Asthma

Asthma causes and symptoms

Can you give us a quick overview of asthma and its causes?

The question was answered by Dr. Firas Zizfoun, a specialist in chest diseases

Asthma is a long-term immune disease that must be monitored and controlled, and patients can live normally and carry out normal activities of life.

There is no cure for it so far, and current medications help to stabilize it when severe attacks occur with shortness of breath and a feeling of pressure or heaviness in the chest, in addition to the “whispering” sound accompanying breathing with severe recurrent coughing. The highest episodes are intensified at night, and sometimes life-threatening. Asthma is not contagious, and its development interferes with genetic predisposition, viral respiratory infections, and environmental conditions. It affects people of all ages, but it often begins in childhood. The factors that cause it are many, but the most common are:

sensitizing factors:

The most important of which is house dust, as we are exposed to it in our daily lives, especially when doing household chores. And sea mites, which are microscopic organisms found in wet areas, and carpet and rug dust, and abound in high-humidity homes and basements... As well as pollen, where trees and herbs release large quantities of it in the spring season, and it is transmitted by the air to great distances.    

Irritating and stimulating elements:

Including cigarette smoke, hookah smoke, and smoke from cars, laboratories, fires, and chemicals with strong odors, such as household cleaners, as well as gasoline, paint, perfumes, and cooking smells... Also, some animal products such as bird feathers and dander and the droppings of some insects may provoke an asthma attack.   

Among the provoking factors, we mention cold air, high humidity, physical exertion such as excessive sports and excessive play in children, hard work, nervous tension, crying, and laughter... We should also mention that some infections, especially viral infections, incite an asthma attack, in addition to that many nutrients It has a role in inciting an asthma attack, due to direct sensitivity to food, especially in children, and the most common of these substances are: eggs, milk, fish, nuts, bananas, strawberries, avocado, dark chocolate, chips, and drinks such as beer, wine, and soda water.

Pharmacological agents:

As many medicines have a negative impact on the health of the asthma patient, and therefore there are medicines that should be avoided completely; Such as some painkillers, some types of pressure medications, and anti-inflammatories.