5th May World Asthma Day

5th May World Asthma Day

By http://www.asthma.ie, Friday, 24th April 2020 | 0 comments
Filed under: Clarehall, Roselawn, Ongar.

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a condition that affects the airways- the small tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. In asthma, the airways become over-sensitive; meaning that they react to things that wouldn’t usually cause a problem, such as cold air or dust.

When the airways react to a substance, the muscles of the tube walls tighten up, making them narrow and leaving little room for air to flow in and out. The lining of the airways then gets swollen (just like your nose during a cold) and sticky mucus is produced which clogs up the breathing passages.

With so little space in the airways, it becomes difficult for air to move in and out and the chest has to work much harder to breathe. Tightening of the muscles around the airways can happen quickly; this is the most common cause of mild asthma symptoms.

Thankfully, this tightness can be relieved quickly with  a reliever inhaler (usually blue). However, the swelling and mucus happen more slowly and need a different treatment. This usually is usually a preventer inhaler which is taken daily to allow the effect to build up over time. 

The majority of people with asthma are prescribed a daily preventer inhaler to protect against an asthma attack and a reliever inhaler to use when symptoms occur. It is extremely important that preventer medication is taken regularly, as prescribed and even when asthma symptoms are not present.

If you suspect that you or your child has developed asthma, you must attend your G.P. to get an official diagnosis.

As there is no single test for asthma, your G.P. will make this diagnosis based on:

  • A family history of asthma, if there is one.
  • The pattern and frequency of symptoms.
  • A physical chest examination.
  • Peak flow readings or a lung function test (children must be over 5 years old).
  • A trial of asthma treatment

Before asthma can be confirmed or ruled out, the doctor may also you about other conditions which may be present, such as eczema or hay fever. You may also be asked to keep a diary of the symptoms you or your child have and when they occur.

To confirm the diagnosis, the following tests may be performed

  • Spirometry: a simple breathing test that gives measurement of lung function including a reversibility test that measures lung function before and after a dose of reliever to see if the medication has improved your lung function.
  • Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR): this is another simple breathing test which may be measured over a period of time; such as when one has symptoms or is symptoms free. It can be performed by a G.P., in a hospital or even at home.
  • Exercise Testing: this test is used to check if exercise makes your symptoms worse.

Diagnosing Children

Asthma is difficult to diagnose in children under the age of two. This is because both wheezing and respiratory infections are common in young children and can have very similar symptoms to asthma.

If your child is under 2 years of age and the symptoms are persistent or severe, your doctor may prescribe a trial of asthma medication to support a diagnosis. In many cases, children may not be officially diagnosed until the age of 5.