Asthma

Asthma is a common long-term condition that can cause coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and breathlessness. The severity of these symptoms varies from person to person. It can be controlled well in most people most of the time, although some people may have more persistent problems.

Occasionally, its symptoms can get gradually or suddenly worse. This is known as an “asthma attack”, although doctors sometimes use the term “exacerbation”. There is a decrease in the lumen of the air ways resulting from a twofold response to the allergens and other irritants.

Primarily in a hyper reactive response, the smooth muscles in the airways constrict and narrow excessively. Followed by an inflammatory response where the immune system responds to the allergens by sending white blood cells and other immune factors to the airways. These inflammatory factors cause a swelling of the airways and also an increase in the mucus secretion thus causing symptoms like wheezing, cough and shortness of breath.

CAUSES OF ASTHMA

Asthma is caused by a combination of complex and incompletely understood environmental and genetic interactions. Asthma is caused by inflammation of the small tubes, called bronchi, which carry air in and out of the lungs. If you have asthma, the bronchi will be inflamed and more sensitive than normal. When you come into contact with something that irritates your lungs – known as a trigger – your airways become narrow, the muscles around them tighten, and there is an increase in the production of sticky mucus (phlegm). Common asthma triggers include:

House dust mites
Animal fur
Pollen
Cigarette smoke
Viral infections

PREVELANCE

Children aged 2-12 years reported higher rates of asthma (15.7%) than adults aged 16 years and over (10.1%). In males, the prevalence of asthma was highest among children aged 2-12 years; in females, prevalence was highest among young adults aged 16-24 years. Asthma is also closely linked to allergies. Most, but not all, people with asthma have allergies. Children with a family history of allergy and asthma are more likely to have asthma.

SYMPTOMS OF ASTHMA

The most common symptoms are:

Cough
Difficulty in breathing
Mucus production (Commonly refer to “Balgam” in Hindi)
Exhaustion
The most important and distressing symptom is the breathlessness or sense of suffocation, which may be of varying intensity. Some patients may not have cough or mucus production (expectoration) at all

OTHER SYMPTOMS OF ASTHMA

The symptoms might get triggered by one or more of the following:

Physical exertion
Change in weather or temperature
Infection
Mental stress
Exposure to pollution (dust, chemical, pollen, etc.)
Without any apparent reason

ASSOCIATED CONDITIONS

A number of other health conditions occur more frequently in those with asthma, including Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD), rhinosinusitis, and obstructive sleep apnoea. Psychological disorders are also more common, with anxiety disorders occurring in between 16–52% and mood disorders in 14–41

DIAGNOSIS OF ASTHMA

There is currently no precise test with the diagnosis typically based on the pattern of symptoms and response to therapy over time. A diagnosis should be suspected if there is a history of: recurrent wheezing, coughing or difficulty breathing and these symptoms occur or worsen due to exercise, viral infections, allergens or air pollution. Spirometry is then used to confirm the diagnosis

HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT

Asthma can be treated naturally with homeopathy medicines though the treatment is bit lengthy but it’s quite effective way to get rid of asthma. Homeopathic treatment is targeted towards UPROOTING THE DISEASE and ensuring health with no side effects. For prescribing to an individual, a PLAN OF TREATMENT is followed which involves:

GETTING THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF CASE which includes complete case taking (analyzing patient as an individual) along with patient history and family history
DIAGNOSIS OF PATIENT AND DISEASE
INDIVIDUAL ASSESSMENT OF THE CASE
PRESCRIBING THE MOST SUITABLE INDIVIDUAL CONSTITUTIONAL REMEDY