Could i have Asthma?
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Maybe you're wondering if you're one of about 20 million Americans that suffer from asthma each year. Asthma is a very serious lung disease with life threatening risks. About 4 million children under the age of 18 suffer from this life threatening lung disorder and are deprived from engaging in daily social activities. No known medication can cure asthma, but the disease can be controlled in most patients with good medical care.
Asthma is a chronic disease that affects your airways (the tubes responsible for carry air into and out of the lungs). In essence, when the membrane lining of the interior airways becomes inflamed, they swell and obstruct the air flow. When inflamed, your airways become hypersensitive to all foreign substances and inhalants that you're allergic to.
As your airways react hyper-sensitively to strong or foreign substances, they become narrower and obstruct the normal flow of air into the lungs. When no measures are taken to minimize the frequency and effects of asthma symptoms, your general health is at stake and you may, like 48% American asthmatics, find it difficult to take part in sports and recreation.
Asthma symptoms self-evaluation sheet
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As already mentioned, asthma is characterized by increased sensitivity of the lungs to various substances. It may be triggered by viral or bacterial infections, irritating gases and other particles that waft through the air and are inhaled.
Complete the following questionnaire to learn whether your symptoms typify asthma or not:
| Symptom |
Yes |
No |
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1. |
Do you feel/have a whistling sound when you cough? |
2. |
Do you have trouble breathing (a rattling sound in the chest)? |
3. |
Do you feel some tightness in your chest? |
4. |
Do you have shortness of breath? |
5. |
Do you or your child cough when: playing, or exercising, or laughing, or during temper tantrums? |
6. |
Is wheezing and/or coughing keeping you or your child awake at night? |
7. |
Is there a family history of asthma or allergies? |
8. |
Do you miss work/school because of symptoms? |
9. |
Are your symptoms worse at night? |
10. |
Do you feel tired during the day? |
11. |
Do you sometimes breathe faster than normal for no reason? |
12. |
Do you sneeze often? |
13. |
Do you cough up sputum? |
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If you answered YES to 6 or more of these symptoms in the questionnaire, you or your child might be suffering from asthma. Remember, asthma is incurable so you must always respond to whatever symptom similar to those mentioned above.
What causes asthma?
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Causes of allergies vary from person to person. We all react differently to certain allergens or factors that may trigger asthma. Several factors may trigger asthma symptoms include:
Environmental factors
- Cigarette smoke
- Allergic reactions to such allergens as pollen, mold, animal dander, skin flakes, dust, food, and cockroaches
- Indoor and outdoor air pollutants, including ozone, chemicals
- Exposure to cold air or sudden temperature change
Infectious causes
- Colds
- Respiratory infections
- Genetic material
Emotional triggers
- Vigorous or strenuous exercise
- Excitement
- Stress
There is also some over the counter medication that can trigger asthma. For instance, drugs like aspirin are major triggers of potentially life threatening asthma attacks to most adults.
Facts about asthma
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Asthma is incurable - This means that it cannot be cured but certain medical measures can be taken to lessen its severity and frequency.
Asthma is a life threatening situation - If not given medical attention, asthma may cause serious complications such as death.
Asthma is not contagious.
Asthma is not a psychological condition, but emotional break ups and any stress may trigger asthma.
Additional topics on Asthma
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