Asthma?

What is asthma?
Asthma is a disease that affects the lungs in the long-term. It leads to airways that are inflamed and narrowed. Asthma causes recurring periods of wheezing (a whistling sound when you breathe), chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing which often occurs at night or early in the morning.
Asthma symptoms can start at any age but usually starts in childhood or adolescence.
How do I know if I have asthma?
Asthma symptoms are as follows:
Difficulty in breathing
Chest tightness or pain
A whistling or wheezing sound when breathing
Trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing
Coughing or wheezing attacks that are worsened by a respiratory virus, such as a cold or the flu.
For some people, asthma signs and symptoms will flare up in certain situations such as:
Exercise-induced asthma; may worsen in cold or dry air
Occupational asthma; triggered by workplace irritants such as chemical fumes, gasses, or dust
Allergy-induced asthma; triggered by airborne substances, such as pollen, mold spores, or pet dander.
How does asthma affect me?
Asthma symptoms may be mild and go away on their own or after minimal treatment with asthma medicine. Sometimes, however, the symptoms continue to get worse. When symptoms get worse it is called an asthma attack or exacerbation. Treating symptoms when you first notice them is important. This will help prevent the symptoms from worsening and causing a severe asthma attack. Severe asthma attacks may require emergency hospital care, and they can lead to death.
How is asthma diagnosed?
We suspect asthma based on your clinical symptoms and confirm it by demonstrating that the person has airway obstruction that comes and goes on lung function tests.
Can you cure asthma?
Asthma has no cure but there are treatments to control and prevent all symptoms. Even when there are no symptoms of asthma the disease is still present and can get worse at any time. Hence treatment is usually required to prevent symptoms. When asthma is managed effectively, most people have no symptoms and can live normal, active lives and sleep through the night without interruption from asthma.
At The Chest Clinic we have all the facilities for asthma diagnosis and effective management. We actively involve the patient in the management of their condition by educating them and providing personal management plans.