What is Bronchial Asthma?It is asthma or a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs and cause periodic attacks of coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness. These attacks might occur few times a day or few times a week. In some cases, it occurs at night or during exercises.Bronchial Asthma is caused by a combination of genetic and Environmental factors. Exposure to air pollution and allergens comprise the environmental factors. Asthma is classified depending on the frequency of the symptoms, forced expiratory volume in one second and peak expiratory flow rate. Asthma can also be classified as Atopic (extrinsic) or non-atopic (intrinsic) based on the symptoms caused by the allergens.AllergiesAllergy is the immune system s reaction when exposed to mostly harmless substances or allergens like pollen, mold etc. The immune system acts as body s defense system to treat the allergens as harmful and disrupt normal body functions and this reaction is called allergic reaction. Proper Immunization can prevent such disease's.The allergies that cause asthma include:Inhaled Allergens These allergens are the asthma triggers that are inhaled. Some of these allergens include:Animal skin & salivaDust mitesCockroach particlesMoldPollen Food AllergiesFood allergies rarely cause asthma but cause severe life threatening reactions. Some of the foods with allergic symptoms are:EggsSoyCow s milkPeanutsTree nuts WheatFish Shellfish Food preservatives can trigger asthma and additives like sodium bisulfite used in the food processing industry are used to prepare foods like:Dried fruits & vegetablesPotatoes (packaged) Bottled lime or lemon juiceShrimps (fresh,frozen or prepared)Pickled foodsBronchial Asthma DiagnosisAsthma symptoms might not occur during a doctor s visit and symptoms are important for a correct diagnosis. There are tests that will help in diagnosing Asthma like:Spirometry: This is a lung function test that measures breathing capacity and how well the patient breathes. Patient breathes into a device called the Spirometer.Peak Expiratory Flow (Flow): Patient is asked to exhale forcefully into the tube, of the device called Peak Flow Meter, to measure the force of the air that is expended from the lungs. This device also helps in gauging the Asthma s status even at home.Chest X-ray: This helps in ruling out other diseases causing similar symptoms.
