How do I know if I have asthma?

If you are noticing symptoms such as wheezing (whistling sound), tightness in the chest (seems like a tightened belt around the chest), and shortness of breath, and cough. These symptoms can become worse temporarily on exposure to triggers and can be relieved with treatments prescribed to you by your doctor.

What can help my asthma attack if I do not have an inhaler?

If you feel you are getting an asthma attack, it is advised to sit upright as it opens your airways and does not put pressure on your diaphragm. You should also move away from triggers such as dust and try to take small slow breaths. It is advised to seek nearby help or call your nearest emergency center.

Which foods to eat for asthma?

Certain foods can help you get relief from asthma symptoms. These foods include Vitamin A-rich foods such as carrots and cruciferous vegetables. Foods rich in Vitamin D such as fish, eggs, and milk also help in asthma. Manganese-rich foods like pumpkin seeds and spinach also improve lung function and help relieve asthma symptoms.

Which foods to avoid for asthma?

Certain foods can trigger asthma, and therefore, should be avoided by asthmatic patients. These foods include wine, dried fruits, and shrimps. You must also avoid foods that cause gas such as beans, fried foods and carbonated drinks as it puts pressure on your diaphragm and chest muscles, thereby aggravating asthma symptoms. However, you should stop eating anything only after consulting your doctor.

Can asthma get worse with age?

Contrary to the popular belief, asthma can begin at any age and is known as adult-onset asthma when it starts in adults. Asthma can be severe in adults as they may tend to ignore it for long. The presence of pre-existing conditions such as obesity, cardiac diseases, lung diseases, or any autoimmune disorders also tend to be the risk factors for developing asthma in adults. It is advised to not ignore your symptoms and consult a pulmonologist on time.

Unfortunately, asthma cannot be cured completely as it is the body’s own immune system that is responsible for causing the symptoms of asthma. However, asthma is a highly treatable disease. With effective treatment, you can get complete control over your asthma symptoms. Medications along with lifestyle measures can help you get better control over your symptoms.

Asthma

Written By Dr. Lipika KhuranaPGDHHM, BDS

Reviewed By Dr. Sachin Gupta

MD Pharmacology, MBBS

Last updated on: 27 Sep 2022 | 06:23 PM (IST)

Overview

Asthma is a long term condition in which air passages in the lungs become narrow due to inflammation and contraction of the muscles around the small airways. This causes symptoms such as cough, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness. These symptoms are intermittent and are often worse at night or during exercise.

Some of the common triggers that can make asthma symptoms worse include viral infections (colds), dust, smoke, fumes, changes in the weather, grass and tree pollen, animal fur and feathers, dust mites (dermatophagoides), strong soaps, and perfume. These triggers vary from person to person.

Asthma is diagnosed mainly with lung function tests but other blood tests and allergy testing also helps in making proper diagnosis. The treatment of asthma is vast but beta-2 agonists and corticosteroids remain the mainstay of asthma treatment.

Lifestyle and prevention measures such as avoiding triggers, avoiding foods that increase the risk of an asthma attack, and staying away from stress could be of great help when it comes to controlling asthma attacks. In severe cases, it can lead to a condition known as status asthmaticus that might require hospitalization.

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Overview

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Celebs affected

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Home-care

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References