Bronchial Asthma: A Respiratory Problem

The asthma caused due to respiratory or breathing problem is called as bronchial asthma. The patients of bronchial asthma have symptoms like cough, difficulty in breathing, chest discomfort, wheezing etc. Those patient who have previous respiratory condition that becomes severe and persistent, can also suffer from bronchial asthma. This causes permanent obstruction in the respiratory tract and can be no longer effective in clearing the airways blocked with mucus. Since the same symptoms can be generated by the conditions like emphysema, chronic bronchitis, it is very difficult to diagnose and judge the appropriate symptoms of bronchial asthma. Most often, clinical examinations are unable to distinguish these symptoms. Therefore, bronchial asthma can be effectively identified through the means of laboratory tests and careful physical examinations.

Among the other chronic pulmonary diseases, the most common respiratory condition is the bronchial asthma. It causes inflammation and irritation of the respiratory tracts. The organs like mucous membrane, bronchial tubes and several other tissues and organs that have some connection with the breathing process, are inflamed when the patients are exposed to irritants like dust, pollen, chemicals or infection with viruses. However, body has certain natural defenses against these infections but sometimes they are not much effective and the external agents enter easily into the body.

Bronchial asthma is generally caused due to prolonged exposure to external irritants. In addition, factors like weak immune system, hyperactivity of the respiratory tract, and severe childhood respiratory conditions facilitate the development of bronchial asthma. To some extent, virus and bacteria also cause inflammation and infection. The respiratory organs have some features to stop these external agents. The bronchial tubes produce a protective substance called mucus that protects the respiratory organs. In addition, the bronchial tubes along with mucous membrane and other soft tissues are enclosed with cilia, hair-like substances that prevent irritants and viruses from reaching inside the lungs. These mechanisms of body are not much effective at the time of prolonged exposure to external agents, which enables the air borne particles and others to penetrate these defenses. The bronchial tubes when exposed to external particles produce an excess of mucus that block the airways and stop the breathing process.

The patients with bronchial asthma are mostly given medical treatments in the form of steroids and inhaler. These medicines contain antibiotics in it. They are also called bronchodilators and are very much useful in decongesting the blocked airways with mucus. The patients of bronchial asthma are strongly advised to keep themselves away from external irritants like smoke, dust, chemicals, pollutants, alcohol vapors etc.