Asthma is one of the world’s most prevalent non-communicable chronic diseases, particularly among children. Nearly 30 million Americans have received an asthma diagnosis, or roughly one out of 11 citizens, including about 5 million children. That said, the condition is both under-diagnosed and under-treated, meaning individuals who have struggled with asthma-like symptoms may benefit from an asthma diagnosis.
Asthma is a chronic lung disease that occurs when inflammation causes large and small airways to constrict, making it difficult or nearly impossible to breathe. In addition to shortness of breath, individuals with asthma often experience chest tightness and frequent coughing and wheezing. Asthma should be treated as a serious health condition. Fortunately, an accurate diagnosis, a few lifestyle changes, and proper treatment make the condition relatively easy to manage for most people affected.
The impact of asthma symptoms are quite extensive, especially for individuals living with undiagnosed asthma. Breathing difficulties can make it hard to get a full night’s sleep, which can lead to many severe health conditions and a decrease in overall quality of life. Individuals living with asthma often feel fatigued during the day. Children living with asthma can struggle to maintain focus due to tiredness, which may result in an incorrect attention deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnosis (ADHD). On the other hand, studies suggest various links between asthma and ADHD in children, both of which may be caused by sleep-disordered breathing.
Missed work days are a major consequence of undiagnosed asthma symptoms in adults, which can result in financial problems. This issue is complicated by the fact that low- and middle-income families are at the greatest risk for a missed asthma diagnosis. Severe asthma attacks can lead to costly visits to a hospital emergency room. Although it is rare, asthma attacks can be fatal.
A common misconception is that individuals living with asthma only need to manage asthma attacks. In reality, symptoms such as coughing and shortness of breath may occur constantly. Individuals experience an asthma attack when their symptoms suddenly and significantly worsen. One person’s symptoms may differ from another’s, and symptoms can be influenced by many factors, such as the time of year or the weather. Environmental factors also impact how easy it is for a person living with asthma to breathe - high levels of dust and smoke in the air, for example, can trigger asthma attacks.
These factors may also serve as the cause of a person’s asthma. Some individuals inherit asthma from a close family member or develop the disease alongside similar allergic conditions, such as hay fever or eczema. People living in urban environments are more likely to receive an asthma diagnosis. Individuals living at an unhealthy weight are also at greater risk for the disease.
There are several forms of treatment for asthma. Inhalers are the most popular type of treatment. These handheld devices pump medication directly into the lungs, which can reduce symptoms leading up to or during an asthma attack. Bronchodilators are inhalers designed to open a person’s air passages, while steroid-based inhalers target the inflammation that causes potentially fatal attacks.
Finally, individuals living with asthma must practice self-care. Smoking, for example, can significantly worsen a person’s asthma symptoms. This means individuals should avoid smoking, and also stay away from enclosed spaces with smoke in the air. Those with asthma should also maintain a healthy weight and follow an asthma action plan they develop alongside a healthcare provider.
