Asthma

In the US there are more than 20 million people, about 7% of the population who have asthma. People think asthma is a childhood disease since most cases of it are diagnosed by age five, but adults of any age can develop asthma. Asthma is the leading cause for hospitalization among children and is the most common long-term childhood disease. African-Americans are four times as likely as whites to be hospitalized and three times as likely to die from asthma. There are studies that indicate as many as 10% of people over age 65 have asthma. An adult with asthma most likely had the disorder for a longtime and will continue to deal with it for the rest of there life.

Asthma is a long-term disease of the respiratory system that affects your airways. Airways are the tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs. It is a disorder that causes shortness of breath. The severity of symptoms can vary from person to person. Doctors can classify asthma in different levels of severity which can be monitored with a peak flow meter (PEF). A peak flow meter is a small, plastic, tube like device that you carry with you. It measures how well air moves out of your lungs. The mild intermittent level is where symptoms occur twice a week or less, nighttime symptoms occur twice a month or less, asthma attacks last a few hours to a few days with varying intensity and you may have no symptoms between attacks, and PEF reading variability of less than 20%. The mild persistent level is when asthma symptoms occur twice or more but not everyday, nighttime symptoms occur more than twice a month, asthma attacks may slow daily activities, and PEF reading variability of 20% to 30%. The moderate persistent level is where asthma symptoms occur daily, you use the quick relief medicines daily, nighttime symptoms occur more than once a week, asthma attacks occur twice a week or more and get in the way of daily activities, and the PEF reading variability of more than 30%. The severe persistent level is when you have asthma symptoms throughout the day on most days, you have symptoms most nights, asthma attacks happen almost all the time limiting daily activities, and PEF reading variability of more than 30%.

If you have asthma your airways can become swollen and inflamed. Swelling is a reaction to things that you are allergic to or find irritating. People with asthma have wheezing, cough, and trouble breathing almost everyday. When airways react they get narrower and less air flows through to your lungs, making breathing harder and causes wheezing. People can feel fine between attacks of chest congestion and wheezing some experience tightness in the chest, and others have a severe case of asthma attacks that require emergency treatment. Attacks are also called flare-ups, exacerbations, or episodes. There is no cure for asthma, overt time and working with your doctor asthma can be controlled so that you have fewer symptoms.

You can take care of your asthma by taking medications as directed by your doctor and staying away from things that bother your airways. The following are things that may make your asthma worse and may trigger an attack:

Allergens

Ð'„Ð"Џ Animal dander

Ð'„Ð"Џ Cockroaches and their droppings

Ð'„Ð"Џ Dust or dust mites

Ð'„Ð"Џ Molds

Ð'„Ð"Џ Pollen from plants

Irritants

Ð'„Ð"Џ Air pollution

Ð'„Ð"Џ Cigarette smoke

Ð'„Ð"Џ Cold air or changes in the weather