The mention of the term bronchial asthma can leave you wondering whether you are talking about the same asthma that you commonly know about. A lot of people simply know of asthma, so when we talk about bronchial asthma, this can set them on a different spiral altogether.
Ideally, when we are talking about bronchial asthma, we are simply referring to an inflammatory disease which brings about shortness of breath, wheezing, cough attacks and a sensation of tightness in the chest.
With more than 25 million Americans suffering from asthma today, it is important to ensure that you know what to do when you are under attack. The inflammation will leave you struggling from time to time, because of the feeling of discomfort that comes with it.
Triggers of bronchial asthma
As is the case with a lot of the other conditions, there are particular things that trigger a bronchial asthma attack. When you pay attention to some of these, you will be able to realize how to better take care of yourself. More often than not, dealing with asthma, or keeping it in check is all about getting a better understanding of what you are suffering from, and then from there you learn how to mitigate the dangers.
The following are some of the common triggers that you need to be aware of:
- Air pollution and toxins from the same
- Smoking, even secondhand smoke
- Emotional stress and anxiety
- Extreme weather changes
Things like fragrances and perfumes will also cause a lot of challenges from time to time, food additives such as MSG, and at times the use of drugs like NSAIDs, aspirin and beta blockers.
Symptoms of asthmatic bronchitis attack
There are individuals who have lived with asthma for a very long time, during which they have been able to learn how to manage it appropriately. In most cases, management simply involves you learning how to mitigate the symptoms.
In the event that you have not gotten to the point where you can say you have a good understanding of your asthma, the following are some of the symptoms that should have you on high alert:
- Tightness in the chest
- Excessive production of mucus
- Wheezing and coughing
- Short breath
One thing that people often worry about is whether asthma is contagious. In as much as it is often caused by bacteria which is indeed contagious, the condition in itself is not contagious.
Medical examination
Once you have figured out that you have some of the symptoms that we have discussed above, the next course of action will be for you to see a specialist. Your doctor will run some tests, pretty much after asking you a number of questions to try and ascertain your medical history. The following are some of the tests that you will be put through:
- Spirometry – this is a test that is aimed at determining whether your lung functions are okay, through the use of a spirometer.
- Chest x-ray –in this case you will have to take a radiology exam, which will give the doctor clear images of your chest cavity, in a bid to find out any evidence of conditions which might be the reason behind your breathing problems.
- Peak expiratory flow –this is aimed at determining the force of the air that you are exhaling. It is done through the use of a peak expiratory flow meter.
Treatments available
Once the tests have been run and it is determined that you are indeed struggling with bronchial asthma, there are a number of options that will be recommended for you. One of the most obvious of them all will be the use of inhalers.
At the moment there are quite a number of inhalers available in the market. Therefore you will need to work with your doctor to determine the one that will best meet your needs. Some of the best options that you can look into include the following:
- Ventolin
- Flovent
- Proventil
- AdvairDiskus
You have to take note of the fact that the treatment methods that are available for asthmatic bronchitis are pretty much the same as those that are used for some of the other conditions like bronchitis, and asthma.