SCRIPT NUMBER 129
ASTHMA - 2
(ONE SPEAKER)
PROGRAM NAME: HEALTH NUGGETS
PROGRAM TITLE: ASTHMA - 2
PROGRAM NUMBER: 129
SUBJECT: RISK FACTORS, SYMPTOMS, TREATMENT, LONG-TERM
CONTROL OF ASTHMA
KEY WORDS: ASTHMA ATTACK, QUICK-ACTING RELIEF INHALER,
THEOPHYLLINE, STEROIDS, AIRBORNE POLLEN
DATE OF SCRIPT: SEPTEMBER 13, 2013
AUTHOR: RICHARD YUKL, MD, FACS
Have you developed medical symptoms like those that Carlos experienced? He
began coughing during the night and in the early mornings, making his sleep
difficult. He developed a whistling or squeaky sound as well as a feeling of
tightness in his chest when he breathed rapidly. He felt as though his lungs were
overfilled and that he couldn’t get the air out of his lungs. He had developed the
symptoms of asthma.
Today, I want to talk about asthma, a chronic disease that affects the breathing
tubes leading to our lungs. We were created with breathing tubes that warm air
as it is brought into our lungs. Additionally, small hairs in the breathing tubes
move in a coordinated, wave-like motion to help remove airborne debris. The
hairs can also stimulate coughing to more effectively remove the debris.
Specialized cells in the breathing tubes secrete mucus to form a sticky, protective
coating on the inside surfaces of the tubes that traps harmful organisms and
dust. In asthma, the lining cells of the breathing tubes become overly sensitive,
reacting strongly to any irritating substance. The tubes become swollen and
narrowed, significantly limiting the amount of air that can enter the lungs.
Asthma is caused by a combination of genetic and other factors. Risk factors that
will increase your chances of developing asthma include another member of your
family with asthma, smoking or being heavily exposed to someone who smokes,
having allergies such as hay fever, having a mother who smoked while pregnant
and obesity.
Symptoms of asthma come in episodes called asthma attacks, and they are just
as Carlos experienced - coughing, especially at night and in the early mornings,
wheezing and shortness of breath. For some people, these symptoms are only a
minor nuisance, but for others they become a major and even life-threatening
health problem. During an asthma attack, swelling can so narrow the breathing
tubes that the lungs cannot get enough oxygen to support proper bodily
functions.
Attacks can be triggered by vigorous, sustained exercise, especially exercise in
cold weather, by exposure to irritating gases or chemical fumes, by dust, or by
triggering allergies such as airborne pollen or pet hair. Strong emotions and
stress can also trigger an attack in some people.
Diagnosis can be difficult because the symptoms can vary widely in type and
severity from one person to another. A doctor will make the diagnosis by
measuring how much air you can breathe out with maximum effort after a deep
breath.
Asthma cannot be cured, but proper treatment can effectively control its
symptoms. Treatment requires learning to recognize and to avoid the triggers to
which you react. Medicines can help reduce the swelling that leads to attacks,
and quick-acting relief inhalers can rapidly open swollen breathing tubes during
an attack. They act within minutes of being inhaled, and their effect lasts for
several hours. Long-term control, however, is the key to successful management.
In most cases, achieving long-term control will require that you take some
medicines every day - medicines such as steroids that you inhale. They are
prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor may also prescribe pills called
theophyllines. You take these theophylline pills by mouth every day, and they
relax the muscles surrounding your breathing tubes, making your breathing
easier. The symptoms Carlos experienced cleared completely once he learned to
wear a mask to avoid breathing in heavy dust at work, and his doctor started him
on theophyllines.
Many people with asthma rely on medicines alone to prevent and relieve their
symptoms, but you can also make lifestyle changes to further lessen the
likelihood of suffering attacks. Like Carlos, you can reduce your exposure to the
things that trigger your attacks. You might use an air conditioner to reduce the
amount of airborne pollens from trees, grasses and weeds that come into your
home. If you don’t have air conditioning, you can keep your windows closed
during pollen season. Cover your pillows and mattress with dust-proof covers,
and clean your home at least once a week to minimize the dust, wearing a mask
while you clean. You can also install washable curtains and blinds, and if
possible, remove the carpeting, installing hardwood or linoleum flooring.
Being overweight worsens asthma symptoms, so get back to your ideal weight.
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, as these foods are rich in antioxidants, which
boost your immune system and reduce asthma symptoms. Lessen your anxiety
and the feelings of helplessness about your situation by focusing on the things
you can do, not the things you can’t do. Finally, taking care of your health by
getting regular exercise helps. Exercise strengthens your heart and lungs, and
that will help relieve asthma symptoms. Exercise involving long periods of
exertion such as long distance running or basketball is poorly tolerated by
asthmatics, but exercise that involves short, intermittent periods of exertion such
as volleyball or baseball is generally well tolerated.
To summarize, long-term control is the key to managing asthma. Medicines are
essential for long-term control, so, like Carlos, take your medicines exactly as
your doctor prescribed them. Identify your asthma triggers by carefully noting the
things that trigger your attacks, and avoid those situations. Learn to recognize
the signs that you are developing an attack, and act quickly to treat it. Write down
a detailed plan for managing an attack once it begins to occur. Develop an
understanding of the plan and act quickly to treat the attack. If you act quickly,
you will lessen the likelihood that the attack will be severe. If you find yourself
relying on your quick-relief inhaler more frequently with time, your disease isn’t
under control, so see your doctor about adjusting your medicines or treatment
plan.
Health Nuggets is written by Dr. Richard Yukl, a medical doctor working in the
United States. The medical views expressed in this program are his and may
differ for your particular health needs. If you need medical advice, please consult
a medical professional in your area.