Asthma is a chronic airway disease that can affect individuals of all ages in the body, can be controlled with the right treatment, but when it cannot be controlled, it seriously limits daily activities, manifests itself with narrowing of the airways, progresses in attacks, and outside of the attack, the patient feels healthy. Asthma is a serious public health problem estimated to affect approximately 300 million people worldwide. It is estimated that 250,000 people die every year due to asthma.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF ASTHMA?
Asthma is characterized by recurrent, wheezing, cough (usually dry), especially at night or in the early morning hours. It is accompanied by airway hypersensitivity that causes attacks of shortness of breath and chest pressure. These attacks are reversible spontaneously or with treatment. Complaints may have seasonal characteristics.
WHO HAS ASTHMA? WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS?
The main personal risk factors that play a role in the emergence of asthma are genetics, male gender and obesity. If one of the parents has asthma, the probability of the child having asthma is 20-30%, whereas if both parents are asthmatic, the probability of the child having asthma increases to 60-70%. Environmental risk factors are allergens, infections, various substances that are occupationally exposed, cigarette smoke, indoor and outdoor air pollution and diet.
The most common respiratory system disease in industrialized countries is asthma. Smoking and exposure to smoke cause deterioration of lung functions in asthmatics and an increase in asthma complaints and severity. In children of mothers who smoke during pregnancy, the risk of developing a disease accompanied by wheezing in the first year is 4 times higher.
The connection between nutrition and especially breast milk and asthma has been extensively researched. It has been shown that children receiving breast milk have less wheezing disease than children receiving cow's milk and soy protein.
WHAT ARE THE FACTORS THAT TRIGGER THE SYMPTOMS OF ASTHMA?
With the correct treatment, asthmatic patients have almost no complaints. It does not happen, but from time to time, some environmental factors they encounter; shortness of breath, cough It causes symptoms such as dragging and wheezing to reappear. Sometimes, these complaints become so severe that the patient may have to go to the emergency room. These factors that cause symptoms are called triggers. Common triggers in asthma are as follows:
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Many allergens found at home or outside can trigger an asthma attack. The important ones are; pollens, house dust mites, mold spores, cockroaches, animal dander, some foods (such as milk, eggs, peanuts, fish, wheat, soy...)
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In people with asthma Respiratory infections are known to  trigger asthma attacks. Even a simple flu can trigger shortness of breath in individuals with asthma.
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Exposure to cigarette smoke both in childhood and adulthood causes asthma symptoms to appear.
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Some medications play an important role in the course of asthma.
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Asthma attacks increase with air pollution.
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Allergen in allergic individuals. Some food items (fish, shellfish, nuts, eggs, milk, bananas, etc.) can trigger asthma attacks as well as other allergic symptoms.
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Gastroesophageal reflux occurs when stomach contents accumulate. It leaks back into the esophagus.
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Stress and emotional changes can also cause asthma symptoms to appear. Excessive laughing and crying can stimulate the airways by causing frequent and deep breathing. Restlessness and anger can also trigger asthma symptoms.
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Exercise can also trigger asthma symptoms.
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Such as allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, nasal polyps. Chronic upper respiratory tract diseases can trigger asthma symptoms when not treated properly.
HOW IS ASTHMA TREATED?
The purpose of asthma treatment is to prevent microbial infections in the airways. The aim is to eliminate the narrowing due to non-inflammation and to enable the patient to breathe easily. Complete control of symptoms is often achieved through cooperation between the physician and the patient/family. Good evaluation and treatment of asthma, identification and treatment of accompanying diseases, medical The treatment must be closely monitored.
What are the drugs used in the treatment?
Since asthma is basically an airway disease, most of the drugs used are administered by airway. The medicine goes directly to the affected area, namely the airways. Thus, while benefit is obtained in small doses, side effects are minimized.
How to follow up asthma treatment?
Patients with asthma, such as hypertension and diabetes, should be regularly monitored by the physician. Every patient; The current treatment plan should be evaluated regularly to determine compliance with this treatment and the level of asthma control.
How often should a doctor be consulted?
The frequency of examinations and evaluations varies depending on the initial severity of asthma. Typically, patients should be evaluated 1-3 months after initial treatment is started and every 3 months thereafter.
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