What is Asthma:

Bronchial asthma is defined as a chronic inflammatory airway disease characterized by hyper responsiveness to lots of allergens leading to bronchospasm which is manifestedby wheeze, cough, chest tightness, with or without breathlessness which is reversible in nature. It is simply termed as Asthma.

Symptoms of Asthma:

*Early symptoms of Asthma include:

•  Cough or wheezing with physical activity

•  Tiredness with activities that one normally could complete easily

•  Increased nighttime cough

•  Restless sleep or waking up tired

• Worsening allergy symptoms like persistent runny nose, dark circles under eyes or itchy skin.

Symptoms of Worsening Asthma:

As asthma worsens, patients may develop the following symptoms:

•  wheeze

• cough

• chest tightness

• breathlessness.

Symptoms of severe Asthma:

•  Symptoms of asthma like wheeze, cough, chest tightness, breathlessness become severe and not relieved by traditional medication
• Decreased or no ability to speak
• Chest pain
• Feelings of anxiety
• Restlessness
• Patient may be unconscious.

Management of Asthma:

Other than drug therapy- management of asthma in stable cases is as following-

Lifestyle modification:

• Avoid allergens(eg, dust,pollens,smoke,cosmetics,dirty clothes or carpets,prawn, brinjal etc) if you have allergy to these.

• Practice breathing exercises/yogasana (physical postures)/ pranayama (breath slowing techniques)/dhyana (meditation) for 65 minutes daily.

Diet in Asthma:

•  Decrease dietary intake of antioxidants (found in fresh fruit)
• Take more margarine and polyunsaturated fatty acid
• Eat less butter and oily fish.