Asthma is a particularly common chronic disease, i.e. one that lasts for a long time. The disease usually occurs in attacks and is accompanied by inflammation of the airways. The term is Greek and translates as anxiety.
Although global disease numbers are stagnant, between 235 (WHO) and 339 million (The Global Asthma Network) people worldwide suffer from bronchial asthma. Deaths per year are 250,000, making the disease not only one of the greatest health challenges, but also a major source of global economic burden.
Allergic vs. non-allergic asthma
Bronchial asthma is defined as a chronic inflammation of the lower airways. Basically, a distinction is made between allergic and non-allergic asthma. In most cases, the increased sensitivity of the bronchial tubes to certain stimuli is accompanied by chronic inflammation of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.
In 30 percent of cases, the disease is non-allergic asthma - this particularly affects middle-aged or elderly people. Extrinsic ast hma (also: allergic asthma), on the other hand, is the most common form with 70 percent and occurs mostly in children and adolescents. Initially allergic asthma can also develop into mixed asthma over time.
As one of the so-called atopic diseases , the allergic form has a genetically determined tendency to hypersensitivity reactions (bronchial hyperreactivity). These reactions can have both allergenic and non-allergenic triggers.
Symptoms of chronic inflammation of the airways
The chronically inflamed lower airways and the hypersensitivity reaction lead to an attack-like constriction of the bronchial tubes, resulting in acute symptoms of allergic asthma:
- Difficulty breathing
- Acute respiratory distress
- Whistling sounds especially on exhalation
- Tightness in the chest area
- Cough or coughing fits
- Fear of suffocation caused by shortness of breath
Children in particular often have a cough - this may mean that the allergic asthma responsible for it is not recognised early.
Air quality: crucial for the well-being of affected people
Since asthma forms in the airways, air quality is important for the well-being of asthma sufferers.
Whether pollen, mould spores or mite faeces - most inhalant allergens attach themselves to particulates. This can increase the causes and effects in the respiratory tract and thus aggravate the symptoms of allergic asthma.
In general, particulate matter is suspected of triggering allergies. Studies show that children's asthma could often be prevented by reducing the limit values. It is not only the mucous membranes and airways that are irritated by particulates and frequently provoke attacks. In addition to impaired lung function and influencing the effectiveness of medications, there are also the effects on the formation of the antibodies responsible for allergies - immunoglobulin E (IgE) - which have been proven in experimental studies.
Other air pollutants also have a negative effect on such a disease. Especially toxins from combustion processes, such as nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide, cause problems for asthmatics. These often cause irritation of the respiratory tract and mucous membranes and even cause inflammation.
The mucous membranes can also dry out if the humidity of the breathing air is too low, increasing the risk of infection: This in turn can provoke asthma attacks. Excessive humidity, on the other hand, can have serious consequences. Humid and warm air are perfect conditions both for the formation of mould fungi and for the proliferation of house dust mites. In the process, the mould spores as well as the faeces of the house dust mites act as allergens and aggravate the symptoms of allergic asthma.
Asthma therapy: Relieve and prevent
In order to prevent asthma attacks or at least to alleviate the asthma symptoms, it is first necessary to regularly check with a doctor which allergens your own body reacts to. In addition to this therapy, the following simple instructions for action can provide additional relief:
- Keep a diary and - in consultation with the attending doctor - document the course of the disease and the lung performance using a peak flow meter.
- Monitor the quality of the air you breathe(for example, with the air-Q air analyser), thereby immediately identifying possible health restrictions and regularly identifying and ultimately avoiding recurring peaks of certain pollutant concentrations.
- In addition to possible drug therapy with special sprays, clarify other treatment methods and aids with the doctor. Example: Hypersensitisation or special bed linen and covers
- Restrict the consumption of histamine-rich foods and check foods to see if or when they cause cross-reactions with the identified allergens.
Even though allergic asthma can cause a great deal of suffering for those affected, the diagnosis does not necessarily have to lead to massive restrictions in the quality of life. In order to be as carefree as possible, it is above all important to know what is on your plate and what is flying in the air you breathe.
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