Tell Your Asthma Who’s Boss

We’ll give you the lowdown on asthma and help you deal with it

What is asthma? What happens if you have it?

Asthma is a long-term medical condition that affects the airways in your lungs. This disease causes inflammation, production of excess mucus, and swelling in the bronchial tubes (airways) of your lungs. It leads to narrowing of these tubes and airflow restriction making it difficult for you to breathe. There’s no absolute or full cure for asthma. But management options and treatment strategies can help a person live a full and happy life by controlling its symptoms.

The severity of the signs and symptoms of asthma can vary from one person to another. Some people experience minor discomfort while others make an emergency hospital visit in the middle of the night three times a week (severe and uncontrolled asthma). Even more interesting is the fact that the signs and symptoms of asthma in a person can vary over time. Nice, huh? Not really.

When you have asthma, you may experience the following:

Shortness of breath
Coughing that can make it difficult for you to sleep at night
Chest pain or tightness
Coughing and wheezing attacks that accompany an upper respiratory tract infection
Wheezing is breathing with a rattling or whistling sound in your chest when you exhale. It’s a common sign of asthma but may indicate other chronic lung conditions.

The Sad Numbers for Asthma

Approximately 2.7 million Australians have asthma. That’s 1 in every 9 Australians. 34% of these Australians report that their asthma interferes with their daily lives. Around 20% are between the ages of 15 to 25. Because of their asthma, they sometimes require time off from school or work. Asthma is more common among females for ages 15 and up and it’s more common among males aged 14 and below. It’s sad to note that there were almost 40,000 hospitalisations from 2014 to 2015 attributed to asthma.

New Zealanders have their fair share of those who have asthma with almost 600,000 Kiwis taking medication for it. That’s 1 in every 7 children and 1 in every 8 adults. There are more than 7,000 hospitalisations per year with asthma as the primary diagnosis, 40%of which are children. Because of these hospitalisations, almost 600,000 school days are gone every year due to this chronic disease.
According to the 2018 Global Asthma Report, 339 million people suffer from asthma around the world. Approximately 1,000 people die from it daily.

Different Types of Asthma

Knowing which type of asthma you have can lead to a better treatment strategy and quality of life. Just keep in mind that there are several types of asthma initiated by different triggers. The more common types of asthma are the following:

Adult-Onset Asthma. The signs and symptoms of asthma can start by the time you’re a full-grown adult. By several miracles during your childhood, you may have been able to avoid your asthma triggers for years. Unfortunately, when you become an adult, you encounter one of those triggers.
Allergic Asthma. This is where your asthma meets your allergies. Certain triggers (called allergens) for your allergies are also triggers for your asthma - like dust, pollen, and pet dander.
Exercise-induced Bronchoconstriction (EIB). This type of asthma was formerly called exercise-induced asthma. Most people with EIB are athletes. As the term implies, the signs and symptoms of asthma manifest during physical activity.
Occupational Asthma. If you experience the symptoms of asthma while you’re at work, you may have this type of asthma.
Nonallergic Asthma. Does your asthma flare up when you’re stressed or sick? Does it happen during cold or hot weather? If you do, you may have nonallergic asthma.

Causes of Asthma

The exact cause of asthma isn’t clear. Medical experts are still unsure as to why some people get asthma, and others don’t. As of the present time, they have agreed that the causes of asthma are a combination of inherited (genetic) and environmental factors.

If you have a sibling or a parent (blood relative) who has asthma, your chances of developing it are increased.

Practical things you can do to help you or someone you know with asthma

Keep your home well ventilated. A well-ventilated home blows out unpleasant smells and avoids moisture build-up. Open your windows regularly. Too much moisture build-up can lead to mould growth in your home. They produce spores that can trigger an asthma attack or worsen an already existing one. Other sources of moisture include leaking faucets, hanging and drying your wet laundry indoors, and not using exhaust fans when cooking and showering. Consider using a dehumidifier to keep the overall moisture levels in your home low.
Anxiety and stress can trigger an asthmatic which can result in shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. Learning how to breathe properly can lessen anxiety, bring down stress levels, and ease your breathing. Buteyko breathing, pursed lip breathing, and belly breathing are well-known breathing exercises that can help with asthma.
Identify your triggers (allergens). If you know the triggers for your asthma, it will be easier for you to avoid them. Ask your doctor for help with this one. Common triggers include the following: grass, weed pollen, animal dander, air pollutants like chemical fumes and smoke, strong perfume (when your friend decides to take a bath in it), and even cockroach poop can trigger asthma symptoms.
The immune system plays a key role in the development of asthma. A study published in the journal of Seminars in Immunopathology has shown that modifying beneficial bacteria (in the intestines) from birth may suggest new methods of allergy prevention including allergic asthma. 80% of your total immune cells are located along the lining of your digestive tract. If you take care of the beneficial bacteria in your intestines, they will watch over your immune cells there, and the immune cells may decrease your chances of developing allergies and asthma in the future.

Also, if you have good communication between the beneficial bacteria in your intestines and immune system, the chances of you getting sick (especially an upper respiratory tract infection) are low. An upper respiratory tract infection can be a trigger for some asthmatics.
Persons with severe asthma often have low levels of vitamin D in their system (vitamin D deficiency). Vitamin D is very much needed to have an intact immune system. It activates immune cells, directing them to get off their behinds and deal with incoming harmful microorganisms.

Researchers from the University of Aberdeen, UK, found out that the increase in the incidence of asthma could partially be explained by a decrease in antioxidant intake (vitamins A, C, and E), changes to vitamin D levels in the body, and an increase in the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids in the diet. So, increase your antioxidant intake and maintain a ratio of 1:1 to 4:1 for your omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid consumption to help avoid developing asthma.
Herbs and certain nutritionals that support your lungs should be on your list of supplements if you’re asthmatic. Examples include Elecampane, White Horehound, and the proteolytic enzyme Serrapeptase. Elecampane is good for loosening mucus especially phlegm in cases of upper respiratory tract infections. It specifically acts as an expectorant. White Horehound has antioxidant properties that hunt down harmful free radicals generated during lung inflammation. Serrapeptase is remarkable because it can alter the viscosity of your mucus, making it easier to expectorate.
You can use essential oils like eucalyptus and peppermint through steam inhalation and chest rubs to relieve nasal congestion and chest tightness.

Despite the sad numbers for asthma, there’s some good news. Generally speaking, a person with asthma can live as long as someone without asthma provided that person focuses on three significant areas in his life: don’t smoke (or quit smoking), avoid known allergens, implement lifestyle changes where necessary. The practical tips presented above can help alleviate your symptoms. Most importantly, if you have asthma, consult your general practitioner regularly for a check-up (ask your doctor how regular) even if you don’t feel any of its symptoms. You’re the boss; you control your asthma and not the other way around.

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