What is asthma, what are its symptoms and how is it treated?

*This text has been written based on the information received from health institutions and organizations, hospitals and health professionals. If you or someone you know has any of the symptoms described here, our recommendation is to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

It is estimated that they live in Brazil with about 20 million people. asthma. This chronic disease affects both children and adults and creates many difficulties in the lives of patients despite its treatment.

In the Unified Health System (SUS), there are an average of 350 thousand hospitalizations per year due to the problem, which is the third largest cause of hospitalization in the country. Lack of knowledge about the disease is a decisive factor for worsening cases. So, see below what asthmasymptoms and treatment.

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this asthma It is the third leading cause of hospitalizations in the country (Source: Shutterstock)

this asthma It is a disease that causes inflammation by affecting the bronchi or airways. The exact cause of the disease is not yet known. Experts believe the condition is brought on by a number of factors, whether genetic or environmental.

What are the symptoms of asthma?

Shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing, wheezing and chest tightness, and frequent coughing are the most characteristic symptoms. asthma. They can change over time and even disappear temporarily in some cases.

It is common for many patients to report worsening overnight. In addition, physical activity intensifies breathing and can worsen the condition. There are some environmental triggers that can make symptoms worse.

For example, mites can cause allergies in patients and worsen the condition. The same goes for fungi, pollen, and pets. All this causes excitations in the respiratory system and can overload its functions.

Patients should also be concerned about viral infections that could worsen the disease. Among these, flu and colds are the most common and can worsen in winter.

Another problem is often cigarette smoke and pollution. When these substances enter the lungs from the nose, they cause irritation of the mucous membranes and can make breathing difficult.

Asthma diagnosis

patients suspected of having asthma should call a specialist. He or she will question and analyze your symptoms and behavior to determine the cause. You will also usually ask when the problems occur and if there are any medications that can control them.

In some cases, additional testing may be necessary. It is common for a pulmonary function test or spirometry to be ordered. In this test, the patient blows into a device that measures the amount of expelled air.

Other lung activity tests may also be ordered. Although the doctor may listen to the breath for wheezing, asthma It is not diagnosed by chest X-ray or physical examination.

Treatment

asthma There is no cure. Treatment of the disease is carried out to relieve symptoms, but even if it completely disappears, it is still present in the body. However, therapy is individualized and adapted to the intensity of the problem at a particular point in life.

Most patients use medication. There are two main types, one aimed at the onset of symptoms and preventing crises, and the other used when symptoms suddenly worsen.

The first type, called controllers, reduces bronchial inflammation. Generally, inhalable corticosteroids are used. Sometimes they can be combined with other drugs that promote bronchodilation.

Inhalation is done with the so-called asthma inhalers. This equipment is nothing more than a device for administering medication directly into the respiratory tract. It is just a tool that can be used for different drugs.

There is still a certain stigma about fireworks, and therefore doctors tried to prefer the name “device” when talking about them. But it’s important to understand that this is the best way to use the drug, and it does not have serious side effects and is not as addictive as some people think.

asthma It is a serious health problem that affects many people in Brazil and all over the world. Fortunately, in recent years, with the spread of information about the disease and the distribution of medicines to critically ill patients, the number of cases has decreased in our country.

Despite this, the availability of medicines and access to professionals are still limited in many places and so there is still a lot of suffering from a treatable disease and so the fight for the democratization of health must continue.