There are many different triggers that cause one to have an asthma attack. The majority of asthma attacks are caused by allergens, pet dander, dust, mold, cold or hot weather, moist air, cigarette smoke, exercise and sometimes even stress.
Asthma is a condition that can be kept in control by taking medicines such as Singulair, Zyrtec, Advair, Proventil and Serevent.
Medicines don't always work though. Sometimes asthma is so difficult to control in a person's lungs that they need to receive allergy shots on a regular basis to keep the triggers from affecting their body. Patients with asthma should always remember one thing; always keep a rescue inhaler within reach. Rescue inhalers are different from the everyday inhalers that asthma patients use. A rescue inhaler is used only in an emergency. When an asthma sufferer feels their lungs constricting or has been coughing more often, they will take a puff from their rescue inhaler for relief.
Asthma causes a constriction of the lungs, inflammation of the lungs, and an added buildup of mucus within the lungs. All of this brings about shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing. Many patients that suffer from asthma use nebulizer treatments more than once a week for severe cases. The nebulizer is a type of breathing machine that is filled with asthma medicine in liquid form. The liquid is then vaporized and the patient breathes inhales the vapor into their lungs. The vaporized medicine helps reopen the patient's airwaves and dries up the mucus.
Not all asthma patients suffer from it on a daily basis. A lot of asthma patients have exercise induced asthma. This is asthma that only affects those who are exercising. Exercise induced asthma doesn't always occur during the workout. Many asthma attacks related to exercise occur well after the workout is complete.
Many patients with asthma, but not all, also suffer from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a condition that affects patients while attempting to sleep. Sleep apnea is when a patient has pauses or lapses in their breathing pattern while they are sleeping. This causes them to wake up startled and takes away from their daily rest needs. Sleep apnea is treated with the use of a CPAP. A CPAP is a breathing machine that aides respiratory ventilation. Asthma patients who also suffer from sleep apnea have found it easier to breath when the sleep apnea is diagnosed and treated. Sleep apnea can also be considered a trigger for asthma attacks.
Asthma, whether bronchial or nocturnal, is a dangerous and often deadly condition if it is not treated properly. When kept under control, asthma will not be a hindrance to the patient and the patient will be able to resume their normal activities of enjoy the outdoors and owning a pet. As soon as symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing and excessive coughing occur, asthma patients should use their rescue inhaler or consult their physician. It could mean the difference between life and death.