Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the airways, this inflammation produces disturbances in the breathing process and if it is not treated, asthma can be fatal. The possible fatal asthma cases occur when air can't reach the vital organs. It is not a contagious disease and it manifests differently from a person to the other regardless of the age.
There are certain elements in the environment that can provoke or worsen the symptoms of asthma. But these factors are different from one person to another. It is not compulsions for one of these triggers that affect a person to have the same effect on others. The severity of asthma in certain people is also dictated by the sensitivity of their lungs to these factors or by the degree in which they worsen the symptoms of their eyes and nose.
These factors are divided into two types:
* - Allergens
* - Non allergens – mostly irritants
Once the nose and eyes are irritated by the one of these factors, the allergen will have the same effect on each contact. The bronchial tubes may get in this situation also because of exercises inflammations or irritating elements,
These are the most frequent triggers:
Allergens:
* - Certain aliments: peanuts, milk, soy, egg or fish
* - Additives like the sulfites
* - Factors related to work, like latex
* - Seasonal pollen
* - Pets, insets, molds or dust
These allergic occur in 80% asthmatic children and 50% of asthmatic adults.
Irritants:
* - Drugs, such as beta-blockers, non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug or even aspirin
* - The smoke of cigarettes
* - Colds, bronchitis, sinusitis and other affections that attack the respiratory system
* - Pollution, smog or changes of weather
* - Domestic irritating agents, such as detergents, perfumes and other chemicals
* - The gastro-esophageal reflex disorder (GERD)
* - Nighttime
* - Elements related to the work environment: dust, chemical substances, metal, gas
* - Exercises and physical efforts
* - Emotional factors: stress, yelling, laughing, crying
* - The factors related to hormonal activity.
By: Ruben Knisely -