Traditionally Asthma can be classified into two forms, Extrinsic and Intrinsic.

Extrinsic Asthma

It is basically allergic. In this form of Asthma when a person is exposed to some specific allergen, shows the symptoms of Asthma. It is the most common type of Asthma found in people. If this extrinsic Asthma left untreated, can turn into chronic asthma which is much serious medical problem. Also Asthma in children is likely to be extrinsic.

The allergens cause the immune system of the body to release histamines which lead to allergy symptoms. People with allergic asthma have the other problems like fever, rhinitis, skin rashes,swollen nasal passages,ongoing sneezing, eczema and so on.

Intrinsic Asthma

It is unrelated to allergy. Intrinsic Asthma is due to an endogenous process such as respiratory infections. Also it is not easy to know that what triggered the Asthma attack, so it makes treatment difficult. The most common procedure to avoid the intrinsic Asthma is to avoid the things with strong odours, smoky bars and not to change instantly surrounding air means not move cold to hot air instantly, if need mask your mouth.

Also it may be possible that the person may be triggered the Asthma attack by allergens also with other possible factors too. This type of people are said to have the mixed Asthma.

These two forms of Asthma may be further categorized into other types as

Exercise Induced Asthma

In some people Asthma is triggered by exercise or some physical exertion. Many athletes have this kind of Asthma which is only triggered to them at the time of exercise. Wheezy and short of breath are common symptoms of this kind of Asthma. In this type of Asthma airways become narrow.

Occupational Asthma

This type of Asthma results from the workplace triggers. Only the symptoms are triggered at the working days not on holidays. Many people with this type of asthma suffer with runny nose and congestion or eye irritation or have a cough instead of the typical asthma wheezing. The common occupation are farming, hairdressing, painting, sawdusting and so on.

Nocturnal Asthma

Nocturnal or nighttime asthma is very common among the Asthmatic patients. Asthma become worsen after mid night. The common symptoms of nighttime asthma is difficulty in breathing, coughing. Patient becomes totally restless and feels unable to sleep. Studies shows that most of the deaths due to Asthma attack occur at night.

Cough-Variant Asthma

In this type of Asthma patient shows persistent and irritating cough. It is vastly under treated and under diagnosed. Also sinusitis with asthma cause coughing is very common. The most common causes of Cough-Variant Asthma are like post-infectious cough, post-nasal drip.

Dry Powder Inhaler : It is breath-activated inhaler so easy to use. You just have to inhale the medicine. This depend on your inhaling effort(breathe quickly) to activate the flow of medicine. In Dry powder inhaler(DPI), there comes some capsules and a rotating device. First the capsule is placed in the rotating device and making a rotation makes capsule break and medicine is spread away. Then keeping the face straight, the medicine is inhaled through the device. These types of inhalers are to be loaded each time like Inhalator, Spinhaler, Rotahaler while some other DPI inhalers comes with some fixed amount of doses like Turbuhaler, Accuhaler. Spacers shouldn’t be used with dry powder inhalers.

Metered Dose Inhalers : Metered dose inhaler is the most common and fastest way of taking asthma medicine. There are five parts to an inhaler: your medication, the propellant, the canister, the metering valve and the mouthpiece. The propellant is used to force the measured dose, pressurized canister contains the medicine, and metering valve dispense the correct volume of medicine out from the inhaler and taken from the mouthpiece. Generally these types of inhalers requires a spacer which is a tube shaped device that is attached to the inhaler. This gives you some extra time so that you can inhale slowly. It also reduces the deposition of medicine on the throat and increase the amount of dose reaching the lungs.

Some of the asthma medications that are taken from inhalers are :

• Short-acting bronchodilators :includes albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin) and pirbuterol (Maxair)
• Long-acting bronchodilators : include salmeterol (Serevent) and formoterol (Foradil)
• Cromolyn : include nonsteroidal medications
• Corticosteroids : include beclomethasone dipropionate (Qvar), fluticasone (Flovent), budesonide (Pulmicort), triamcinolone acetonide (Azmacort) and flunisolide (Aerobid)

Before using the inhalers we should the complete instruction manual has to read carefully. And every time before taking the dose inhaler should be shake properly. If you are unable to use inhaler then nebulizer may be an option. In this medicine is converted into a mist and delivered through a mask on mouth and nose.

Asthma Myths and Facts

Asthma is curable : Asthma is a chronic disease which is not curable. No medicine can treat asthma, we can only decrease the symptoms of asthma. Only precaution and little intelligence is enough to prevent asthma attacks. Only way is to control asthma is to avoid asthma triggers.

Inhalers are Dangerous : Many people believe that inhalers medication is harmful to the lungs but the fact is that it is safest and effective type for asthma attacks.

Don’t Exercise : It is a common myth that exercise is too risky with asthma. The fitness and other benefits which are gained through the exercising gives much benefit in the case of Asthma.

Avoid Wheat and Milk : People are generally are told to not use the dairy products because it produces mucus in the airways, totally wrong. Because it doesn’t thickens the saliva permanently. This may be true only if some is allergic to wheat and milk.

Moving to Different Location is Beneficial : Most people thinks that to move to the different location like to desert or southwestern states can cure asthma which is totally wrong. Although you can get benefit for a time but after a certain period symptoms used to get appear again.

Although there are other myths are also which are only harmful to the victim like Chiropractors can treat asthma, Smoking doesn’t trigger asthma, Steroids are dangerous, children ‘grow out’ of their asthma and many. Asthma is such kind of a problem which remains all the time even sometime you may not able to feel it but it is always there. Proper knowledge and intelligence is very much required in the case of Asthma so be sure what you are doing and why.

• Infections such as colds and flu
• If you have a family history of asthma then chances are high
• Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of Asthma for the child
• Irritants such as dust, pollen, animals, cigarette smoke and fumes
• Environmental pollution raises the asthma symptoms
• Children whose parents smoke are more likely to develop asthma
  

  Inhalers

Also researches states that Women are more likely to have asthma than men.

The symptoms of asthma vary from person to person and often become worse at night. Also it is not necessary that all the symptoms are shown at the same time. Some of the most common symptoms are

• Coughing : Coughing becomes worse at night and in the morning and make much difficulty in sleeping.
• Wheezing : It is basically whistling which is heard when victim breathes.
• Chest Tightness : This feel like something in your chest.
• Shortness of Breath: People feel out of breath in this condition.

If you are feeling any of these kind of symptoms then you should contact to doctor for the proper treatment of asthma.

There are also some common household asthma triggers, which are:

• Dust mites, which are common in carpet, upholstery and mattresses
• Dander from pets such as cats
• Cockroaches
• Indoor molds
• VOCs, released by paints, carpet and other household products

Other health conditions such as sinus infections, runny nose, psychological stress, reflux disease,and sleep apnea can make asthma more difficult to manage. So proper treatment is required for the treatment of these conditions also.

Asthma Basics

Although the people who got asthma may go a number of days without notice. Asthma effected people generally keep inhaler with them.

Asthma symptoms can be triggered by pollen, dust, pet dander, fumes, or smoke or others. This makes person to start cough, wheeze and have shortness of breath. Sometime pain in chest is also very common. In this process bronchial airways become irritated that makes swelling in the airways, mucus production etc. All these make breathing more and more difficult. This is called asthma attack. Generally asthma attack is minor in nature but it can be dangerous if treatment is not received.

Today, Asthma treatment include medications like inhaler and other short acting medication and long acting medications. Inhalers are used to quickly opening the airways to breathe properly while long acting medications are taken daily to prevent asthma episodes. Although today asthma treatments go beyond medicine to yoga and herbal treatment. People can control the symptoms of asthma by changing their environment and lifestyle.

Also it is very important to understand Asthma because in the end it is you who fight, not doctor, so for best result you should also know what asthma is all about. This will make your daily life normal.