Asthma
Asthma is a chronic lung disease that irritates and narrows the respiratory airways. This lung disease is not limited to any specific age group, as it affects people of all ages, but it does begin developing in the childhood stage. Around 25 million Americans currently live with asthma, with a third of these people being children.¹ Living with this condition is a responsibility that the affected person must carry. Asthma is not considered to be a life threatening condition by most, but there are potential fatal results if not treated properly and promptly. Although people could tell you what asthma looks like, not many could tell you what happens inside an asthmatic body during an asthma attack.
To begin, asthmatics naturally have inflamed …show more content…
The lung function test involves the use of a test called spirometry that checks how a person’s lungs are working. The spirometry measures how much air an individual can breathe in and out, as well as measuring how fast the person can blow air out. A doctor will then prescribe asthma medicine and test the individual again to check for any improvements. If the person’s initial results are below average and later show improvement with the medicine, as well have a medical history of asthma symptoms, the person will then be diagnosed with asthma. A bronchoprovocation test is used to measure how sensitive the airways are. The individual’s lung function can be tested during physical activity, after receiving doses of cold air, or after breathing in a special chemical. Diagnosing in young children is harder to accomplish. It is not easy to perform a lung function test on small children and doctors must rely on medical histories, signs and symptoms, and physical exams. There is no cure for asthma, but there is treatment to alleviate the symptoms. Asthma attacks can also be prevented by avoiding personal triggers. There are a variety of drugs available to asthmatics primarily to reduce the airway inflammation. These anti-inflammatory medications include corticosteroids, cromolyn, leukotriene antagonists, and bronchodilator
Asthma is a chronic lung disease that irritates and narrows the respiratory airways. This lung disease is not limited to any specific age group, as it affects people of all ages, but it does begin developing in the childhood stage. Around 25 million Americans currently live with asthma, with a third of these people being children.¹ Living with this condition is a responsibility that the affected person must carry. Asthma is not considered to be a life threatening condition by most, but there are potential fatal results if not treated properly and promptly. Although people could tell you what asthma looks like, not many could tell you what happens inside an asthmatic body during an asthma attack.
To begin, asthmatics naturally have inflamed …show more content…
The lung function test involves the use of a test called spirometry that checks how a person’s lungs are working. The spirometry measures how much air an individual can breathe in and out, as well as measuring how fast the person can blow air out. A doctor will then prescribe asthma medicine and test the individual again to check for any improvements. If the person’s initial results are below average and later show improvement with the medicine, as well have a medical history of asthma symptoms, the person will then be diagnosed with asthma. A bronchoprovocation test is used to measure how sensitive the airways are. The individual’s lung function can be tested during physical activity, after receiving doses of cold air, or after breathing in a special chemical. Diagnosing in young children is harder to accomplish. It is not easy to perform a lung function test on small children and doctors must rely on medical histories, signs and symptoms, and physical exams. There is no cure for asthma, but there is treatment to alleviate the symptoms. Asthma attacks can also be prevented by avoiding personal triggers. There are a variety of drugs available to asthmatics primarily to reduce the airway inflammation. These anti-inflammatory medications include corticosteroids, cromolyn, leukotriene antagonists, and bronchodilator