Asthma treatment and control are essential for the patients wellbeing, asthma cannot be cured, but with some level of treatment the symptoms associated with it will be reduced. Asthma is the chronic condition that causes inflammation, swell, produce extra mucous and narrowing in the airway of the lungs. Asthma is a chronic condition which means that their is no cure. However people can often manage the conditions with a combination of daily and rescue medications. Moreover, self care is important for people with asthma, individual responsibility and actions are essential for the prevention of asthma attacks. In combination with a medically sound asthma action plan, home remedies for asthma can be very helpful and play an important role in keeping the condition under control. People who have this chronic condition for a long time or recurrent is said to be asthmatic, which causes wheezing, Coughing, Shortness of breath, and chest tightness. A cough often occurs early morning or at night time. It cannot be cured but some treatment can reduce the symptoms and also helps in controlling it. It affects people with all age groups and often occurs in children.


   The prevalence of asthma varies widely in different regions of the world due to distinct genetics, environmental, and occupational risk factors. Worldwide it is estimated that approximately 334 million people currently suffer asthma, and 250,000 deaths are attributed to the disease each year. 

                    Types of asthma

Asthma are grouped into different categories based on its, severity, time, and it's causative agents. 

Steroids resistant asthma (severe asthma) 

     Some steroid therapy, the patients responds to regular inhaled glucocorticoid (steroids) therapy due to steroid resistance. By reducing airway inflammation and immune activation, glucocorticoid are used to treat asthma. However, patients with steroid resistance asthma have higher levels of immune activation in their airway than the patients with steroid sensitive (SS) asthma.

Adults onset asthma 

      This term is used when a person develops asthma after reaching 20 years of age. Asthma canbe contacted, as one grow old, it is not always inherited or or birth defects as we all believe. Adults onset asthma affect women more than, and it's also much Less common than child onset asthma. It is also triggered by some allergic materials or an allergy. The cause of adults onset asthma seems to be triggered by the exposure to the allergens called, non allergic adult onset asthma. Exposure to chemical plastic metals, Certain medicines or wood dust can cause or act as an allergy.

Exercise induced asthma 

   After exercise if you feel difficulty in breathing or wheezing then you could be suffering from exercise induced asthma. Obviously, your level of fitness is also a factor, a person who is unfit and runs fast for 10 minutes  is going to be out of breath. However, if you are Coughing, sneezing, or panting does not make sense, this could be an indication of an exercise induced asthma. Some exercise may cause the inflammation of airway tubes or bronchial and thus it results in asthma.

Child onset asthma 

   For some children the onset of asthma may begin during childhood. Due to genetic reasons, the child may become sensitive to common allergens inthe environment. The child is a topic generally in the state of hypersensitivity due to environmental allergies. Allergens are the substances that act as a foreign body that trigger the immune to respond.

Cough induced asthma 

   Cough induced asthma is one of the most difficult asthma to diagnosed. The doctor have to eliminate other possibilities, such as, chronic bronchitis, post nasal drip due to hay fever, or sinus disease. Inthis case the cough can occur alone, with the asthma symptoms present. The Coughing can happen at anytime of the day or night. If it happens at night it can disrupt sleep.

Nocturnal asthma

    It occurs only during night time, from night to 8 am. It 8s due to the dust and pet dander or may be due to sinus conditions. The patients may experience wheezing and shortage of breath when lying down and may not notice these symptoms until awoken by them in the midnight, usually between 2 am to 4 am. Night time symptoms may also be a common problem in those with daytime asthma as well.
      

              Risk factors of asthma

Some of the risk factors that may cause the risk of having it are as follows ;
  • Being smoker 
  • Exposure to occupational triggers, such as, chemicals used in farming, hairdressing, and manufacturing. 
  • Having a blood relative such as parents or siblings with asthma 
  • Having another allergic conditions, such as, atopic dermatitis or allergic rhenitis (hay fever), being overweight, second hand smoke. 
  • Exposure to exhaust fumes or other types of pollution
  • Obesity is the greatest risk of getting asthma

                   Causes of asthma 

    Its not clear why people get it, but probably due to some allergics, genetics and environmental factors, it triggers are different from person to person. Some of the causes of asthma are as follows ;
  • Air pollution or smoke 
  • Cold air
  • Emotional stress 
  • Tobacco smoke 
  • Genes
  • Allergies such as, dust, mites, Fungi, and cock roaches 
  • Certain medication such as, beta blockers, aspirin, ibuprofen
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (Gerd), a condition in which stomach acids back up into your throat. 

          Early warning signs of asthma

    There is a need to take preventive measures, and also notice and treat the asthma early to prevent more serious health problems. Some early signs are as follows ; itchy, 
  • Scratchy or sore throat 
  • Waking up at night 
  • Dark circles under your eyes 
  • Runny, stuffy, or congested nose 
  • Increase tiredness 
  • Pain or pressure 
  • Shortness of breath 
  • Chest tightness 
  • Coughing especially at night 
  • Wheezing 
  • Itchy, glassy or watery eyes 
  • Sneezing 
  • Stomach ache 
  • Headache and fever 
  • Throat clearing 
  • Change in face colour 

                Symptoms in children 

  • Nagging cough that lingers for days or weeks to sudden and scary breathing emergencies 
  • Frequent cold that settles in the chest 
  • Trouble breathing or fast breathing that causes the skin around the ribs or neck to pull in tightly. 

                    Effects of asthma 

   Asthma has some noticeable effects on our body, which will be discussed be
  • Stress, anxiety and depression 
  • Pneumonia (infection of the lungs) 
  • Lungs collapse 
  • Respiratory failure 

              Treatments for asthma 

  Asthma doesn't have a cure, since its a lifelong disease, there is a reguirement for the treatment. 
Monitoring asthma symptoms daily is needed for rescued medication. Avoid substance that triggers asthma conditions, also try taking your drugs regularly to on a daily basis to stop inflammation and daily symptoms, Instant drugs such as albutenol canbe used. 
      Arise from treatment, you can help decrease the incidences of asthma cough with a few lifestyle changes, for example, placing a humidifier in your room can help ease your cough. You may also have to limit outdoor activities,if the quality of air is poor. More especially try to identify your asthma trigger. 

      Medication for asthma treatment 

Anti inflammatory drugs 

     They reduce swelling and mucous production inthe airway making them less likely to react to triggers such as, fluticasone and budisonide are usually taken twice per day and mometasone which may control it in some patients when just taken once. 

Bronchodilators

    It relieves the symptoms of asthma by temporary relaxing the muscle band that tighten around the airways, they help to quickly widen your airway, allowing for improved airflow. This type of asthma medication is the drug of choice for acute relief of asthma symptoms and can prevent symptoms from getting worse. So it's important to always keep yours with you all the time. Examples of bronchilators are, hydrofluoroalkane(HFA), aerosal spray, or dry powder inhaler that are hand held and portable. 

Inhaled corticosteroids 

These are the most common long term control medications for asthma, they are the most important medication used to keep asthma under control. These preventive medication treats the airway inflammation that leads to asthma, if used on a daily basis the medication can reduce or eliminate asthma flare up. Oral corticosteroids such as, methyprednisolone and prednisone lower swelling in your airway. 
     There is no asthma drug consider the safest and in fact, asthma drugs are often used in combination for the best effects. The goal of asthma medication is to control symptoms and reduce asthma attacks, with a minimum of side attacks. 

    Home remedies for asthma treatment 

   Alongside medication and proper treatment plan, home remedies can help in keeping asthma symptoms under control. Home remedies and treatments will help the patients to manage their daily symptoms. Home remedies should be used to assist proper medical treatment. 

Yoga 

  Yoga helps the asthmatic patient in reducing some symptoms. If you practice yoga, meditation, you will have a reduce frequency of asthma attacks,fewer asthma symptoms, it enhanced lung capacity, and improves blood flow, and also a better response to medication.

Lifestyle practice 

   Maintaining a healthy lifestyle will help you in treating asthma, maintain a good eating habit, avoid some unhealthy lifestyle, such as, smoking, drinking, and staying hungry for too long. Also maintain a moderate body weight, get enough sleep and be physically fit, try practicing stress management techniques.

Eliminate triggers 

    Identify and eliminate triggers of asthma attacks, although each of us have what triggers our asthma symptoms, we should identify them and avoid coming in contact with them.
   Avoid staying in an environment with poor ventilation, polluted air, mold. 

Manage stress 

       Try not to be overworked, manage your stress, emotions, and maintain a calm state of mind. As these canbe a source of severe asthma, try to get enough sleep as soon as possible.

          Preventive measures for asthma

  • Use allergy proof covers on pillows and mattress 
  • Do not allow pet in bedroom or in furniture 
  • Remove carpets and stuffed toys from bedrooms the spurs from them will act as allergens.
  • Avoid areas where people smoke, and  also try to avoid smoking, avoid harsh cleaning products and chemicals. 
  • Reduce your stress and enjoy doing the things in your daily life 
  • Pay attention to air quality in your environment 
  • Perform physical activities daily 
  • Understand the climate conditions around you and act accordingly.