Bronchial asthma is a medical condition which causes the airway path of the lungs to swell and narrow. Due to this swelling, the air path produces excess mucus making it hard to breathe, which results in coughing, short breath, and wheezing. The disease is chronic and interferes with daily working.
What Causes Asthmatic Bronchitis?
There are many triggers that may initiate the release of inflammatory substances. Common asthmatic bronchitis triggers include:
- Tobacco smoke
- Pollution
- Allergens such as pollen, mold, dust
- Chemicals
- Certain medications (aspirin, beta-blockers)
- Exercise
- Weather changes (for example, cold weather)
- Viral or bacterial infections
- Strong emotions (laughing or crying)
- Secondhand smoke
- Infections such as colds, flu, or pneumonia
- Singing, laughing, or crying
- Exercise
- Air pollution and toxins
- Allergens such as food, pollen, mold, dust mites, and pet dander
- Weather, especially extreme changes in temperature
- Drugs
- Food addiction
- Emotional stress and anxiety
Signs and Symptoms of Bronchial Asthma
With bronchial asthma, you may have one or more of the following signs and symptoms:
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Cough
- Chest tightness
- Excess mucus production
How serious is Bronchial Asthma ?
Bronchial asthma is a serious global health problem. 5% to 10% of persons of all ages suffer from this chronic airway disorder.
Treatments for Asthmatic Bronchitis
- Short-acting bronchodilators, such as albuterol, to help open the airway to provide short-term relief.
- Inhaled corticosteroids.
- Long-acting bronchodilators used together with inhaled corticosteroids.
- Leukotriene modifiers.
- Cromolyn or theophylline.
Treatments for Asthmatic Bronchitis
Asthmatic bronchitis treatments are essentially the same as those used to treat asthma and bronchitis, and may include:
- Short-acting bronchodilators, such as albuterol, to help open the airway to provide short-term relief in the respiratory function
- Inhaled corticosteroids (any of a group of steroid hormones produced in the adrenal cortex or made synthetically. There are two kinds: glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. They have various metabolic functions and some are used to treat inflammation)
- Long-acting bronchodilators used together with inhaled corticosteroids
- Leukotriene modifiers ( Leukotrienes cause tightening of airway muscles and the production of excess mucus and fluid.)
- Cromolyn or theophylline
- Combination inhalers containing both a steroid and a bronchodilator
- Long-acting anticholinergics (Anticholinergics are drugs that block the action of acetylcholine . Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter, or a chemical messenger. It transfers signals between certain cells to affect how your body functions. )
- A humidifier or steam
- Bacterial respiratory infection may be treated with antibiotics.
Treatment also involves avoiding asthma triggers by following these tips:
- Wash your bed linens and blankets in hot water.
- Dust and vacuum regularly.
- Use a HEPA air filter in your home reason being it quickly removes 99.9% of pollutants, viruses, germs, bacteria & allergens.
- Keep pets out of your bedroom.
- Don’t smoke, and try to stay away from other people who smoke. Passive smoking is more injurious
- Wash your hands frequently to prevent the spread of infection.
Can exercise stop asthma symptoms?
Breathing exercises used in yoga have been found to help some people with asthma control breathing and relieve stress, a common asthma trigger. And also, these activities minimize symptoms because they:
- Increase endurance. Over time, working out can help your airways build up tolerance to exercise. This makes it easier for your lungs to perform activities that usually make you winded, like walking up stairs.
- Improve lung capacity. The more you work out, the more your lungs get used to consuming oxygen. This decreases how hard your body must work to breathe on a daily basis.
- Strengthen muscle. When your muscles are strong, the body functions more efficiently during everyday activities.
- Improve cardiovascular fitness. Exercise improves the overall conditioning of the heart, improving blood flow and the delivery of oxygen.
- Reduce inflammation. Though asthma inflames the airways, regular exercise can actually decrease inflammation. It works by reducing inflammatory proteins, which improves how your airways respond to exercise.
Breathing exercises
In addition to physical activity, certain breathing exercises can also reduce asthma symptoms. These methods help by opening the airways, moving fresh air into the lungs, and reducing the effort of breathing.
Breathing excercises include;
Diaphragmatic breathing
- Relax your shoulders and sit back or lie down.
- Place one hand on your belly and one on your chest.
- Inhale through your nose for two seconds, feeling the air move into your abdomen and feeling your stomach move out. …
- Breathe out for two seconds through pursed lips while pressing on your abdomen.
Nasal breathing
Nasal breathing cleans the air as it enters the body, produces nitric oxide (NO), and performs the same amount of work with less energy.
- Sit in a comfortable position with your legs crossed.
- Place your left hand on your left knee.
- Lift your right hand up toward your nose.
- Exhale completely and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril.
- Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your fingers.
- Open the right nostril and exhale through this side.
- Inhale through the right nostril and then close this nostril.
- Open the left nostril and exhale through the left side.
Pursed lip breathing
Practice this technique 4-5 times a day at first so you can get the correct breathing pattern.
Pursed lip breathing technique
- Relax your neck and shoulder muscles.
- Breathe in (inhale) slowly through your nose for two counts, keeping your mouth closed. Don’t take a deep breath; a normal breath will do. It may help to count to yourself: inhale, one, two.
- Pucker or “purse” your lips as if you were going to whistle or gently flicker the flame of a candle.
- Breathe out (exhale) slowly and gently through your pursed lips while counting to four. It may help to count to yourself: exhale, one, two, three, four.
