How does asthma occur?
Asthma triggers vary from person to person. Asthma can also be caused by habits such as cold drinks such as rosemilk and almond milk, cold foods like ice cream, chocolate, cakes, sour fruits like oranges, grapes, lemons, frequent pouring of water on the head, and smoking cannabis.
House dusts including cow dung, bed bugs, vehicle fumes, mosquito repellents, perfumes, flower pollen, pet dander, stress, and poor ventilation can also trigger asthma.
What are the symptoms of asthma and what is the treatment?
People with asthma have difficulty breathing. There will be rest. A ‘whistling’ sound is heard in the chest. This noise is especially loud at night. Some have no rest. Instead, there will be an incessant cough. This is also an asthma problem.
There are many inhalation devices available now to control asthma like inhaler, rotahaler, nebulizer, nasal spray etc. With the help of these, safe medicines can be absorbed and asthma can be controlled quickly. Medicines that open the airways immediately and control allergies are given. If they are accompanied by a chest cold, it will also need treatment.
What is ‘Chronic Obstructive Respiratory Disease’ (COPD)?
This is also an issue of respiratory suppression. The reason is different. Three-quarters can get it only from smoking beedis, cigarettes and cigars. The incidence of this disease is increasing to the extent that it will become the second killer in the world in the next 20 years. However, it is a shame that people are still not aware of the seriousness of this disease.
Could this disease be caused by problems other than smoking?
There is If others inhale the smoke emitted by people who have smoked cigarettes (passive smoking), they can also get chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It can also come from people who continue to breathe in household smoke such as charcoal smoke, wood smoke, and smoky smoke. Vehicle fumes, industrial fumes, chemical fumes can also trigger this disease. About 2 in 100 people with the disease have an inherited deficiency of the AAT protein.
How does smoking affect the lungs?
Toxins from smoke that enter the lungs eat away at the trachea. This causes swelling in the airways. Mucus accumulates there. Then there is a blockage in the inside of the trachea. We cannot perceive its beginnings.
We think of it as a common cold and shortness of breath. It often goes beyond the normal phase. Chronic bronchitis becomes inflamed. Then the phlegm accumulates so much that no air can pass into the respiratory tract. Incessant coughing to expel this phlegm; Shortness of breath also occurs.
Next, the tiny air sacs in their lungs rupture and swell. The air here cannot escape and stays there. Eventually the entire lung becomes swollen (Emphysema). Difficulty expanding the lungs while breathing. Chronic pneumonia combined with pulmonary edema can cause severe shortness of breath. This is the worst situation for them; A life-threatening situation for many.
Are asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease the same?
No. Asthma often occurs in childhood; Allergy, runny nose and other secondary symptoms are seen; Heredity is present; Gives temporary inconvenience to the user. Asthma does not affect other parts of the patient’s body.
Conversely, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease begins in middle age. Smoking is the main cause. In people with this condition, several parts of the lungs become irreparably damaged. Hence, it requires daily treatment. Asthma can also be cured for many people. But there is no cure for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Can be controlled.
How does this disease affect other organs in the body?
When the lungs don’t get enough oxygen, or very little, the oxygen needed by the rest of the body also decreases, doesn’t it? Due to this, organs like heart, brain, kidney, eye, bone are also affected. There will be stress.
How to recognize chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?
Shortness of breath while doing small tasks. suffocating. Frequent phlegm. Chest feels tight. Then the chest hurts. Regular blood tests should be done when these symptoms are present. Chest X-ray, CT Have a scan. A ‘spirometry’ test to know the efficiency of the lungs is very important. If the FEV1/FVC level is less than 0.70, the disease is confirmed.
There are many stages in this disease. Treatment should be done accordingly. If the disease progresses, expectorant expectoration at any time. Breathing must be very difficult. It feels like one’s chest is tight. Even if you keep an eight while walking, you will be out of breath. This problem occurs even with exercise. In the winter, they have a lot of shortness of breath because the mucus freezes in their chest. Sleep is disturbed at night.
What treatments are available?
It has the same treatment as for asthma. It resolves early in the course of the disease. Once the disease develops, they must use the inhaler permanently. Steroid therapy is often the mainstay of these patients.
Some people need oxygen. Those in the most critical condition may need to be put on a ventilator. Arrangements may then be made for oxygen at home. Surgeries to reduce inflammation of the lungs and lung transplants are available in modern medicine.
How to prevent this?
Smoking should be completely banned. Firewood cooking should be the answer. Avoid breathing smoky air in all other ways. If this is not possible, it is better to stay away from smoke.
The mask can get stuck. Breathing exercises should be done daily after waking up in the morning. Walk daily for 30 to 45 minutes in a clean, well-ventilated area. Eat an immune-boosting, high-protein diet. Vaccination against influenza and pneumonia including swine flu should be done regularly.