Usually, asthma is caused by inflammation in the airways that cause all of the nearby muscles to become very tight and swelling the air passage lining. Thus, the amount of air that can travel through is severely limited and breathing becomes highly difficult. For many other people, there are so many other things that can set off and trigger asthma, such as animals and their pet hair, like cats, and dogs, and rats, and other kinds of animals with hair that sheds, even horses and sometimes birds. Dust in the air or on shelves or floating outside or in a musty room can really make asthma worse, as well as weather changes, like the air turning very cold can trigger asthma too and make it hard to breathe.
Chemicals that are in the air such as gasoline or pollution, other toxins released, or even chemicals present in food and beverages can make asthma much worse as well. As mentioned, exercise can have that effect, too, and so can mold left on moldy bread or in the walls or in a damp place, or pollen released from flowers or found in gardens, can have an effect on inducing an attack. If the person already has an infection there, like a cold, asthma will be thus more triggered and the smoke of passing cigarette smokers and exhaust from cars can also cause it. And finally, things like stress, anger, sadness, or any other extremity of an emotion can also trigger it. In fact, in some patients, some aspirins and other drugs can also have an effect.
Most patients have some symptoms that are not too terrible, such as shortness of breath, some wheezing that comes once in a while and usually goes away on its own, or is triggered by heartburn or exercise. These symptoms are not too dangerous and can still be handled functionally. But, there are some emergent symptoms that require immediate help, such as the lips and face turning a bluish color, some really difficult time breathing, extreme sweating, a rapid pulse, and some extreme anxiety, as well. In these cases a hospital visit might be needed as the person will be gasping for air. An inhaler is needed in these cases, too, to help the person breathe.
Basically, asthma is treated when the causes are determined. A doctor will perform tests to see what things affect the patient the most, whether it be bugs, pollen, or a variety of other things, determined through blood tests and x-rays, and then those things will be avoided and there will be drugs administered to help with daily symptoms.
Facts about controlling your asthma (SuDoc HE 20.3218:AS 8)
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