Allergic Asthma, the most important and potentially fatal disease among the allergic diseases we frequently hear about today, will be encountered more frequently in the future. Allergic asthma develops due to damage caused by allergens to the channels we call bronchi, which form the airways inside our lungs. Asthma is an airway disease accompanied by shortness of breath, which often occurs in attacks as a result of narrowing of the bronchi, wheezing with a feeling of tightness in the chest, and consecutive cough.
HOW IS ASTHMA IN ADULTS GIVEN NAMES
Allergic asthma is becoming an increasing problem for many people, especially with city life, and its frequency is increasing day by day. The biggest cause of asthma in adults, as in other ages, is contact with allergens. When we say this percentage is asthma, we sometimes think of allergic asthma, which is up to 80%. Apart from this, attacks may occur as a result of encountering irritating stimuli containing chemical substances such as dust, paint, perfume, detergents, or as a result of an infection. Allergic asthma is sometimes also called allergic bronchitis, spastic bronchitis, asthma. Asthma, which is usually caused by allergies, is called allergic asthma.
WHAT IS THE FREQUENCY OF ASTHMA IN ADULTS?
Although asthma varies according to various regions of the world, it affects approximately 300 million of the world's population. It is predicted to be a serious public health problem. In our country, it can be seen in approximately 5-7 of every 100 adults, that is, one in 10 people. Air pollution or regional differences in the environment we live in change these rates, and it seems to be becoming a more serious problem day by day, especially for those living in cities.
Although asthma usually presents as shortness of breath, wheezing and cough, sometimes it is just a recurring cough that does not go away. It may come out. This condition, which occurs with cough, is actually a type of asthma. Allergic asthma may sometimes occur only when the patient encounters allergens such as house dust, pollen, cat, dog or latex that disturb the patient; in other cases, there may be no complaints. lyre. Therefore, asthma complaints can progress slowly and turn into permanent asthma over time. In fact, considering these patients, asthma may occur more frequently than we know.
CAN ASTHMA IN ADULTS BE PREVENTED?
Asthma is actually caught at the stage of allergic rhinitis or hay fever. can be prevented. Although it is not possible to get rid of asthma completely once it occurs, it is a disease that can be treated. Allergic patients, especially those with allergic rhinitis complaints such as runny nose, sneezing, itching, and congestion, can be treated before they develop asthma. Unfortunately, as high as 40% of patients with allergic rhinitis develop asthma in the future. Runny nose turns into nasal congestion and then postnasal drip. This process continues with cough and finally ends as asthma with complaints of shortness of breath and wheezing, especially if there is asthma in the family. While allergic rhinitis is treated more easily in its stage, patients with allergic asthma can live their lives no different from other adults as a result of treatment. Asthma symptoms can be eliminated. For this reason, asthma is not a fearful disease that can be treated by adult allergists trained in treatment before or after it occurs.
WHY DOES ALLERGIC ASTHMA OCCUR?
Allergic asthma It is a common disease in adults in Turkey as well as in the world. Allergy is an impaired, exaggerated and harmful immune response that occurs as a result of a genetic predisposition in a person and the contribution of environmental factors. Depending on the response of our airways inside our lungs to allergens, the disease we call allergic asthma occurs. The most common symptoms of allergic asthma are frequent cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Asthma has many causes other than allergens. Air pollution and chemicals in the environment cause asthma in the same way. Precautions can also be taken depending on the answer to the question of how asthma occurs. Therefore, this article will provide important information that can help all asthmatic patients.
As in all allergic diseases, the most important cause of allergic asthma is genetics. Genetic and environmental Unfortunately, both factors together cause us to have asthma. Having asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema in the mother and/or father increases the risk of developing asthma.
The most important risk factor for allergic asthma is having an atopic structure. In other words, the person has a genetic tendency to develop allergies. Patients with an allergic structure produce antibodies, which we call IgE, against allergens in the environment later in life, and these antibodies then cause damage to the small airways in our lungs. As an indicator of this, the presence of allergic rhinitis is an important risk factor for the development of asthma in this patient. Some of the environmental factors include allergens, respiratory infections, smoking, air pollution and obesity.
Air pollution can cause asthma
Especially traffic, construction industry and Industrial air pollution can damage the lungs and cause asthma. Some occupational allergens can cause asthma, especially in bakers, carpenters or healthcare workers exposed to latex.
Diet is a factor affecting the development of asthma
Natural nutrition, Mediterranean type diet. It is reported that dietary patterns such as these are protective against asthma, and that fast food type nutrition, which contains many preservatives and additives, also causes the development of asthma.
What causes asthma?
Allergens, occupation, smoking, air pollution, respiratory infections, parasitic infections, socioeconomic status, family size, diet, medications and obesity are the most common causes.
What are the reasons that cause asthma attacks or persistence of complaints?
Allergens inside the house or outside, air pollution, respiratory infections, exercise, hyperventilation, air changes, sulfur dioxide, foods, additives, medications, Psychological factors, smoking, irritants are the first things that come to our mind.
WHAT ARE ALLERGIC ASTHMA COMPLAINTS IN ADULTS?
Allergic asthma, which occurs in adult patients, develops especially at night and in the morning and is recurrent. characteristic, persistent, lasting more than 3 weeks It is characterized by cough attacks, a feeling of tightness in the chest, and wheezing attacks of shortness of breath.
The most important complaint of allergic asthma, shortness of breath, occurs in attacks and it is typical for it to wake the patient up, especially at night. The patient generally does not complain of shortness of breath between attacks. Some of the patients can continue their normal lives during the day as their complaints of shortness of breath decrease and disappear. However, in many of them, shortness of breath may become permanent and disrupt the patient's quality of life, causing constant awakenings at night, loss of work capacity, visits to the emergency department, and hospitalization.
CAN A SYMPTOM OF ASTHMA BE JUST COUGH?
strong>Asthmatics do not necessarily have shortness of breath. There are forms of asthma that also occur with cough. Asthma should be considered as a possible diagnosis, especially when there are complaints of cough that comes at night and wakes the patient up from sleep, or cough that comes on with exertion. Patients who complain of cough, especially with exertion and chemical irritants, may sometimes restrict their lives, but asthma may continue to progress despite these restrictions. Asthma is among the first causes of chronic cough complaints. Other causes that cause patients to complain of cough should be excluded after a complete systemic examination. The most common causes of chronic cough in adults are post nasal drip syndrome (PNAS), asthma, and gastroesophageal reflux (GER). Asthma, Postnasal drip and Gastroesophageal reflux are responsible for 93% of chronic cough seen in adult patients. Almost all of the chronic cough complaints in people who do not smoke, do not use antihypertensive medication (angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor), and have normal chest radiography develop due to these diseases. However, we need to know that many diseases, from rheumatic diseases to heart diseases, affect the lungs. Therefore, after a complete physical examination and evaluation, each patient should be tested for allergic asthma associated with cough. Cough complaints, like other complaints, should be evaluated by internal medicine doctors and then allergy-related allergies should be evaluated. Examinations should be performed by specialists.
The cause of all these complaints is hypersensitivity in the respiratory tract. These attacks are triggered by contact with allergens or irritants such as dust, smoke, odors and exercise. Attacks return. In the early stages of asthma, the patient does not have any complaints or examination findings between attacks. As permanent damage increases in the later stages of asthma, asthma complaints begin to become permanent.
WHEN SHOULD ADULTS CONSIDER THE MAY HAVE ALLERGIC ASTHMA?
Allergic asthma affects many people, especially with city life. It is becoming an increasing problem for people and its frequency is increasing day by day. Although allergy asthma can be noticed early by patients, sometimes there are difficulties in making the diagnosis.
Many allergic patients actually need to see a doctor when their complaints progress. However, if allergic asthma patients consult allergists when they have complaints of runny nose, congestion, itching and sneezing, which we call allergic rhinitis or hay fever, perhaps 40% of asthma will be prevented. Asthma, as is known, is seen together in 40%and 60%of patients with allergic rhinitis, recurrent sinusitis (nasal polyps). >
In what situations should we consider that we may have allergic asthma? If the answers to the following questions are yes, you may have allergic asthma
- Have you heard wheezing or whistling in your chest in the last year?
- Have you woken up at night with an attack of shortness of breath at any time in the last year?
- Have you woken up with a cough attack at any time during the night in the last year?
- Have you woken up with a feeling of tightness in your chest at any time in the last year?
- Any Have you ever had an attack of shortness of breath following a strenuous exercise?
- Have you ever had an attack of shortness of breath while at rest during the day?
- Do you feel well after any attack? Are your complaints constant?
If you answered "yes" to one of these questions, were your complaints less or absent at home, away from work, or while traveling? The question is your complaints
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