subject: Fundamental Facts To Know About The Two Main Forms Of Asthma [print this page] Asthma is a lung disease that makes it difficult or even impossible to breathe. About 22 million Americans have this condition. It affects people's lives and can even cause death. The condition comes in two different forms, with a variety of possible triggers and treatment options are available. It's important to understand what people with these lung problems have to deal with. In order to get the oxygen our bodies need, people without breathing problems breathe air into their open, healthy lungs. The lungs process it and they exhale. With asthmatics, narrowing in the airways of the lungs makes it hard to breathe. This narrowing is caused because the lungs constrict and swell. When this happens, the person is having an asthma attack. When allergies are the cause, a person's immune system overreacts to a substance. Also, in some people, exercise leads to symptoms. In some cases, workers breathe in substances at work that cause their breathing problems. Cough variant asthma is the second type. In this form, the person coughs in a non-productive manner and coughing is the only symptom. The cough variant form is the most difficult for doctors to diagnose. Lung function is often normal with these patients. However, similar medications are used to treat the cough variant that are used in the more common constriction form. As with any medical condition, patients need to consult with their physician for diagnosis and treatment. This is important whether the patient has the more common form or the cough variant. Treatments vary based on severity of symptoms and underlying causes. For allergic or occupational triggers, avoiding the things that cause the problem can help prevent it. Allergy testing can be used to determine what the person is allergic to. Also, treating the allergies themselves can result in improvement for the patient. A lot of medications are available to patients suffering with symptoms. Doctors can prescribe medicine that keeps the body from having an attack in the first place. When someone does experience troubled breathing, he can use a rescue inhaler to stop the attack. Some doctors use both kinds of medicine to help their patients. Physicians will sometimes try different treatments in order to address each patient's individual needs. Asthma is a very serious medical condition that can have a negative impact on the lives of people living with it. However, doctors are able to work with patients to determine the best treatment course and help them manage their symptoms. This means that people living with this problem can live full, healthy lives.
Fundamental Facts To Know About The Two Main Forms Of Asthma
