Anyone can get asthma at any age. Among those at higher risk for asthma are
people who:
Have a family history of asthma
Have a history of allergies (allergic asthma)
Have smokers living in the household
Live in urban areas
How is asthma classified?
Asthma is classified into four categories based upon frequency of symptoms
and objective measures, such as peak flow measurements and/or spirometry
results. These categories are: mild intermittent; mild
persistent; moderate persistent; and severe persistent. Your
physician will determine the severity and control of your asthma based on how
frequently you have symptoms and on lung function tests. It is important to
note that a person's asthma symptoms can change from one category to
another.
Mild intermittent asthma
Symptoms occur less than two times a week, and nighttime symptoms occur
less than two times per month.
Asthma episodes are brief (a few hours to a few days).
Lung function tests are greater than 80% of predicted values. Predictions
are often made on the basis of age, sex, and height. For a person with asthma,
the "predicted" figure could be replaced by the person's own personal best test
value as the figure for comparison.
Mild persistent asthma
Symptoms occur more than two times per week but not every day.
Lung function tests are greater than 80% of predicted.
Moderate persistent asthma
Symptoms occur daily.
Asthma symptoms affect activity, occur more than two times per week, and
may last for days.
There is a reduction in lung function, with a lung function test range of
60% to 80% of predicted.
Severe persistent asthma
Symptoms occur continuously, with asthma at night frequently.
Activities are limited.
Lung function is decreased to less than 60% of predicted.
Chronic cough is a cough that does not go away and is generally a symptom of another disorder such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, sinus infection, cigarette smoking, GERD, postnasal drip, bronchitis, pneumonia, medications, and less frequently tumors or other lung disease. Treatment of chronic cough is dependant upon the cause.
Menopause is the time in a woman's life when menstrual periods permanently stop, also called the “change of life." Menopause symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, irregular vaginal bleeding, vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, urinary incontinence, weight gain, and emotional symptoms such as mood swings. Treatment of menopausal symptoms varies, and should be discussed with your physician.
Asthma is a common disorder in which
chronic inflammation of the bronchial tubes (bronchi) makes them swell, narrowing the airways. Signs and symptoms include shortness of breath, chest tightness,
cough and wheezing.
An allergy refers to a misguided reaction by our immune system in response to bodily contact with certain foreign substances. When these allergens come in contact with the body, it causes the immune system to develop an allergic reaction in people who are allergic to it. It is estimated that 50 million North Americans are affected by allergic conditions. The parts of the body that are prone to react to allergies include the eyes, nose, lungs, skin, and stomach. Common allergic disorders include hay fever, asthma, allergic eyes, allergic eczema, hives, and allergic shock.
Influenza (flu) is a respiratory illness caused by a virus. Flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches. The flu may be prevented with an annual influenza vaccination.
Obesity is the state of being well above one's normal weight. A person has traditionally been
considered to be obese if they are more than 20 percent over their ideal weight.
That ideal weight must take into account the person's height, age, sex, and
build.
Smoking is an addiction. More than 430,000 deaths occur each year in the U.S. from smoking related illnesses. Secondhand smoke or "passive smoke" also harm family members, coworkers, and others around smokers. There are a number of techniques available to assist people who want to quit smoking.
Patients who have infrequent, mild bouts of asthma attacks may use over-the-counter (OTC) medications to treat their asthma symptoms. OTC asthma medicines are limited to epinephrine and ephedrine. These OTC drugs are best used with the guidance of a physician, as there may be side effects and the drugs may not be very effective.
Asthma, the main cause of chronic illness in children, has signs and symptoms in children that include frequent coughing spells, low energy while playing, complaints of chest "hurting," wheezing while breathing, shortness of breath, and feelings of tiredness. Treatment will involve a doctor creating an asthma action plan which will describe the use of asthma medications and when to seek emergency care for the child.
There are many unusual symptoms of asthma, including sighing, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, chronic cough, recurrent walking pneumonia, and rapid breathing. These symptoms may vary from individual to individual. These asthma complexities make it difficult to accurately diagnose and treat asthma.
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