Atopic bronchial asthma isan extremely common disease. Despite modern approaches to identifying and treating asthma, the number of patients continues to grow steadily. Today, more than 150 million people in the world suffer from this disease. The disease is especially severe in children and the elderly. Asthma, as you might guess, severely disrupts the functioning of the bronchi. In most cases, the disease is of an allergic nature. Even in the absence of a clinical picture, inflammation of the bronchial mucosa is observed. In the early stages, the patient may not suspect the presence of asthma, since attacks occur rarely, do not last long and go away on their own. However, without treatment, the course of the disease becomes more severe.

Symptoms of the disease

The disease has a rather specific course.and, accordingly, the symptoms are easily recognizable. Of course, the degree of their severity depends on what form of bronchial asthma the patient has. But in general, the picture is always the same:

• With physical exertion, shortness of breath occurs, which quickly passes after taking bronchodilators.
• Wheezing
• Unproductive cough
• Attacks of suffocation
• Sudden rapid breathing
• Difficulty in exhaling
• Night cough, sleep disturbances.
• ARVI diseases last long (more than 10 days). The patient feels that the cough "falls deeper"
• The main difference between asthma and other similar diseases is difficulty in exhaling, not in inspiration.

Naturally, the more severe the form of asthma, thethe more severely the bronchi are affected, the more obvious the symptoms and the more frequent the attacks. During an exacerbation, pulmonary distension is observed. This is due to the narrowing of the airways. During an attack, the patient cannot exhale all the air. For breathing, the patient uses the muscles of the neck, shoulders and torso. To make breathing easier, a person is forced to sit, leaning forward and resting his hands on his knees. The patient exhales so little air that the whistling is almost inaudible. After an attack, thick sputum accumulated in the bronchi comes off in the form of clots. After a prolonged attack, asthmatic status may occur, which is characterized by oxygen starvation and cyanosis. The duration of exacerbations can vary - from several minutes to several hours. Difficulty breathing can also be observed in the period between attacks.

Degrees of asthma

Mild form – attacks occur rarely(approximately 1-2 times a month) and do not last long. Improvement may occur after taking medication or on its own. Outside of attacks, the patient's health is normal. Moderate form - attacks are more severe, accompanied by suffocation and circulatory system failures. Regular intake of inhaled bronchodilators is required. Severe form - attacks can be life-threatening, requiring emergency medical intervention. Exacerbations occur frequently - at least 2-3 times a week. Sometimes - every day. Between attacks, the patient experiences shortness of breath. Hay fever is also distinguished - seasonal asthma, which is associated with an allergy to pollen of flowering plants.

Causes of bronchial asthma

Bronchial asthma can be infectious orallergic nature. In young children, the disease most often occurs due to frequent acute respiratory viral infections. In adolescents, the cause of asthma may be associated with exposure to household allergens. The development of the disease in adults is most often associated with professional activity. Also at risk:

• Smoking or passive smokers;
• Residents of industrial regions and major cities;
• People who lead an unhealthy lifestyle;
• Residents of regions with a cold and humid climate.

The predisposition to asthma is transmitted byinheritance. If one of the parents is sick, the risk of developing the disease in the child doubles. If both parents are sick, the risk is twice as high. An imbalance in the nervous system and mucus formation processes also plays a role in the development of the disease. Usually, even before the onset of asthma, the patient experiences inflammation and hypertrophy of the respiratory tract mucosa and excessive accumulation of mucus. Indirect causes are uncontrolled and unjustified use of drugs for the treatment of acute respiratory viral infections. Such measures can lead to the development of allergies and a failure in the immune system.

What can cause an attack of suffocation?

• Strong food allergens (beekeeping products, citrus fruits, seafood, chocolate, animal fats, etc.)
• Preservatives, stabilizers, dyes, thickeners and other components of food.
• Drugs, especially - beta-blockers and medications that cause bronchial obstruction in allergies (eg, aspirin).
• Household allergens (spores of mold, animal products, dust mites and cockroaches, pollen, tobacco smoke, household chemicals, etc.).
• Strong or prolonged stress.
• Frosty air.

Prevention

To reduce the likelihood of flare-ups, rememberall the circumstances under which you had attacks. It is advisable to write them down. Also consult a pulmonologist and allergist. When you learn the reasons for the attacks, you will be able to avoid them more easily. To prevent asthma, experts recommend:

• Inflating air balls;
• Swimming, physical education;
• Respiratory gymnastics;
• Walks in the open air;
• Timely treatment of inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract;
• Reduce the impact of smoke, gas and strong allergens.

Persons diagnosed with the statuspre-asthma, should exercise caution. The risk group also includes people who have been diagnosed with sensitization, allergy sufferers and family members of asthma patients. In these cases, it is advisable to take special medications for preventive purposes. Desensitization is also sometimes carried out. The following recommendations will help reduce the number and intensity of exacerbations in asthma patients:

• Take hypoallergenic foods containing a minimal amount of synthetic substances.
• Be sure to inform all doctors about your disease, carefully study the instructions and take medication and dietary supplements only after consulting with your doctor.
• Try not to keep carpets, fur products and soft toys at home.
• Store books in closed cabinets.
• The house must be kept clean at all times. There should be no accumulation of dust. Wet cleaning should be done at least once a week and without the patient's participation.
• Use BIO tools for cleaning. Habitual chemicals can excrete vapors that can cause allergies, and after a while after harvesting.
• Use caution when using aromatic oils, deodorants and air fresheners.
• Remove all flowering plants from the house.
• Avoid excessive physical activity.
• Try not to be in rooms with high humidity.
• If possible, avoid sudden temperature changes.
• Bed linen should be washed at least once a week. Washing should take place at a temperature of 60 ° C.
• Wear dustproof covers on the mattress and cushions.

Diagnostics

Determining the diagnosis begins with collectinganamnesis and examination of the patient. In many cases, these measures allow a preliminary diagnosis to be made. In pre-asthma, the patient may complain of a dry cough that occurs at night or in the morning. This is due to the fact that at about 3-4 am, the tone of the bronchial muscles increases. At an early stage, the cough is not accompanied by attacks of suffocation. Dry scattered wheezing may be detected when listening. Beta-adrenergic agonists are used to detect latent bronchospasm. The volume of exhaled air is measured before and after the use of drugs that relax the bronchial muscles. If there is a noticeable difference, the doctor can judge the presence of bronchospasm. For later stages of the disease, attacks of suffocation are characteristic, which can develop spontaneously or due to the influence of provoking factors. Before an exacerbation, the patient may feel individual symptoms - runny nose, itching, sore throat, etc. After which breathing difficulty progresses. At first, there is a feeling of tension in the chest and a dry cough. Then - wheezing, which can be sounds of varying pitch. Then it becomes difficult for the patient to inhale, since a lot of air accumulates in the lungs. During an attack, the jugular veins noticeably swell when inhaling, and collapse when exhaling. When tapping the chest, we hear a "box" sound. The lower border of the lungs is slightly mobile, lowered. When listening, wheezing of varying pitch and intensity is distinguishable.

Degree of control

With proper treatment, asthma can be curedcontrol, which prevents the development of the disease and deterioration of the patient's well-being. Controlled - there is no clinical picture of asthma, special tests are almost normal. In this case, treatment is used.

• Nocturnal attacks of suffocation no more often than twice a month.
• Daytime seizures are short-lived, and last less than once a week.
• There is no need to use an inhaler with beta2-agonists

Partially controlled - not very presentobvious signs of the disease, therapy is carried out for control. Uncontrolled - obvious signs of the disease that develop even with therapy. Treatment is mandatory. It should be changed periodically.

Self-monitoring

Since bronchial asthma is a chronica disease that is treated at home, it is important for the patient to learn self-control. This will allow you to correctly assess your condition and, if necessary, adjust therapy. Buy a portable peak flow meter, which will allow you to determine the maximum exhaled air flow rate. The MSP indicator changes only when the internal diameter of the bronchi changes. Therefore, the method plays an important role in prevention. Measurements should be taken daily after a night's sleep, before taking medications. The result should be recorded in the diary. An indicator above 70% of the norm means correct treatment, good control and no symptoms. If the values ​​​​are in the range of 50-70%, this means that the treatment needs to be improved, since there are indications for the development of the disease. In this case, you need to see a doctor to adjust the treatment. If less than 50%, there is a high risk of exacerbation and development of asthma. Urgent correction of therapy and measures to prevent an attack are needed. Self-control methods should be discussed with a doctor, clarify what to do with dangerous indications.

Treatment of bronchial asthma

The main goals of treatment are:

• Revealing the cause of the disease (infectious or allergic)
• Elimination of the focus of inflammation
• Preventing exacerbations
• Elimination of chronic symptoms, long-term remission

The intensity of treatment depends on the severitydisease. The course is prescribed only after a full examination and is periodically adjusted. Doctors successfully use a step-by-step approach to treatment. An individual plan is drawn up for each patient, which changes and is supplemented over time. If the course of the disease becomes more severe, the patient undergoes treatment in accordance with a higher stage of the plan. If bronchial asthma is mild for three months, with weakened symptoms, the patient uses a low stage of the plan. Hormonal drugs - corticosteroids - are used for treatment. Inhalation agents are preferable, since they do not cause serious side effects, act directly on the respiratory tract and have a strong effect. Most often, courses of Aldecin, Becotide, Beclazone, Budesonide, Pulmicort, Ingacort, Intal or Tayled are prescribed. Medicines are taken to relieve inflammation. Additional medications are used during an exacerbation of the disease. During an exacerbation:

• If possible, protect the patient from exposure to an allergen;
• Unbind your clothes, open the window to let fresh air come in;
• Apply the prescribed drugbronchospasmolytic action (berodual, berotek, salbutamol) through a nebulizer or with a metered-dose inhaler. 1-2 doses with a break of 2 minutes or according to the prescription of the doctor.
• In the absence of contraindications, you can take one tablet of euphyllinum
• If there is no effect, repeat the inhalation after twenty minutes.
• In case of severe, persistent asphyxiation, call an ambulance.

Bronchial asthma and pregnancy

Bronchial asthma is a commona lung disease in pregnant women that can manifest itself before pregnancy or during the first trimester. The main thing is not to refuse medications and not to stop treatment throughout all nine months. If you follow all the recommendations of your doctor, there will probably be no complications. When planning a pregnancy, a woman who knows about her disease should consult her doctor about which medications can be taken during pregnancy and which cannot, and buy a tonometer to always monitor her blood pressure. Doctors note that women with bronchial asthma are much more likely to have high blood pressure, even if they have never encountered this phenomenon before pregnancy. In cases of exacerbation of the disease, you must immediately consult a doctor. Many women neglect the advice of specialists, because they do not trust modern methods of treatment. And it is in vain - in such a situation, self-medication can cause irreparable harm. And not only to the expectant mother, but also to her baby. There are many myths about the treatment of asthma, because not so long ago there were no drugs to control this disease. Many people are still convinced that asthma is a disabling disease that makes it impossible to have children. With proper and timely treatment, you can completely eliminate the symptoms of bronchial asthma. Therefore, you should not self-medicate. Seek qualified help. The maximum you can achieve on your own is a very short-term improvement, after which the situation will worsen. Moreover, in the initial stages it is quite possible to achieve a lasting improvement. But if you skip this very stage, self-medicating, and go to the doctor only when it gets really bad - the fight against the disease will be long, painful and clearly you will not always win. We advise you to read:

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