25 February 2025
Future Healthcare Innovations
in Medical Treatment
Asthma Treatment
Asthma is a chronic disease involving the airways in the lungs. These airways, or bronchial tubes, allow air to move in and out of the lungs.
With asthma, the airways are chronically inflamed. They can become more swollen, and the muscles around them can tighten when symptoms are triggered. This makes it harder for air to move in and out of the lungs and can cause coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness.
For many people with asthma, symptoms are closely related to physical activity. Some otherwise healthy people experience asthma symptoms only during exercise, a condition called exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), or exercise-induced asthma (EIA). Staying active is important for good health, and asthma does not have to keep you on the sidelines. Your physician can develop a management plan to help control symptoms before, during, and after physical activity.
Asthma Symptoms
Asthma symptoms and the most suitable treatment can differ from one person to another. Wheezing—a scratchy or whistling sound when breathing—is the most common symptom. Other symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness or pain
- Chronic coughing
- Trouble sleeping due to coughing or wheezing
Asthma symptoms, also called flare-ups or asthma attacks, are often triggered by allergies and exposure to allergens such as pet dander, dust mites, pollen, or mold. Non-allergic triggers include smoke, pollution, cold air, and changes in the weather.
Treatment and Diagnosis
Asthma may be evaluated by specialists such as allergists, pulmonologists, ENT specialists, and pediatricians. A chest examination is an important part of the assessment. Diagnostic methods may include spirometry and a methacholine challenge, along with analysis of expiratory flow rate. Spirometry is a commonly recommended test. A bronchodilator such as salbutamol may be used to assess changes in FEV1. A methacholine challenge measures airway response to an inhaled substance that can narrow the airways. Test results should be interpreted by a healthcare professional alongside symptoms and other clinical findings; a positive result may support an asthma diagnosis, while a negative result can make asthma less likely.
