Do you think you have Asthma? Do you wheeze when you breathe? Get short of breath especially at night or after strenuous exertion? Do you have a chronic cough that gets worse at night or in the early morning? Feel a tightness in your chest? Although these symptoms may also occur due to other health problems, if you experience most of them, you should get tested for Asthma.

So, what is Asthma?
Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the bronchial tubes that causes swelling and constriction of the airways. This results in difficulty in breathing.
Asthma can be Extrinsic or Intrincsic. Extrinsic or ‘allergic’ Asthma is more common, and generally develops during childhood. It can be genetic, and other allergic conditions like eczema or nasal allergies are also usually present. Intrinsic Asthma is not very common, and generally develops in the 30s. This type of Asthma can follow after a respiratory tract infection, and is chronic year round, and quite difficult to treat.

How should you treat your Asthma?
Once the doctor has diagnosed your symptoms as Asthma, many medicines are available to effectively control the symptoms and attacks. Asthma medicines that work by reducing inflammation are called corticosteroids, while those that relax bronchospasms are called bronchodilators. Generally inhaled medicines are preferred to oral medicines in controlling Asthma. Inhaled medicines act quickly and directly on the airway surface and muscles. They are barely absorbed into the rest of the body, so the side effects are greatly reduced. Doctors usually prescribe beta-2 agonists such as Albuterol, Levalbuterol, Terbutaline Sulfate,and Pirbuterol Acetate. Salmeterol Xinafoate and Formeterol may be prescribed as well. A long-acting anticholinergic, Tiotropium, has recently been used in treating Asthma. When symptoms of asthma are difficult to control with beta-2 agonists, inhaled corticosteroids are often added. Corticosteroids improve lung function and reduce airway obstruction with regular use.
Combination inhaler therapy is now preferred in the treatment of Asthma. These medications include inhalers with combinations of Fluticasone and Salmeterol, Budesonide and Formoterol, and Mometasone and Formoterol.
Avoiding precipitating factors, allergens or Asthma triggers is important in the management of Asthma.

Interesting Asthma Facts:
The word ‘asthma’ is derived from the Greek word ‘panos’ which means panting for breath.
Hindu philosophers connected the breath and the soul with the entire healthy body philosophy, and prescribed yoga to manage Asthma.
Chinese healers believed Asthma (wheezy breathing or xiao chiran) occured due to an imbalance in the ‘qi’, and used herbs and accupuncture to restore the balance of the qi.
Maimonides was a physician and rabbi who advised one of the princes of Egypt who was suffering from Asthma to eat less, sleep less, drink less, and reduce sexual activity. He also recommended avoiding pollution, and eating chicken soup!