What is Asthma?

Asthma is a lung disease, in which the breathing passages get constricted and inflamed. The episode can last for a few minutes to more than a day. It is chronic but reversible, can occur at any age and when it strikes even the most fit of person gasp, wheeze and cough. Breathing becomes very difficult when air passages are narrowed, when mucous secretion increases, there is swelling in the lining of the tubes and there is a constriction in the muscles surrounding the bronchial tubes.

Symptoms of Asthma

• Emergency – extremely exhaustive feeling, breathing becomes very difficult and lips, face and fingertips develop bluish tinge.
• Severe symptoms – pulse rate is rapid, neck muscles are held tight or constricted, gasping for breath after every few words of speech.
• Mild Symptoms – whistling sound while breathing; feeling of suffocation; chest is painless but held tight; coughing at night accompanied by yellow or clear thick sputum; difficulty in breathing; shallow, rapid noisy breathing and coughing

Causes of Asthma

• Hypersensitivity or overreaction to external triggers like cockroach and animal dander; exposure to house-dust mites; pollen, perfumes, air pollutants, vapors, gases, chemicals or allergen
• Food preservatives, medications like aspirin, changes in weather, aerobic exercises and emotional expressions are factors responsible for extrinsic asthma
• Respiratory infection like bronchitis is responsible for intrinsic asthma. Changes in  temperature, pollution, fatigue and emotional stress can further aggravate asthma.

Home remedies for Asthma

1. Prevention of acute episodes and stopping those that may occur, asthma can be controlled. Besides medication:

   • Stay away from substances that cause asthma attacks.
   • Do not panic during an attack.
   • Use a peak-flow meter to monitor your lung capacity. 2 days before actual asthma symptom airflow drops, you can get to know the actual symptom of asthma before hand.

How can one prevent Asthma

1. Exercising regularly will strengthen your lungs. But consult a doctor before that.
2. Cover your nose and mouth with a scarf during cold weather (it can trigger asthma attack), so that the air that you breathe in is warm and filtered.
3. Note all the factors that are responsible for your asthma attacks and keep away from them.
4. The amount of dust at home can be reduced considerably with regular vacuum
5. To maintain hydration and to loosen airway secretions, drink at-least 8 glasses of water a day
6. Quit smoking and avoid secondary smoke.