or sleeping
When looking for Asthma in an x-ray, professionals look for air trapping and thickening of the airway walls. In the thoracic region, both the coronal and sagittal planes are able to detect the signs of asthma.