![]() ![]() Signs of an asthmatic episode include wheezing ( tachypnea), prolonged expiration, a rapid heart rate ( tachycardia), rhonchous lung sounds (audible through a stethoscope), and over-inflation of the chest. The onset may be sudden, with a sense of constriction in the chest, breathing becomes difficult, and wheezing occurs (primarily upon expiration, but can be in both respiratory phases). When present the cough may sometimes produce clear sputum. Although the former is "often regarded as the sine qua non of asthma", some patients present primarily with coughing, and in the late stages of an attack, air motion may be so impaired that no wheezing may be heard. The clinical hallmarks of an attack are shortness of breath ( dyspnea) and either wheezing or stridor. Some asthmatics that have severe shortness of breath and tightening of the lungs never wheeze or have stridor and their symptoms may be confused with a COPD-type disease.Īn acute exacerbation of asthma is referred to as an asthma attack. Some or all of the following symptoms may be present in those with asthma: dyspnea, wheezing, stridor, coughing, an inability for physical exertion. In others it is an intermittent illness marked by episodic symptoms that may result from a number of triggering events, including upper respiratory infection, stress, airborne allergens, air pollutants (such as smoke or traffic fumes), or exercise. In some individuals asthma is characterized by chronic respiratory impairment. The use of bronchodilators started in 1901, but it was not until the 1960s that the inflammatory component of asthma was recognized, and anti-inflammatory medications were added to the regimens. In the 17th century, Bernardino Ramazzini noted a connection between asthma and organic dust. In 1190 AD, Moses Maimonides, an influential medieval rabbi, philosopher, and physician, wrote a treatise on asthma, describing its prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Six centuries later, Galen wrote much about asthma, noting that it was caused by partial or complete bronchial obstruction. Hippocrates thought that the spasms associated with asthma were more likely to occur in tailors, anglers, and metalworkers. ![]() Hippocrates was the first to use it in reference to the medical condition, in 450 BC. The word 'asthma' is derived from the Greek aazein, meaning "sharp breath." The word first appears in Homer's Iliad ![]() 5.5 Alternative and complementary medicine.4.6 Asthma and gastro-esophageal reflux disease.4.4.1.3 Complex Causes: Gene-Environment Interactions.Public attention in the developed world has recently focused on asthma because of its rapidly increasing prevalence, affecting up to one in four urban children. The symptoms of asthma, which can range from mild to life threatening, can usually be controlled with a combination of drugs and environmental changes. Between episodes, most patients feel well but can have mild symptoms and they may remain short of breath after exercise for longer periods of time than the unaffected individual. ![]() The airway constriction responds to bronchodilators. This airway narrowing causes symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. In children, the most common triggers are viral illnesses such as those that cause the common cold. These episodes may be triggered by such things as exposure to an environmental stimulant (or allergen) such as cold air, warm air, moist air, exercise or exertion, or emotional stress. Asthma Classification & external resources ICD-10Īsthma is a chronic condition involving the respiratory system in which the airway occasionally constricts, becomes inflamed, and is lined with excessive amounts of mucus, often in response to one or more triggers. ![]()
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