You might have heard of asthma, however, allergy specialists emphasize on it that bronchial asthma is something totally different from the former. Here is everything you need to know about bronchial asthma.

What Is Bronchial Asthma?

Bronchial asthma is a combination of shortness of breath along with a fit of wheezing or sudden blocking of air. This is mainly caused by bronchial hypersensitivity. Bronchial hypersensitivity leads to narrowing or blocking of the airways while trying to breathe, which can cause a sudden fit of coughing along with difficulty in breathing. This is why it is considered to be similar to asthma. It is associated with chronic asthma. Chronic asthma is a breathing disorder in which there is continuous difficulty in breathing. It is caused by inflammation of the airways. Chronic asthma can be characterized by shortness in breathing, wheezing and having a tight feeling in the chest. This can be either induced due to some type of allergy or it can be familial or hereditary.

Causes Of Bronchial Asthma

Some of the causes of bronchial asthma are as follows:

If you are a heavy smoker, then your airways might be affected a lot. This can cause difficulty in breathing and your lungs might get adversely affected over time. This can eventually lead to asthma or cancer, in worse cases.
Pneumonia or any breathing disorder, in which the airways are already affected, can lead to shortness of breath and can ultimately cause bronchial asthma, if the treatment is delayed too much.
Polluted air is also a very common trigger for bronchial asthma. It can ruin your lungs over time and it can affect your breathing and airways a lot.
Allergens or triggers like pollen, dust mites, insects, molds, etc. can lead to shortness of breath and wheezing. Coughing and tightness of the chest is also associated with these allergens.
Intake of drugs like aspirin and beta blockers can lead to deteriorating health of the lungs and can cause dependency of the body on these drugs. Hence, it can lead to weaker lungs and can ultimately cause bronchial asthma.
Some people are sensitive to certain strong fragrances and scents, which can cause irritation in the nose and tightness in the chest. This can lead to difficulty in breathing as we.
If your breathing becomes irregular due to emotional stress, anxiety or feeling of overwhelm, then it could be a trigger for you as well. It can cause breathing problems, panic attacks and shortness of breath.

Symptoms Of Bronchial Asthma

Common symptoms of bronchial asthma are as follows:

Wheezing, or a whistling noise which you make while breathing. This is caused by blocking or irregular opening of airways.
Profusely coughing is a huge symptom. It is very extreme and can also be quite uncomfortable. It keeps you up at night and it prevents you from breathing correctly.
Tightness of the chest is also very common. It feels as though your chest is being contracted too much and your lungs are being squeezed, which causes you to feel difficulty in breathing along with extreme coughing and hyperventilation.

Treatment For Bronchial Asthma

Once bronchial asthma is diagnosed, you can consult with your doctor for its treatment. Some of the treatment options for bronchial asthma are as follows:

Long-acting asthma inhalers are prescribed to people suffering from bronchial asthma. These inhalers are fast acting and their effect stays for a long time. You don’t want to opt for normal asthmatic inhalers, because they will not get the job done better than the long-lasting ones.
Asthma pills are also prescribed to help with breathing problems.
Antihistamines are great for reducing the inflammation in the airways. This can improve the quality of breathing a lot.
Some lifestyle changes are also mandatory to treat bronchial asthma, like practicing breathing exercises which will improve the quality of your lungs. You should also limit your activity if you face difficulty in breathing.

There you have it! Now that you know what is bronchial asthma and how it is caused, you can try to follow the treatment procedures or consult with an reputed asthma doctor Germantown for faster relief. And never stop the medication halfway through the treatment, which many people do when they start feeling better.