So, you want to know about asthma. Well, asthma is a condition that affects peoples breathing by affecting the airways of the lungs. People with asthma have very sensitive airways that narrow in response to 'triggers', which basically means when a certain trigger gets to a person with asthma, they cant breathe and can have asthma attack, which can possibly lead to death. Asthma has been found to be both an environmental and a biological issue. This is because people can be born with asthma-making it biological-and asthma can also be developed after birth-making it environmental.However, most people are born with asthma.
Factors associated with asthma and signs and symptoms of asthma.
Signs and symptoms.
Coughing
Wheezing
A tight feeling in chest
Breathlessness
Difficulty breathing
Factors associated with asthma
Triggers
A trigger is what asthma reacts to. Its similar as to when you have an allergic reaction. Different triggers can set off an asthma attack. Each individual asthmatic have their own set of unique triggers. For example, lets say we put two asthmatics together and have a certain trigger in the room also. Now, the particular trigger can set off one of the two asthmatics, causing him/her to have an asthma attack, whilst it does nothing to the other asthmatic. This is because not all asthmatics have the same triggers. Although there are many different triggers, the common ones are as follows;
cigarette or wood smoke
inhaling polluted air
breathig in other respiratory irritants, for example purfumes, deoderants etc
being exposed to airway irratants at a workplace
molds, dust etc
colds, flu
being exposed to dry, cold weather
stress or over excitement and
exercise
There are also a few risk factors for developing asthma
hay fever and other allergies - this is the biggest risk factor
exzema - a skin allergy and
a genetic predisposition - meaning a parent or brother, sister, a family member also has asthma.
Effects that asthma has on children ;
Physical
The physical effects that asthma has on children is bad. The phyical effects that asthma has on children include tightness of the chest, shortness of breath, headspins, loss of consciousness, among others. They may have limited physical activity and although light exercise may be alright, playing sports may prove too diffcult for someone with severe asthma. However, parents need to realise and understand that an asthmatic child will still want to be able to do what all the other children do.
Developmental concerns-Studies found that parents with children with asthma were twice as likely to say that their child had severe problems with behaviour, emotions, concentration and/or getting along with people. Studies also showed that children with asthma also had an increased risk of ADHD, depression, behavioural and conduct problems and had learning difficulties. It was also found that children with asthma were also more likely to miss school, be bullied and abuse drugs, according to studies. In fact, it was found that children with severe asthma were 13 times more likely to miss ten or more days off school compared to kids without asthma, are four times more likely than non-asthmatics to have depression, anxiety, behavioural and conduct problems or chronic developmental and behavioural problems. Along with that, there are higher rates of severe asthma were also reported in kids that had socioeconomic disadvantages.
Current statistics
The bational statistics on asthma is that its the third worst issue in the world. Asthma affects 10-12% of adults and 14-16% of children in Australia.
Factors associated
· Second hand smoking-cough, wheeze and shortness of breath and second hand smoking cause you to flare up more often. They need more asthma medication such as inhalers, ventalin etc and they have to visit doctors, hospitals etc more.
· Changes in temperature and weather-temperature influences asthma more than the weather does. This includes dry air, stormy weather; thunderstorms and pollen are all triggers for asthma.
· Winter season is really, really bad.
There is an increase in thunderstorms, and asthma in both UK and Australia
Smoking and asthma
· 85% of smoke from a lit cigarette goes straight into the air.
· Smoke is a trigger for 8 out of 10 people with asthma.
· Teenagers who smoke are less likely to grow out of asthma.
