OVERVIEW
Bronchial Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the airways, leading to difficulty breathing due to narrowing and swelling of the air passages. This condition is characterized by episodes of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing, which often worsen at night or early morning.
What is Bronchial Asthma?
Asthma is a chronic condition that hampers the breathing process.
When asthma becomes intense and affects the bronchial tubes, it results in inflamed channels. The swollen airways make it difficult to breathe. The mast cells present in the air chamber activate and secrete histamine. Histamine is a mucus-inducing substance and causes nasal stuffiness.
Symptoms of Bronchial Asthma
Here are the common symptoms of bronchial asthma:
- Shortness of breath: This is often described as a feeling of not being able to get enough air into your lungs. It may come and go and can be worse at night or early morning.
- Wheezing: This is a whistling sound made when you breathe, caused by air rushing through narrowed airways.
- Chest tightness: This feels like a band is squeezing around your chest, making it difficult to breathe.
- Coughing: You may have a dry cough that worsens at night or in the early morning, or a cough that produces mucus (phlegm).
These symptoms can vary from person to person and may be mild or severe. They may occur all the time, or only occasionally.
Types of Bronchial Asthma
Causes
Diagnosing Bronchial Asthma
Accurate diagnosis of bronchial asthma involves a combination of medical history, physical examination, and specific tests:
- Medical History
- Symptoms: Wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness.
- Triggers: Allergens, exercise, cold air, or irritants.
- Family history of asthma or allergies.
- Physical Examination
- Listening for wheezing or abnormal lung sounds using a stethoscope.
- Checking for signs of allergies like nasal congestion or skin rashes.
- Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs)
- Spirometry: Measures airflow obstruction and lung capacity.
- Peak Flow Meter: Assesses how quickly air is expelled from the lungs.
- Allergy Testing : Identifies specific allergens triggering symptoms.
- Methacholine Challenge: A test to detect airway sensitivity.
- Imaging Tests : Chest X-rays or CT scans to rule out other conditions.
- Blood Tests: Check for elevated eosinophil levels or IgE, indicating allergic asthma.