Bronchial Asthma Causes

Bronchial asthma is a type of chronic and severe respiratory disorder that results in the blockage of the airway. Along with that the airway might become inflamed and lined with excessive mucus making breathing very difficult and cumbersome. This type of asthma is considered to stem as an allergic reaction to certain stimulants that are either external or internal, making this condition one of the most dangerous of respiratory disorders. But what are some of the bronchial causes and how do we know we are being affected? The following article will take you through what causes bronchial asthma and how should one treat it.

Causes

Bronchial asthma is brought on due to the inflammation of the air way that causes it to constrict the flow of air and therefore when there is insufficient air that is being supplied, it leads to asthma. It can also be caused by the spasm of the muscles around the bronchial tubes, acute aggravation of the chronic inflammation and/or acute edema. These are some of the direct physiological reasons that can act as bronchial asthma. But what exactly leads to these conditions? That is what we shall be finding out in the remainder of the article.

Bronchial asthma is usually taken as a result of an allergic reaction that is suffered by the body. What exactly causes these allergies? Allergies in our body are mainly associated with the mast cells, eosinophils, and T lymphocytes. These cells are each responsible for the different reactions that take place in the body. The histamines, when released, cause reactions like skin allergies, drippy noses and constriction in the airway. The Eosinophils are associated with allergic diseases and the T lymphocytes are also associated with allergies and inflammation. The amalgamation of these cells will lead to a bronchial asthma attack.

The other factors that could bring about bronchial asthma are the workings of the stomach and the gastro-intestinal tract. That is why in the initial stages, people complain of diarrhea, constipation and indigestion.

Let us now take a look at some other bronchial asthma causes:

• Infections like the common flu, cold and pneumonia
• Cigarette smoke
• Exercising
• Air pollution
• Air toxins
• Smoke
• Perfumes/Incense stick smell
• Acid reflux
• Certain medication drugs like NSAID and aspirin
• Weather that is prone to change in extremities
• Sneezing, laughing, coughing and/or crying can trigger the symptoms of asthma if one already suffers from it
• Emotional stress and anxiety
• Allergens that can cause asthma include things like mold, dust mites, pet dander, food and pollen
• Certain food additives
• Certain air borne bacteria

Symptoms

These are some of the symptoms of bronchial asthma:

• Wheezing
• Tightness and constriction in the chest, along with chest congestion
• Constant coughing that makes sleeping difficult
• Shortness of breath
• Difficulty in hearing
• Coughing accompanied by phlegm
• Dry coughing
• Feel a pull of the skin near the ribs whenever a person coughs
• Cramping and muscle pulls that come about due to coughing
• Breathing difficulty

In case the attack is too severe then the following are some symptoms that can be seen:

• Rapid pulse
• Lips turning blue or pale
• Sweating
• Anxiety attack brought on due to breathing difficulty
• Chest pain
• Breathing in bouts
• Nasal flaring
• Drowsiness and confusion
• Decreased levels of alertness

Treatment

Asthma is a condition that is easily triggered by external factors and therefore there has to be preventive measures taken at all times, even before asthma treatment. These would include taking precautions to avoid environmental conditions (exposure to pollen, dust) that can trigger an attack. Other than that there are certain other medicines that can be administered when a person is attacked by asthma. These include long-term and quick relief medicines like pills and inhalers. These have to be taken after consultation with a doctor. In a severe attack, a person has to be supplied with oxygen through a nebuliser as well.

This article took you through the bronchial asthma symptoms and treatment, focusing primarily on the bronchial asthma causes.