1, how is asthma caused?
1. Genetic factors
Asthma is a polygenic genetic disease. The so-called polygenic inheritance is caused by the interaction of many pairs of pathogenic genes on different chromosomes. These pathogenic genes with little effect but cumulative effect constitute the genetic factors of asthma. The higher the heritability, the greater the possibility of disease. For example, in a family, the more people suffering from asthma, the higher the prevalence of relatives; The more asthma patients among relatives, the closer the relatives are, and the higher the prevalence rate; If the asthma patients in the family are seriously ill, the prevalence rate of their relatives will also increase. In addition, the important feature of asthma is the existence of airway hyperresponsiveness, that is to say, under the slight stimulation of the external environment (normal people have no discomfort), the airway of patients will become very sensitive and have a series of stress reactions, which are also controlled by genetic factors.
Inhalation allergen
Allergy, also known as hypersensitivity, is a specific immune response that shows tissue damage or physiological dysfunction after the human body is stimulated by the same substance again (this immune response only targets at one pathogenic substance), and the substance that causes this allergic response is allergen. Allergy is a harmful abnormal immune response, which is different from normal protective immune response.
3. Indoor mites
House mite is the most common and harmful allergen. It is an arachnid, very small, only 0. 1-0.5 mm. These house mites have nothing else to ask for, so long as there is a humid and mild climate and human dander for food, they can multiply rapidly. There are four kinds of mites: house dust mite (the most important), dermatophagoides farinae, house dust mite and polychaete mite.
4. pets
Allergens released by domestic pets such as cats, dogs and birds are mainly in their fur, saliva, urine and feces, among which cats are the most important allergens, and allergens exist in cats' fur and sebum secretions, which are the main risk factors for acute asthma.
5. Pollen
Pollen and grass powder are the most common outdoor allergens that cause asthma attacks. Asthma is often caused by tree pollen in spring and grass powder in autumn.
6. Drugs and food additives
Aspirin and some non-corticosteroid anti-inflammatory drugs are the main allergens that cause asthma. In addition, some food additives such as preservatives and dyes can also cause acute asthma attacks.
7. Smoking
If children have asthma and parents often smoke, smoking will be an important cause of asthma and the main source of outdoor triggers.
8. Virus infection
The common viruses of respiratory tract infection are respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, rhinovirus and influenza virus. Adult asthma is mainly related to rhinovirus and influenza virus, while children asthma is mainly related to respiratory syncytial virus and parainfluenza virus.
2. Common types of asthma
1. Exogenous (inhalation) asthma
Most of them develop asthma before the age of 6. This type of asthma is related to inhaling external allergens and has a clear history of allergic diseases. There are obvious seasons and regions, which are generally common in spring and autumn; The prodromal symptoms of older children are mainly allergic rhinitis, no fever, persistent sneezing, clear nose and pale nasal mucosa.
2. Endogenous (infectious) asthma
It is more common in adult asthma, with serious illness, perennial or chronic recurrent attacks, no obvious personal and family allergic history and no obvious seasonality. Before the attack, there were obvious manifestations of respiratory inflammation such as cold and fever, and its attack had little to do with external allergens.
3. Mixed asthma
After suffering from asthma, patients with exogenous asthma have repeated attacks due to poor disease control, which eventually leads to further weakness. Patients are easily infected by various bacteria and viruses at first, and it is easy to have persistent attacks and lose obvious seasonality.
4. Pulmonary asthma
1: Asthmatic bronchitis: In addition to chronic bronchitis symptoms: long-term cough, expectoration, patients with obvious wheezing, aggravated by respiratory infection. Generally occurs in cold season, mostly in middle-aged and elderly people. If the disease is not well controlled, it often develops into emphysema and pulmonary heart disease in the later stage.
2. Bronchial lung cancer: When cancer blocks the big bronchus, it will cause wheezing, and patients will feel difficulty in exhaling and inhaling.
5. Cardiogenic asthma
Patients usually suffer from coronary heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, cardiomyopathy, hypertension and left heart failure, leading to pulmonary congestion, gas exchange disorder and asthma. All kinds of wheezing mostly occur at night, and dyspnea suddenly occurs 1-2 hours after sleep. The patient suddenly woke up because of chest tightness and suffocation, and was forced to gasp, cough and cough up pink foam-like sputum.
6. Occupational asthma
Asthma is related to certain occupations, such as exposure to certain chemical or metal compounds at work, which leads to asthma. Its main feature is that it can trigger the onset of this disease in certain environment or in contact with certain substances, and once it is out of contact, the symptoms will disappear.
7. Cough variant asthma
Cough variant asthma is characterized by an individual or family history of allergic diseases. Chronic irritating dry cough is often the only manifestation, and a few may be accompanied by chest tightness, itchy throat and runny nose. It is heavier at night, early in the morning and after exercise, and can last for several days to several years.
8. Aspirin asthma
It refers to asthma caused by taking aspirin. In fact, besides aspirin, analgin, paracetamol, indomethacin, ibuprofen and other antipyretic and analgesic drugs can also induce asthma. Most of the patients are women aged 20-40. Generally, within half an hour to four hours after taking the medicine, asthma suddenly breaks out or worsens, which is manifested as sweating, sneezing, itching and wheezing.
9. Exercise asthma
This disease can occur at any age, but the incidence rate is higher among boys and children. It is characterized by chest tightness, wheezing and dyspnea after strenuous exercise lasting more than 5- 10 minutes. Generally, it lasts for about half an hour to 1 hour, and can be gradually relieved. Exercise shorter than 5 minutes, or light exercise such as walking and Tai Ji Chuan, generally will not induce asthma. This kind of exercise is easy to prevent and can avoid strenuous and long-term exercise.
3. Common symptoms of asthma
People with allergies or asthma will have asthma attacks after being exposed to some allergens, which are manifested as the following symptoms:
1. Precursor symptoms
Before asthma attacks, there are some precursor symptoms. When patients have symptoms such as sudden nasal congestion, itchy eyes, continuous sneezing, dry cough and inexplicable fear, they should be alert to asthma.
2. wheezing and dyspnea
This is a typical symptom of asthma attack. Patients often have sudden wheezing, followed by expiratory dyspnea. The patient showed that he kept inhaling and could not try to exhale.
cough
Patients often have dry cough symptoms before asthma attacks, and when asthma attacks, the cough will be slightly relieved. At the end of the asthma attack, the cough will get worse again. At this point, the patient may have a dry cough or cough up white foam sputum.
4. Chest tightness
When asthma attacks, patients often feel chest tightness and hold their breath, which is aggravated with the intensity of the attack. If the patient suddenly feels chest pain before the onset of asthma, the occurrence of spontaneous pneumothorax should be prevented.
4. Treatment of acute asthma attack
1. Keep the correct posture.
Quickly let the asthmatic find a seat to rest, and at the same time give him a back support so that he can lean on you; Or let the patient kneel on the bed with a pillow and lean forward, which is conducive to breathing.
2. Keep the respiratory tract unobstructed
If you feel that the patient has phlegm, pat it into a cup with your palm to promote the discharge of sputum; If there is oxygen at home, take out the oxygen bottle at home immediately and inhale oxygen through nasal catheter or mask to correct hypoxia.
3. Keep a good environment
Pay attention to keep the patient warm to avoid cold stimulation aggravating asthma attack; Keep the environment quiet and avoid stimulation; Pay attention to indoor ventilation, keep the air fresh, but avoid cold air blowing directly; Avoid irritating smells such as indoor kerosene, paint and smoke.
4. Appropriate medication
Generally, asthma patients will carry short-acting inhalants with them, which can be inhaled according to the doctor's requirements.
Comfort patient
Give psychological support and comfort to asthma patients, tell him not to be nervous, take a deep breath, and you will help him by his side to relieve the anxiety and tension of patients.
Tip: We must strengthen observation during the above treatment, and the symptoms of general patients will be relieved. If the situation is not alleviated or aggravated, please seek medical attention immediately to avoid serious consequences.
5. What should asthma patients pay attention to?
1. Prescribed diet
During the onset of asthma, the requirements for food quality are relatively high, whether it is nutrition or quantity. Patients should eat soft rice or semi-liquid food, which can reduce the difficulty of chewing and swallowing caused by shortness of breath, which is not only beneficial to digestion and absorption, but also can prevent food reflux.
2. Taboo food
Asthma patients, as patients, are weak, so some foods are inedible. For gas-producing foods such as beans, bread and desserts, patients should not eat them. There is also a kind of food that can cause the recurrence of old diseases or aggravation of new diseases, and patients should avoid eating it to avoid giving the body more stimulation.
3. Obese patients
Diet therapy for asthma often varies according to the specific situation of patients. When obese patients use this treatment method, special treatment should generally be carried out to limit their fat supply. Because patients themselves have more fat than other patients, reducing fat intake can achieve the purpose of resolving phlegm and eliminating dampness.
6. How to prevent asthma
1. When the climate is cold or the seasons alternate, due to the lack of warm-keeping measures, colds or upper respiratory tract infections often occur, and if these diseases are not cured for a long time, they will turn into asthma. Therefore, we must pay attention to keep warm when the climate changes, especially the neck.
2. Pay more attention to your daily diet and don't indulge in spicy food. Long-term consumption of these foods will cause damage to the pharyngeal mucosa, which is prone to infection or inflammation. Eat a light diet and don't eat too much hair.
3. There are many house dust mites hidden in the sanitary corner, sofa and bedding of the family. These house dust mites are one of the main allergens leading to asthma. Therefore, to prevent asthma, we must regularly clean leaflets and bedding, and eat them after exposure and disinfection. The sanitary corner at home should be cleaned frequently to keep the indoor humidity.
4. It is best not to keep small animals at home, especially those with feathers and fur, which are easy to be inhaled and become allergens that cause asthma. Even if you want to keep animals, you should do a good job of cleaning and hygiene.
5. Long-term exposure to irritating gases will lead to asthma attacks, and you should stay away from toxic and irritating gases, such as sulfur dioxide and paint.
6. When outdoor activities, try to choose the season with less pollen, and don't play in the flowers in spring and summer. Asthmatics should wear masks when outdoors to prevent asthma attacks.
7. Excitement or anxiety can also cause asthma. To prevent asthma attacks, we must learn to keep a calm mind and minimize excitement and anger, otherwise it may cause asthma attacks.