Symptoms of asthma are familiar to many - the disease is found in a frighteningly large percentage of the world's population. Asthma is a severe pathology, with some of its manifestations resembling other problems of the respiratory system. The ability to identify her in time, consult a doctor and choose the appropriate treatment is the key to a full life. It should be remembered that more often the first symptoms of asthma are recorded in young children, but there are also known cases when the first respiratory disease appeared in an adult. According to medical statistics, asthma, which first appeared in childhood, is treatable on average in every second patient.
Where did the trouble come from?
Before understanding asthma symptoms, you should familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the disease and the causes that provoke it. The disease belongs to the category of chronic, expressed in bronchial obstruction, that is, the lumens of the airways narrow. The first manifestation of a pathological condition is cough. Symptoms of asthma include wheezing and lack of air. Patients are troubled by shortness of breath, from time to time a sensation comes, as if everything was squeezed in the chest. According to statistics, about 10% of the world's population suffers from asthma in various forms. Obstruction is reversible partially or completely. More often this requires medical measures, but in a small percentage of cases the disease goes away spontaneously, by itself.
Symptoms of asthma and treatment of an ailment are interconnected, and therefore therapy is based on the essence of the disease, namely its main root cause, which causes specific manifestations and dictates measures for their relief. The fact is that in patients with asthma, the tissues of the bronchial tree are characterized by increased sensitivity to any stimuli, they are reactive, so a difficult response arises in the most unpredictable situations if the patient encounters an aggressive factor. In some cases, such features are explained by heredity, but sometimes such a formidable symptom as an asthma attack can provoke environmental conditions in which a person is located. Sometimes asthma is due to frequent infectious diseases of the respiratory system, an allergic reaction.
Manifestations: Key Features
Symptoms of bronchial asthma are explained by inflammatory processes, obstruction of the respiratory lumens with mucous secretions, spasm and narrowing of the paths along which air must pass. As a rule, the patient notes:
- shortness of breath
- lack of air;
- cough, more worrying during a night's rest;
- whistling when exhaling, inhaling;
- heaviness in the chest;
- soreness in the respiratory system;
- feeling of constriction.
Doctors pay attention to a variety of manifestations. Symptoms of bronchial asthma vary, not only in different people, but also in one patient at different times of the day. Much depends on the environment. Only a part of the listed list of symptoms may appear; there is a chance of all of them coming simultaneously. The severity level of sensations, the degree of exacerbation also vary significantly. Sometimes asthma is manifested only in mild, minor troubles, and in other cases urgent care and even hospitalization of the patient are needed, otherwise the risk of death is high.
If the symptoms sharply worsen, they say about an attack. In some cases, they are rarely repeated, with long periods of calm, while others are faced with attacks almost every day. It is known that physical activity and viral diseases can provoke an asthmatic attack.
Disease: how to identify from the very beginning?
Knowing the very first symptoms of bronchial asthma in adults and children, you can understand in time that it is necessary to consult a doctor for the selection of a therapeutic course. The main task is to prevent the progress of the disease, to monitor the state of the respiratory system. Early signs are not attacks, such severe manifestations come much later. Unfortunately, primary asthmatic events are often left unattended, as they are quite insignificant.
The first symptoms of bronchial asthma in adults and children are as follows:
- being in the fresh air, cleaning the room provokes a cough, runny nose, itching, sore throat, sore throat, chest tightness;
- in the summer, especially on sunny days and in strong winds, breathing is accompanied by wheezing, cough and runny nose are disturbing, noticeably weakening if it rains;
- in summer, the general condition of the body is worse than in winter, and all diseases worsen;
- weakening against the background of physical exertion.
With asthma, a person quickly and very tired, even performing everyday, familiar activities.
The higher the risk of finding out for yourself what are the symptoms of asthma, in people whose close relatives suffer from various kinds of allergies.
It is known that asthma can pass by itself if a person for a long time changes his place of residence. This is due to the exclusion of the allergen from its daily routine. If after some time to return to the previous location, probably, the symptoms will again aggravate.
Stages and signs: how asthma begins
Symptoms in adults and children in the primary stage are relatively subtle, they indicate an organism's response to an allergen. A person is concerned about coughing, rhinitis, itching in the nose or throat. More often this happens during the spring flowering, cleaning the house.
The next stage manifests itself as an increase in respiratory diseases, from simple colds to rather severe bronchitis. Frequent acute respiratory viral infections may indicate asthma. This condition is called preastma in the medical classification.
The third stage is the first attack of the disease.
Kids get sick!
Symptoms of asthma in children are quite common. Doctors say that on average every tenth child is sick, and over the years the frequency of occurrence is only growing. Up to 60% of all pediatric pulmonologist patients have a burdened family history, that is, among close relatives there are people suffering from allergic reactions. The most likely occurrence of asthma symptoms is in a child who is simultaneously affected by a genetic factor and a negative, aggressive environment.
It is very difficult to suspect that asthma begins: even those children who are not threatened with the disease often have a cold, so you can not focus on this manifestation. Ecology today also leaves much to be desired, therefore an increasing number of people suffer from allergies, and to a large extent such reactions are characteristic of the fragile children's body.
Modern parents need to know what are the symptoms and treatment of asthma in a child. You can suspect that the time has come to go to the doctor if the baby complains of squeezing in the chest and feeling as if he lacks air. Usually asthmatics sleep poorly, restless and moody. You can notice something was wrong with a dry cough, which is very difficult to get rid of. At night and in the morning, a runny nose appears, the nose is blocked, and rashes appear on the skin - these areas usually itch heavily. Symptoms - asthma include shortness of breath. On exhalation, the air comes out with a whistle, the duration of exhalation is often twice as long as the inspiration.
Species, groups and manifestations
Symptoms and treatment of asthma in adults are directly determined by the specifics of the case, the severity of the disease. There are three degrees - easy, medium, heavy. The easiest option is a slightly labored breathing. In relapses, they use funds to stop the inflammatory reaction. Theophylline preparations are quite popular. Additionally, the doctor can recommend inhalation medications - they are effective against coughing and quickly relieve seizures.
If it was not possible to notice in time that asthma begins, and the symptoms in adults and children progress, the disease goes into a moderate form. Breathing is difficult, and wheezing is frequent. With continued progress every day, severe coughing attacks worry.
One of the rather severe types of the disease is aspirin asthma. It occurs in different age groups, is severe. An allergic reaction to aspirin can provoke it . Aspirin asthma threatens allergy sufferers who develop polyps in the nasal cavity.
An allergic reaction manifests itself in bronchial asthma. In addition to coughing, runny nose and dermatitis are a concern.
A relevant topic for modern medicine is the symptoms and treatment of cardiac asthma. This is a form of the disease when blood stagnates in the veins that feed the lungs, resulting in severe attacks. In addition to the manifestations described above, characteristic of all types of asthma, with a heart shape, veins swell around the neck, the patient is afraid to die, and the skin turns pale and even turns blue.
The most severe form, which is considered more complicated even than cardiac asthma, the symptoms and treatment of which for modern medicine is not an easy task - asthmatic status. In the absence of timely adequate treatment with a high degree of probability provokes a fatal outcome.
Bronchial asthma: features of manifestations
Cough, characteristic of asthmatics, is considered the main pathological phenomenon. The patient’s breathing is hoarse, and the condition worsens from time to time. The transition of the form to the chronicle, accompanied by severe attacks, is possible. Atopic bronchial asthma is usually observed against the background of interaction with an allergen.
It is known that symptoms of asthma in adults can provoke emotional stress, strain, stress. In this case, the cough is accompanied by a feeling of constriction of organs inside the chest, the nose is blocking, the skin is itching. The patient feels anxiety, it hurts in the chest, and it becomes difficult to breathe. The asthmatic wheezes dryly, the sounds are quite loud and can be heard from afar. One of the symptoms of asthma in adults and children is such a strong reaction of the respiratory tract that breathing is impossible. At the same time, blood vessels swell around the neck. The duration of the attack is often long.
When coughing, sputum discharge is possible. One of the symptoms indicating the need for treatment of bronchial asthma is retraction of the skin between the ribs when trying to inhale. Dark circles appear under the eyes.
Can provoke an attack:
- load;
- cold;
- time of day (night, early morning).
With these symptoms, treatment of bronchial asthma usually involves taking drugs that expand the airways.
What to do?
An asthma attack is quite stormy and proceeds severely, shortness of breath appears in just a few seconds, and the patient's wheezing is heard from afar. To make it easier, you need to sit down and grasp the back of the chair, calm down and try to bring your breathing back to normal. It is necessary to try to exhale all the air in the lungs. To make it easier, you should open the window - this will give an influx of fresh air.
When symptoms of bronchial asthma appear in adults, treatment involves the use of special inhalers that quickly alleviate the patient's condition. The active components of drugs that have proven themselves recently are fenoterol, salbutamol, terbutaline. Any asthmatic should have aerosols with such substances on hand. To stop the attack, usually a couple of breaths is enough, as the condition improves, a couple more injections are made.
Medicines
With symptoms of bronchial asthma in adults, treatment is necessary without delay. However, it is equally important for children. Several types of medications are known to be effective in this disease. The basic program usually includes such compounds that can prevent an attack, as well as means of "emergency care", that is, substances that effectively stop the attack from a particular patient. In pharmacies, the choice of drugs for such cases is quite large, but not all are suitable: a lot depends on the individual characteristics of the patient. The choice is best left to the doctor.
Another important group of medicines for asthmatics is steroids for oral use. Typically, funds are prescribed in lengthy courses, and the main idea of their application is the prevention of seizures. Steroids are available in various forms: capsules, tablets, solutions and syrups. If corticosteroids are prescribed, the duration of the therapeutic course is usually 11 days. Long-term treatment can prevent the development of seizures in the future, reduce the frequency of their occurrence.
Inhaled steroids are drugs designed to relieve swelling from the respiratory system. Beta antagonists will help with asthma, preventing another attack. A distinctive feature is the duration of the effect. It is wise to combine beta-antagonists and steroids in the form of aerosols for the most pronounced effect.
Leukotriene inhibitors are drugs that inhibit the activity of these structures and other chemical components that can provoke inflammation in allergies. Finally, asthmatics are shown sodium cromoglycate, an anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drug that does not have a systemic effect on the body.
Unpleasant consequences
Bronchial asthma can cause asthmatic status; Possible consequences also include:
- betolepsy;
- insufficiency of the respiratory system;
- pneumothorax;
- very strong cough;
- rib fracture;
- slow development.
It is known that asthma in some cases leads to mental problems. To a greater extent this is characteristic of juvenile patients.
Since the lungs inflate from time to time with asthma, this can cause a bulging chest - the “chicken breast”. If the disease is severe, there is a risk of blockage of the paths for the passage of air into the lungs. There are also known cases when, against the background of a strong cough, the patient lost consciousness.
Symptoms and their refinement
If signs suggest bronchial asthma, the patient is referred for a special examination. The disease is characterized by a rather specific clinical picture, however, additional refinements are also important, since certain manifestations of asthma are also characteristic of a number of other pathologies.
First of all, the patient is prescribed instrumental studies. For this, external respiration is checked. The indicators of forced expiration in the first second are analyzed and, in general, these two parameters are correlated. If the ratio is less than 70%, we can talk about asthma.
To clarify the condition, it is recommended to do a sputum, blood test. In the secret produced by the bronchi, sputum in asthmatic eosinophils are detected. The substance itself is viscous, is difficult to separate, has two layers. In the composition of organic matter, elements of Charcot-Leiden, Kurshman are possible. In laboratory conditions, eosinophilia of blood is detected.
To establish an allergic reaction, various types of tests are performed, including inhalation. The patient is prescribed a radioallergenic sorbent test, IgE is analyzed.
The final stage of diagnosis is x-ray or tomography. This allows you to identify the features of pathological processes occurring in the pulmonary structures. Doctors detect emphysema, if present, can diagnose chronic bronchitis.
Asthmatic status
The initial stage is relatively compensated, therefore, there are no pronounced manifestations of insufficiency of pulmonary ventilation, while dyspnea is prolonged. Inhalation remains normal, and exhalation is significantly difficult. Inhalation and exhalation correspond to 1: 2 or 1: 2.5. The patient notes:
- shortness of breath
- cyanosis;
- bronchospasm;
- pulmonary congestion;
- unproductive cough.
Blood tests show changes in the ratio of gases, acids and bases. Hyperventilation is noted. Sputum removal is difficult.
During the examination, the doctor notes that breathing is hard, is carried out in all pulmonary departments, while the patient emits a variety of wheezing and buzzing. The ratio of ventilation and perfusion is violated, the air speed at the time of exhalation (maximum) is almost half the norm below the norm, but in the best cases it is up to 80%. The patient is faced with more pronounced manifestations of pulmonary emphysema, heart sounds are muffled, the rhythm and speed of the heart go astray. Asthmatic status manifests itself with increased pressure and general dehydration of the body.
Bronchodilators, sympathomimetics with asthmatic status do not bring relief, asphyxiation does not pass.
Status Progress
At the second stage, obstructive disorders increase, lung ventilation is disturbed even more, respiratory decompensation is recorded. Bronchial spasm is severe, exhalation is significantly difficult, and muscle activity is ineffective, despite hyperventilation, so hypoxia cannot be prevented. On exhalation, the maximum air velocity is less than half the norm.
For some, the second step of asthmatic status is accompanied by convulsions, twitches, and excitement is gradually replaced by a nap. – 30 , , , . . 120 . . .
Third stage
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External manifestations
At the first stage of asthmatic status, the following are noted:
- frequent coughing attacks not controlled by medication;
- orthopnea;
- frequent breathing
- sputum is separated with great difficulty, the substance is very viscous;
- loud breathing noise is heard from afar;
- the skin is pale, with a bluish tint;
- tachycardia;
- arrhythmia;
- tendency to be annoyed for any reason;
- excited state;
- hallucinations.
To clarify the condition, a blood test is done for gases, as well as a biochemical one, and an electrocardiogram is taken.
Manifestations of the second stage:
- the patient's condition is serious;
- severe shortness of breath;
- orthopnea;
- shallow breathing, seizure of air trapping;
- swelling of blood vessels in the neck;
- excitement, passing into apathy and vice versa;
- gray skin tone;
- sweating
- rapid pulse;
- low pressure.
To clarify the condition, you need to analyze the blood, make an analysis to determine the balance of acids and alkalis, remove the electrocardiogram.
Manifestations of the third stage:
- coma;
- red cyanosis;
- loss of consciousness;
- seizure
- rare, trouble breathing;
- pulse is threadlike;
- pressure is low or not measured at all.