Pathologies of the respiratory system are a fairly common problem of modern man. Viruses and bacteria, poor air quality, smoking, an abundance of all kinds of flavors gradually disrupt the vital function. This leads to acute or chronic diseases causing signs of suffocation and a worsening of the general condition.
general information
The syndrome of bronchial obstruction is a pathological process in which there is a narrowing of the lumen of the bronchi, their inflammation and the release of a large amount of viscous sputum.
This condition is not inherent in a particular disease. This is a symptom that reflects that there are certain problems in the human body, and not necessarily from the respiratory system.
A dangerous spasm can occur at any age, but the most severe course is observed in children and the elderly.
In most cases, the diagnosis of obstructive disease is not difficult, but the cause is not always able to determine quickly.
Pathology is prone to severe course. In case of untimely assistance, it can be fatal due to suffocation. Prolonged progression is fraught with the development of pathologies from the cardiovascular system.
Why does a violation occur?
The factors that cause the inflammatory process of the mucous membrane of the bronchi include:
- the action of allergens;
- penetration of pathogenic microorganisms;
- bad ecology;
- radiation
- work in hazardous industries;
- bad habits;
- insufficient humidity.
Diseases accompanied by complaints of shortness of breath, a lot. The most common include:
- various bronchitis (acute, chronic, obstructive);
- peptic ulcer of the gastric mucosa;
- pneumonia of any etiology;
- birth defects of the respiratory system;
- the presence of mechanical obstruction (tumors, cysts);
- tuberculosis;
- cystic fibrosis;
- pulmonary emphysema;
- bronchial dysplasia;
- AIDS;
- pathology of the cardiovascular system;
- hernia of the spine;
- damage to the nervous system;
- brain tumors;
- invasive infections;
- rickets.
Everything is connected in the body, and a violation in the work of one organ will certainly lead to the development of secondary pathological processes, therefore any disease must be treated without complications.
How to recognize dangerous signs?
Symptoms of the syndrome of bronchial obstruction directly depend on the form in which it occurs. She may be:
- Easy.
- Medium.
- Heavy.
The classic features include:
- Feeling of lack of air.
- Heaviness during exhalation and inhalation.
- Shortness of breath.
- Blue nasolabial triangle.
- Expansion of the chest.
- Bloating of the cervical veins.
- Loss of consciousness.
To prevent death, such patients require emergency medical attention.
In mild cases, the patient may not even be aware of the presence of dangerous changes in the structure of the bronchial tree. Often, the pathology is diagnosed by chance, during routine fluorography or x-rays (in the presence of acute respiratory infections or suspected pneumonia).
Persons with relatives suffering from bronchospasm should know how to behave when starting another attack.
The course of the disease in children
Bronchial obstruction syndrome can occur in infants or older children. The pathological condition is accompanied by:
- severe cough;
- difficulty breathing;
- whistling, mainly on exhalation.
Most often it occurs:
- as a reaction to an allergen (food or inhaled);
- with ARI, SARS, or flu.
Less common are congenital malformations of the bronchopulmonary system.
If there are no such anomalies, then at the initial stages spasms of the respiratory system are safely treated. The neglected forms cause irreversible changes in the bronchial tree, and the pathology becomes chronic.
As the child progresses, the following appear:
- periodic attacks of suffocation;
- cyanosis of the skin;
- dark circles under the eyes;
- swelling of the cervical veins.
Such conditions are extremely dangerous. If untimely assistance is provided, the child may suffocate.
Bronchospasm during pregnancy
In some women, during the period of gestation, the syndrome of bronchial obstruction is diagnosed for the first time. This is due to various changes in the body. The hormonal background changes, immunity falls.
These are favorable conditions for the penetration of infections that cause prolonged inflammation of the respiratory system, and as a result, obstructive disease.
The problem is complicated by a narrow circle of drugs allowed during pregnancy. The question of the treatment of bronchial obstruction syndrome in this case is decided individually. Funds prohibited for expectant mothers may be prescribed if there is a real threat to the woman's life.
With a tendency to allergies, antihistamines will be prescribed, since this factor plays an important role in the development of bronchospasm.
Those who have previously encountered a violation of bronchial obstruction, may note an increase or decrease in the frequency of attacks or their complete disappearance.
Self-selection of medications is strictly prohibited. This can negatively affect the health of the mother or baby.
Diagnostics
If alarming symptoms appear, you should definitely consult a doctor. The treatment of such pathologies are:
- Pulmonologists.
- Allergists.
Making the right diagnosis is not difficult. During initial treatment, a specialist:
- will collect all the necessary information;
- will inspect;
- will give direction to the necessary research.
Identify obstruction will allow a conventional x-ray. To determine its cause, the following laboratory tests will be required:
- general and biochemical blood tests;
- sputum culture;
- allergy tests;
- scraping for helminths or PCR diagnostics.
During the examination, the list can be supplemented by other methods at the discretion of the doctor.
First aid
Most often, an asthma attack occurs at night. If this happened for the first time, you must call an ambulance.
Before the arrival of doctors should:
- Try to eliminate the allergen that provoked the pathological condition. It can be medicines, dust, pollen, pet hair.
- Rinse the patient’s mouth and nose to partially eliminate the irritant from the mucous membranes.
- To put a person on the bed (do not lay). Release chest from tight clothing.
- Open window for fresh air.
- If the condition rapidly worsens, and there are still no doctors, you must use any bronchodilator, for example, a can of Ventolin.
Strongly not allowed:
- rubbing the patient with balms, honey, vinegar;
- self-medication, especially antitussive;
- laying the patient in a horizontal position.
At the initial attack, a person will be recommended hospitalization, especially if it is a child under 3 years old. You should not refuse, because after receiving the necessary help, the attack is often repeated.
If bronchospasm occurred earlier, then the patient's relatives should always have at hand an aerosol with salbutamol or another means prescribed by a doctor.
When restoring respiratory function, you do not need to call an ambulance, but a doctor should be visited in the near future. If the medicine does not help, then emergency care will still be needed.
Drug treatment
Treatment of symptoms of bronchospasm in adults is required as soon as possible.
The basis of successful therapy is the elimination of provoking factors. To do this, you can apply:
- antibiotics
- antiviral agents;
- antihistamines;
- antacids;
- tranquilizers;
- antipsychotics;
- antiparasitic medicines.
Direct elimination of bronchospasm is performed:
- "Ventolin";
- Berodual;
- Theopecom
- "Eufillin".
To improve respiratory function, therapy is supplemented by:
- mucolytic agents (Ambroxol, Acetylcysteine);
- glucocorticoids ("Prednisolone", "Pulmicort").
Dosage is selected individually, taking into account the state of health and age of the patient.
Any aerosol with salbutamol is considered the best way to stop the attack at home.
Surgical intervention
In especially severe cases, resort to surgical procedures. Such treatment requires bronchospasm caused by mechanical obstruction, such as:
- benign and malignant tumors;
- commissures;
- birth defects of the bronchi and lungs.
The operation is carried out by several methods:
- Eliminate the neoplasm.
- Cut off the lung or part of it.
- Transplanted organ.
If bronchospastic syndrome is provoked by a cancer, then an oncologist will be connected to the treatment, who will monitor the process and select the further scheme.
Physiotherapy
How to get rid of sputum in the bronchi? This question worries many patients. Doctors often prefer an integrated approach in eliminating this problem and prescribe to patients:
- UHF;
- drainage;
- warming up;
- inhalation;
- rehydration.
Their main advantage is the almost complete absence of contraindications. Such physiotherapy can be performed on young children, pregnant and lactating women.
Doctors recommend that all patients suffering from airway obstruction purchase a modern device for inhalation - a nebulizer. It operates on the principle of splitting the drug into small particles using an integrated compressor. Thanks to this, the drug freely enters the most inaccessible areas of the bronchus.
In pharmacies, you can buy ready-made solutions for this device based on salbutamol, ambroxol, phenoterol.
Regular inhalation with saline or Borjomi mineral water favorably affects the respiratory system.
Gymnastics
The outflow of viscous sputum can be improved through special exercises. Most often, Strelnikov's set of exercises is used:
- In a standing position, slightly tilt the body forward, taking a deep breath with the nose, after which they raise the body and freely exhale through the mouth. After 8 approaches, they try to clear their throat.
- In the same position, the arms are bent at the elbows. When inhaling, they cross, on exhalation they return to their original position.
Respiratory gymnastics is no less effective, it consists in deep breaths through the nose and exhale with a change in body position.
For example, lying on the bed flips on one side. Do several approaches, cough. Repeat on the other side, on the stomach, back.
Any motor activity allows better excretion of sputum.
A child can be offered a game. He lays on a bed or sofa, so that the body hangs slightly down, then they ask him to sing a funny song. The parent at this moment makes light tapping on the baby's back. As a result, vibrations appear that contribute to the sticking of a viscous substance from the lumen of the bronchi.
Any gymnastics to improve the outflow of sputum is recommended for no more than 5 minutes. Individuals who regularly suffer from respiratory problems are shown a daily exercise routine.
Doctors have proven that it is always necessary to inhale air through the nose. This not only helps to eliminate stagnation, but also favorably affects the body as a whole.
Alternative methods
Before getting rid of sputum in the bronchi, it is necessary to find out the cause of the problem, but many people often neglect this advice while continuing to conduct experiments on their health.
Most often they use folk remedies based on the collection of expectorant herbs and honey, which are included in the list of the strongest allergens.
With bronchospasm, such treatment is prohibited, because often it only worsens the condition.
Often a panacea for all diseases, people consider the science of treating "like like."
Representatives of classical medicine oppose homeopathic treatment, because they consider it ineffective, which was officially proved in early 2017.
The positive effect of the "magic peas" is nothing more than a placebo. Some diseases they really treat, based on auto-suggestion. These include various depression, neurosis, hypochondria.
In the case of an obstructive condition, there is a serious functional disorder that threatens life, so the use of homeopathy is unacceptable.
Treatment of symptoms of bronchospasm in adults is required to be carried out immediately, and the use of such drugs leads to the transition of the underlying disease into a chronic form, worsening of the condition or even death.
Prevention and prognosis
Every year, bronchospastic syndrome is diagnosed more often and can occur in anyone. To minimize this risk, you must:
- quit smoking;
- do not use electronic cigarettes;
- if possible, move closer to the sea;
- abandon the abundance of flavored household chemicals;
- monitor your health, in the presence of allergy symptoms, undergo an examination and identify potentially dangerous substances;
- strengthen your immunity (move more, temper, adjust your diet);
- avoid stress, get enough sleep;
- if there are complaints, consult a doctor to prevent chronic processes;
- Perform breathing exercises daily.
You can not treat the syndrome of bronchial obstruction frivolously. This is a truly dangerous symptom that can kill a person in a few minutes. At the first signs of respiratory failure, you should visit a specialist and undergo an examination. In acute cases, call an ambulance. In the early stages, most obstruction is well treated. Therefore, do not postpone the problem until later.