Bronchial asthma

The bronchial asthma is a chronic disease which can give a lot of troubles to the patient. However, the majority of people suffering from the bronchial asthma know that presently doctors possess all necessary information, experience and medicines to prevent and treat successfully the attacks of bronchial asthma. Treatment of all allergic diseases is based on preventive approach and management.

What is bronchial asthma?

The basic symptom of the bronchial asthma is attacks of suffocation with expiration problems because of the increased motor activity of the bronchi that is the reaction of the organism to the influence of various external and internal stimuli.

The causes of the bronchial asthma

The disease can occur on the background of a congenital allergy, known as atopy, to some substances. Doctors name this condition atopic form of the bronchial asthma. Such people suffer from allergic manifestations since their birth and in the beginning these manifestations take the form of atopic dermatitis (exudative diathesis). With the years the dermatitis can pass, but it also may remain; in any case the attacks of the disease begin.Another form of the bronchial asthma is the infectious-allergic asthma, which is formed and becomes exacerbated in connection with bacterial and virus infections in people who do not suffer from atopies. The contributing factors of the condition are endocrine abnormalities, cold, damp climate and unfavorable ecological conditions.

How the bronchial asthma begins

For some time before the person falls ill with the bronchial asthma, certain harbingers of the disease can appear. Most often such presages arise after the respiratory virus disease or an exacerbation of the chronic bronchitis. At night or in the mornings the allergic cold and paroxysmal cough may occur. The cough is not alleviated by the antitussive drugs. Most frequently the cough remains after the passed virus infection or after an exacerbation of the chronic bronchitis. At this stage, the medical examination may reveal the increase of expiratory capacity that is indicative of the latent spasm of the bronchial tubes during this period.

Attack of the bronchial asthma

The attacks of suffocation in the bronchial asthma are an inadequate reaction of the organism to various irritants. The organism reacts with a spasm of the bronchi, the swelling of their mucous membrane and the increased mucosal secretion; as a result the bronchi become obstructed and the attack of suffocation develops.Most frequently the attack of the bronchial asthma begins suddenly. But sometimes stuffiness in nose, the skin itch, difficult breathing, and the desire to clear the throat may appear in the beginning. Then, the dry cough, which promotes the increase of a short wind, begins. If the patient takes the sitting position, it alleviates the patient’s condition because it helps to put into operation the auxiliary respiratory muscles. The thorax is expanded, the exhalation is considerably lengthened, and the rales in the lungs are audible at a distance. The attack can last from several minutes till several hours and comes to the end with the occurrence of cough and expectoration a small amount of phlegm.In severe forms of the disease the attacks have constant character. This condition refers to as the status asthmaticus.