Asthma

What is Asthma bronchiale?

Asthma bronchiale - or simply asthma - as it is commonly referred too, is a chronic inflammation of the respiratory tract. The symptoms are a breathing accompanied wheezing or rattling noise, a dry cough and a constraint feeling in the chest as well as breathing difficulty. These symptoms usually attack the patient without forewarning and are most frequent at night.

In one out of five households at least one person suffers from asthma. That means that 5.2m people in the UK including 1.1m children are currently receiving treatment for asthma.

Asthma bronchiale is usually distinguished into two categories, whereas most patients suffer from a mixture of these two.

1)      Allergic asthma (extrinsic)

This type of asthma is the result of an allergic reaction towards external substances such as house dust mites or pollen, afflicting mostly children.

2)      Non-allergic asthma (intrinsic)

This type of asthma is due to a previous infection of the respiratory tract and not to an allergic reaction even though both share similar symptoms. The infection damages the mucous membrane of the bronchial tubes and sensitizes it towards cold air or cigarette fumes. Mostly adults over the age of 40 are subject to this type of asthma.

What is the cause for asthma bronchiale?

Asthma bronchiale is the inflammation of the respiratory tract, which in other words describes the swelling of the bronchial mucous membrane due a strong blood circulation. The bronchial muscles cramp and the mucous membrane produces stringy slime clogging up the air passages. These factors lead to the reduction of the bronchi's diameter therefore constricting a sufficient oxygen intake.

The constant possibility of an inflammation of the respiratory tract triggered by external causes, such as pollen or cigarette fumes, is characteristic for an asthmatic person and could even lead to a manifested inflammation. The question however to why this high inflammatory possibility exists and therewith knowing the cause of asthma is still unknown to scientist and currently a subject to their research.

Asthma is an unpredictable ailment. Half of the number of those adults who had been diagnosed with asthma as a child, do not show any more signs of their asthmatic symptoms, whereas those diagnosed with asthma at an more advanced age tend to develop chronic symptoms. There are also cases, where a seemingly cured asthma returned after a number of years. In all cases, a patient has to undergo a proper treatment or the chances of putting irreversible damages to his lungs are high.

How to treat asthma bronchiale properly?

The treatment of asthma is important since a cure has not been found yet.

Symptomatic therapies have achieved pleasing results. With the help of medication, breathing techniques and avoiding symptom triggering substances, the symptomatic therapy manages to ease the ailing and ensure a longer symptom free period.