Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways (conducting tubes in the lungs). This inflammation results in symptoms of cough, chest tightness, wheezing, and breathlessness, mainly at night and early morning. Daytime symptoms present in severe cases. Bronchial Asthma is a common respiratory disorder and affects about 10% of children and 5% of adults in the general population. Among childhood asthmatics around half outgrow it by early adulthood, however, increased sensitivity of the airways may persist, and they may get asthma symptoms later in life.
Childhood asthma is more prevalent in boys, but this trend is reversed in puberty and adulthood and the overall prevalence is greater in females. Inheritance, though complex, plays a role in the etiology of asthma.
Environmental factors, both indoor and outdoor, play a major role in triggering and sustaining asthma symptoms with continuous exposure. Symptoms improve with cessation of exposure.
The main indoor triggers (allergens) are house dust, house dust mites, animal dander (cat, dog, rodents), cockroach, and mold (fungal) spores. House dust comprises insects, insect feces, animal dander, mold spores, pollen grains, fibers, mites, and mite feces. Outdoor allergens are primarily pollens and mold spores.
Outdoor and indoor air pollutants not only exacerbate asthma symptoms but also play a role in enhancing the effect of inhaled allergens.
Outdoor pollutants include industrial smog (Sulphur dioxide particulate complex) and photochemical smog (ozone, nitrogen dioxide). Indoor pollutants include passive cigarette smoke exposure, cooking gas exhausts, and exposure to the odor of cleaning solutions and sprays.
Dr. Suresh Puri
Consultant Pulmonologist &…Consultant Pulmonologist & Internal MedicineConsultant Pulmonologist & Internal Medicine
Viral respiratory infections and atypical bacterial infections play an important role in triggering asthma symptoms. Nasal allergy is common in patients with Asthma. When seeking expert care for asthma in Dubai, it’s crucial to find the best asthma doctor who can provide comprehensive treatment and management tailored to individual needs.
Asthma presents with cough, wheezing, and breathlessness. All symptoms may not be present simultaneously. Some asthmatics perceive asthma symptoms poorly. This poor perception of symptoms in some asthmatics leads sometimes to near-fatal attacks of asthma. Such patients benefit from home Peak Flow monitoring, asthma education, and open-door policy/easy access by the caregiver.
Treatment of asthma depends on a careful assessment of the patient’s symptoms along with clinical examination, spirometry (lung functions), peak flow, and exhaled NO (nitric oxide) monitoring. Bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory medicines mainly in form of inhalers/nebulizers are tailored to a patient’s asthma severity staging. Avoidance of exposure to pollutants and allergens is an important component of treatment.
Patient education about asthma, asthma medications, and home monitoring of asthma control are powerful tools in controlling asthma. Recent advances in patient education make use of mobile health and interactive learning, which in turn also encourages a strong patient-doctor partnership in the management of bronchial asthma.
