ASTHMA / BRONCHITIS

Asthma is a condition marked by recurrent attacks of shortness of breath often times with incessant coughing that is non-productive, caused by spasms of the bronchus (airways leading into the lungs.)

On listening to these patients, wheezing is the cardinal sign of an acute asthma attack.

There are many causes of asthma but by and large most are caused by an allergic stimulus in a sensitized person. Others are provoked by a variety of factors including:

• Vigorous Exercise
• Irritant Particles
• Psychological Stresses
• Change in Weather
• Upper Airway Infection
• Anger, Fear, Paranoia

Bronchitis
This is an inflammation of one or more bronchus usually caused by an infection mostly bacterial. Bronchitis is classified into an acute bronchitis and chronic bronchitis.

Acute Bronchitis
Usually due to exposure to cold, or breathing irritant substances, or due to an acute infection. It is marked by fever, pain in the chest (especially upon coughing) shortness of breath and coughing. The course is short and severe and needs immediate medical attention.

Chronic Bronchitis
This is the long and continuous form that often times re-occurs after long periods of quiescence. It can be due to repeated attacks of acute bronchitis or to a chronic generalized bronchial disease characterized by attacks of:

• Coughing
• Sputum production
• May have blood tinge sputum
• Shortness of breath
• May or may not have fever

Treatment of Asthma
Asthma has been referred to as reversible airway disease meaning that spasms produced by whatever irritant that caused it can be reversed by immediate treatment, mostly with bronchodialators.

Recently, however, anti-inflammatory and antibiotics have become mainstream in the treatment of asthma. Newer drugs are recently being manufactured to attack all facets of asthma cascade.

Important Fact:
An acute asthma attack requires an acute treatment; otherwise patients can precipitate status asthmaticus and death. An asthma condition that does not respond adequately to ordinary asthma treatment needs immediate hospitalization.

Bronchitis
Antibiotics are the mainstream treatment for bronchitis. Also removal of the irritant substance such as tobacco is crucial.

Important Fact:
Cigarette smoking is by far the single most causative agent of acute and chronic bronchitis, and a very strong precipitant of asthma attacks