Bronchial asthma is a serious respiratory disease, which today, according to statistics, affects about 235 million people. It manifests itself with characteristic, specific symptoms. And one of them is shortness of breath. In bronchial asthma, this symptom is fundamental. And now itβs worth telling in a little more detail about him.
Briefly about the disease
The disease is accompanied by the participation of various cellular elements. This disease is characterized by bronchial obstruction, manifested by narrowing of the lumen of the bronchi. It is due to immunological and non-specific mechanisms.
In fact, with asthma, the bronchi and lungs are clogged with mucus. The result is a violation of physiological respiration. It is difficult for the patient not only to inhale, but also to exhale, and during attacks of suffocation there is a lack of oxygen. The skin acquires a bluish tint, a strong cough appears.
The clinical picture may also include the following manifestations:
- Congestion in the chest.
- Wheezing
- Worsening of symptoms depending on the season.
- Strangulation.
- Exacerbation as a result of contact with an allergen (pollen), non-specific irritant (gas, smoke, pungent odor, etc.) or physical activity.
- Urticaria, rhinitis, cough, sneezing (all of the above often precedes an attack).
- Drowsiness, tachycardia, difficulty in speaking.
- Swollen chest.
Dyspnea in bronchial asthma is the most pronounced symptom. At first, it is not very pronounced, but passes in a few minutes. But as the disease progresses, the symptom worsens.
Types of Dyspnea
There are three of them. Each is different in its features. There are such types of shortness of breath with asthma:
- Inspiratory. This condition is characterized by difficulties experienced when inhaling. Usually found in serious heart pathologies.
- Expiratory. In this case, the person experiences difficulties when exhaling. This type of dyspnea with bronchial asthma is most common. It is difficult for a person to exhale due to spasmodic processes occurring in the respiratory organs.
- Mixed. It is characterized by problematic inhalation and exhalation. Usually found in colds and other pathologies.
Any shortness of breath with asthma can be treated - expiratory, inspiratory and mixed. The problem is that determining the exact appearance is problematic due to the mixed symptoms and fuzzy complaints of the patient.
Respiratory dyspnea
Briefly tell about the features of each form. The nature of dyspnea in bronchial asthma is such that a person has to make efforts to take a full breath. It turns out intermittent and noisy.
To alleviate the condition, one has to look for the position of the body in which the discomfort would decrease. Most often, it becomes easier for a person to breathe when he is upright.
It should be noted that with bronchial asthma, dyspnea of ββthe inspiratory type occurs at night. She can greatly scare the patient. A person panics because he is afraid to suffocate. There is every reason to suppose so - noisy breaths, wheezing, loud cough. All of the above occurs due to narrowing of the lumen in the trachea and large bronchi.
Let the manifestations frighten the person, but he quickly turns to the doctor for help. Thanks to this, it is possible to establish a diagnosis in a timely manner and prescribe competent treatment.
Expiratory dyspnea
In this case, even taking a short breath, it is difficult to exhale. To do this, there is no other choice but to use the shoulder muscles. This condition occurs for the following reasons:
- Narrowing the lumen of the bronchi.
- Swelling, blockage of sputum by sputum.
- Changes in the walls of the bronchi.
- Spasms of smooth muscles.
Compared to inhalation, exhalation is much longer. Due to a lack of oxygen, tachycardia, dizziness, blue skin, and weakness often occur. And the area of ββthe diaphragm appears discomfort and pain.
To avoid choking, a person has to take a vertical position so that the head is lower on the surface. But even so, the buzzing and whistling wheezing at the exit is audible even from a distance.
Diagnostics
Only after its implementation, the doctor can prescribe component treatment. A person will have to go through several diagnostic procedures:
- General examination, listening to the lungs with a phonendoscope, counting the frequency of respiratory movements of the chest.
- X-ray
- General blood analysis.
- CT
- Spirography.
- Samples with bronchodilator.
- Bronchial provocation test.
- The study of the gas composition of the blood.
- ECG, ultrasound of the heart, ECHO-KG.
- Angiopulmonography.
- Fibrobronchoscopy.
- Lung biopsy.
You may also need a consultation with a cardiologist and a pulmonologist. This does not mean that a person will have to go through all of the above procedures without exception. Diagnostics is always individual. But in any case it is necessary to undergo it, since only according to its results, on the basis of the results obtained, the doctor is able to appoint the patient the most effective drugs in his case.
Bronchodilators
It was told above about what shortness of breath with asthma happens and what features its types differ. Now we should talk about the features of the treatment of the disease.
Bronchodilators are drugs that normalize breathing and restore the lumen of the bronchi. With their regular intake, the frequency of seizures and shortness of breath decreases. Famous bronchodilators include such drugs:
- "Salbutamol." Available in the form of syrup, tablets, powder and aerosol for inhalation. The latter form is the most popular. 1-2 doses are enough to eliminate the beginning attack of suffocation.
- The Serevent. Available in the form of an aerosol for inhalation, it is approved for use by patients older than four years. The maximum dosage is 4 inhalations 2 times a day. The tool is recommended for systematic use, but only under medical supervision.
- M-anticholinergics. They are effective in complex therapy. Successfully combined with mucolytics and expectorants.
- Berodual. It is released in the form of a solution for inhalation using a nebulizer, as well as in the form of an aerosol. The drug has a powerful bronchodilating effect.
- "Spiriva". The medicine for inhalation administration, carried out using the Handyhaler device.
- Preparations with xanthine derivatives. They can even reduce pulmonary hypertension. The best remedies are Ventax, Teofedrin N, Teotard, Teopeck, Retafil.
To eliminate expiratory or inspiratory dyspnea caused by bronchial asthma, combined drugs can be used. The active components of medicines mutually reinforce each other's therapeutic actions and minimize the risk of side effects.
Decreased bronchial sensitivity
This is another critical step in the treatment of the disease necessary to relieve shortness of breath. Particularly high is the need to reduce the sensitivity of the bronchi, if asthma is allergic.
In this case, course treatment is indicated - first, allergens are given to the person, then drugs are injected that lower immunity to substances that are aggressive for humans, and antihistamines are also prescribed.
Known drugs include Gismanal, Treksil, Telfast, Fexadin, Fexofast, Xizal, Erius, Desal, Zirtek, Claritin, Lomilan, Clarisens, Claridol, Tavegil, etc.
Adjunctive therapy
It may be needed regardless of the type of shortness of breath that occurs during an attack of bronchial asthma. Doctors often prescribe drugs with prolonged action, which include beta-2 antagonists and glucocorticosteroids.
With pronounced oxygen starvation, opioid intake and additional oxygen supply are indicated.
High efficiency is demonstrated by breathing exercises, long walks in the fresh air (if the cause of asthma is not an allergy to pollen), as well as a special diet.
What to do in case of an attack?
Immediately you need to use an aerosol containing a bronchodilator. It will quickly relieve spasm, increase air flow into the lungs. As a rule, 1-2 doses is enough to stop an attack.
It is important to follow these rules:
- You can not do more than two inhalations in a row. It is necessary to withstand at least 20 minutes of a break. If you use the inhaler too often, then you can achieve not the therapeutic effect, but the appearance of side effects. Increased blood pressure and increased heart rate will not improve well-being.
- The maximum daily dose also cannot be exceeded. Norm - 6-8 times with intermittent use.
- Hazardous use of an inhaler is dangerous. If the asthma attack is delayed, you must call an ambulance, otherwise the condition will go into asthmatic status. And itβs difficult to stop it even in the intensive care unit.
Before the arrival of doctors, you need to provide access to fresh air - open the window or window, get rid of tight clothes. If a person has diabetes, you need to measure the sugar level with a glucometer. If it is elevated, insulin is indicated, but a physician should also do this. Cores need to measure pressure. If it is high, you need to take "Corinfar" or "Kapoten" (in general, what the doctor prescribed).
You need to wait for help in a sitting position. You cannot lie - it will be harder to breathe in this way. Legs are lowered to allow excess blood to flow away from the heart.
Prevention
To avoid exacerbations and reduce shortness of breath (with asthma attacks this is very important), you must:
- Wet cleaning twice a day.
- Exclude any contact with potential allergens.
- Observe personal hygiene.
- Refuse active and passive smoking.
- In time to treat viral and colds.
- To diversify your life by walking, swimming, gymnastics.
The most important thing is maintaining your immunity and training the respiratory muscles.