Asthma is a respiratory problem characterized by difficulty in breathing, shortness of breath, wheezing and tightness in the chest, which can be triggered by allergic factors or be related to genetic factors, and the symptoms may be manifested in the first months of the baby's life. or at any stage of life.
The most common is for the child to have the characteristic symptoms of asthma whenever he breathes and is close to animals such as cat or dog, cigarette smoke or in a very dusty place. But there are also cases where the person only shows symptoms of asthma years later when he needs to work in a place that has a lot of dust, wood dust or spray paint, for example.
There is no specific cause that causes asthma, so asthma has no cure. However, by avoiding all these factors and following the treatment guided by the doctor, which usually includes the use of bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory drugs, it is possible to control the disease and prevent asthma attacks.
Main causes of Asthma
The causes of asthma are related to genetic and environmental factors that interact and can lead to the onset of the disease. Some of the factors that can cause bronchial asthma include:
- Asthma cases in the family because if the father or mother has asthma, there is a 50% chance that the baby will also have it; Having an allergic disease such as eczema, some food allergy or hay fever; Frequent contact with substances that cause allergies such as pollen, mites, animal hair, cockroaches, mold, moisture or chemicals in carpets or flooring materials; Contact with irritating substances in the air such as cigarette smoke, chemical vapors and air pollution; Use of medications such as some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen, beta-blocking drugs or antibiotics; Consumption of foods that contain additives such as sulfites, such as concentrated fruit juice, jams, shrimp and processed foods; Environmental factors such as sudden temperature changes, cold air, wind, thunderstorms, poor air quality and hot and humid days; Vigorous physical activity like running or swimming. Learn more about exercise-induced asthma; Premature birth or smoking mother during pregnancy.
The person who has the greatest chance of developing asthma in adulthood is the person who carries the asthma gene and who works or lives in environments where he is regularly exposed to substances or situations that can favor the expression of this gene.
Some of the professional activities that are associated with the greatest risk of occupational asthma are paint sprayers, bakers and pastry chefs, nurses, workers in the chemical industry, animal handlers, welders, food processing workers and those working with wood.
How to prevent asthma attacks
In order to control asthma and prevent attacks, in which the symptoms manifest very frequently, it is important to follow the treatment indicated by the pulmonologist using the appropriate remedies to control the inflammation of the bronchi, such as corticosteroids, for example. Whenever you experience shortness of breath you also need to use the 'asthma inhaler' which contains a bronchodilator to facilitate the entry of air into the lungs. See which remedies can be used.
In addition, it is necessary to adopt some precautions such as keeping the house and the workplace properly clean and with the windows open, for the air to circulate freely, not having animals inside the house, not having carpets or curtains in the room, but if they are really necessary, wash them at least every 15 days, and change sheets and pillowcases weekly.
