A chronic inflammatory disease of the lungs and airways, asthma
affects approximately 32 million Americans. Children ages five to 17
suffer from this disease more often than adults; it’s the leading cause
of school absenteeism and pediatric hospital admissions. Episodes can be
induced by a variety of factors working alone or in combination. While
asthma can be treated successfully, it is considered a chronic disease
without a cure.
Asthma is characterized by the inflammation that occurs when your
bronchi, or the airways carrying air into your lungs, come in contact
with irritants or "triggers". Environmental or emotional, examples of
triggers include: chemicals, dust, food additives, strong odors,
pollution, changes in air temperature, pollen, animal dander, tobacco
smoke, stress or strong emotions. Triggers will cause airways to swell,
mucus to build up, and the muscles in the lungs and bronchial tubes to
tighten. As the airway narrows and breathing difficulty increases, the
individual can experience chest tightness, wheezing, and shortness of
breath. An acute episode is known as an asthma "attack".
The most common symptoms of an asthma attack are relatively painless.
However, they can progress to increasing tightness or pressure in the
chest, mild to moderate shortness of breath, a wheezing or whistling
sound ranging from faint to clearly audible while breathing, along with
coughing, that may be accompanied by phlegm or mucus.
Early warning signs of the onset of an asthma episode include signs
of a cold, frequent cough – especially at night, losing your breath
easily, feeling tired or weak when exercising, or difficulty sleeping.
Some people with asthma experience only mild and infrequent episodes;
for them, the condition is an occasional inconvenience. For others,
episodes can be frequent and possibly life threatening, requiring
emergency medical treatment.
If you have asthma or suspect that your child has asthma, contact a
physician to have the symptoms monitored regularly. Together with the
physician, you can develop a plan to manage your asthma that may include
medication and/or lifestyle changes that can reduce your risk of an
episode. Steps to prevention include eating right, getting regular
exercise and sleep, avoiding excessive stress, identifying and avoiding
your triggers, watching for warning signs, following appropriate
treatment, and seeking medical help immediately when needed.
For additional questions on asthma, other sports medicine topics or
to schedule a FREE Injury Evaluation, call the Aurora Sports Medicine
Hotline™ at (414) 219-7776 or (800) 219-7776.
