T
Taj For DoctorsTaj Doctor
home

About Us

Taj Brands

Diseases Health Tips  HIV/AIDS News Contact Us


  All News
  Allergy
  Asthma
>>Diagnose Asthma
  Cardiology
  Clinical Research
  Critical Care
  Dentistry
  Dermatology
  Endocrinology
  Gastroenterology
  General
  Genetics / Biotech
  Men's Health
  Infectious Diseases
  Fitness/Lifestyle
  Nephrology
  Neurology
  Oncology/Haematology
  Ophthalmology
  Orthopaedics
  Otolaryngology
  Paediatrics
  Psychiatry
  Reproductive Health
  Respiratory Medicine
  Surgery
  Sex
  Urology
  Women's Health
Asthma
How can we diagnose Asthma ? Click Here
An asthma attack leads to lung infection, tiredness and cough and it is not surprising that asthma is a leading medical cause of absenteeism of children from school and adults from work The attack can be seasonal when the pollen count is high in the atmosphere. An attack of asthma leads to breathing difficulties and the attack can be acute when it lasts for a short period or chronic when it lasts for days. The attack can also be mild or severe and a life threatening one. 

The conservative estimates are that about 300 million people are suffering from the condition worldwide. In India, there are approx. 40 million who have the disease and the number is rising everyday. In recent decade there has been a global increase in the burden of the disease among both children and adults. This maybe due to westernization of lifestyles and increasing atmospheric pollution. By 2025.there are likely to be 400 million asthma sufferers worldwide. The more worrying aspect of the disease is that it accounts for about 1 in every 250 deaths worldwide and 90% of these deaths are preventable. Most deaths are due to delay in seeking help and sub-optimal long-term treatment strategies due to the lack of education and awareness about the disease. 
General Info:::
Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world. Perhaps the most commonly discussed respiratory disease after the common cold. The word asthma is derived from a Greek work meaning 'breathlessness or panting" both of which accurately describe an attack of asthma.
"Among the Diseases whereby the Region of the breath is wont to be infested, if you regard their tyranny and cruelty, an Asthma (which is sometimes by reason of a peculiar symptom denominated likewise an Orthopnoea) doth not deserve the last place; for there is scarce any thing more sharp and terrible than the fits there of Breathing, whereby we chiefly live, is very much hindered by the assault of this disease, and is in danger, or runs the risk of being quite taken away."
-Thomas Willis, 1674
An asthma attack leads to lung infection, tiredness and cough and it is not surprising that asthma is a leading medical cause of absenteeism of children from school and adults from work The attack can be seasonal when the pollen count is high in the atmosphere. An attack of asthma leads to breathing difficulties and the attack can be acute when it lasts for a short period or chronic when it lasts for days. The attack can also be mild or severe and a life threatening one. 
What happens to the lungs in Asthma ?
Answer:- Asthma is a condition in which the airways of the lungs become either narrowed or completely blocked, obstructing normal breathing. This obstruction of the lungs, however, is reversible, either spontaneously or with medication. That is why asthma is technically called Reversible Obstructive Airway Disease (ROAD). The basic abnormality causing asthma is the hyper responsive reaction of the body to specific and non-specific stimuli.
Air reaches the lung through the windpipe (trachea), which divides into two large tubes (bronchi), one for each lung. Each bronchi further divides into many little tubes (bronchioles), which eventually lead to tiny air sacs (alveoli), in which oxygen from the air is transferred to the bloodstream, and carbon dioxide from the bloodstream is transferred to the air. Although the airways normally have the potential for constricting in response to allergens or irritants, the asthmatics airways are more prone to constriction due to increased response to allergens. This insult makes the airways more prone to infection leading to inflammation and swelling causing further constriction of the pipes. Infection also causes increased mucus production and this clogs the narrowed airways.
Once the airways have become obstructed, it takes more effort to force air through them and breathing becomes labored. This forcing of air through constricted airways can make a whistling sound, called wheezing. Irritation of the airways by excessive mucus may also provoke coughing. Because exhaling through the obstructed airways is difficult, too much stale air remains in the lungs after each breath. This decreases the amount of fresh air which can be taken in with each new breath, so not only is there less oxygen available for the whole body, but more importantly, the high concentration of carbon dioxide in the lungs causes the blood supply to become acidic. This acidity in the blood may rise to toxic levels if the asthma remains untreated.
What are the factors that can trigger an attack of asthma?
Answer:- Asthma episodes can be triggered by a variety of factors, most notably: allergens, Infections, environmental pollutants or non-specific stimuli such as exercise and emotional states.  Between 50 and 70 per cent of adults with asthma suffer from allergies. In children under three years of age, viral infections are likely to be the most common trigger. After three years, allergies also begin to play an increasing role as a trigger.  After 20 years of age, occupational exposure to toxic substances and allergens also can be important triggers for asthma.
Common Allergens In Asthma
Foods: Nuts, peanuts, chocolate, eggs, citrus fruits, milk
Plants or plant products: Pollens, grasses, mold spores
Animal or insect materials: Dust mites, animal dangers, feathers, canine or feline saliva Numerous scientific studies have shown that avoidance of specific allergens in patients with asthma who have been previously sensitized will result in improved asthma symptoms and decreased medication requirements
Anatomy of an asthma attack
When the respiratory system is working properly, the air we breathe passes in and out of the lungs through a network of airways. But for people with asthma, even a minor irritant will set off an immune response that can shut down the airways. Asthmatic symptoms are usually quite variable, someone with asthma may go for periods of time without symptoms, and then suddenly have severe episodes for days at a time. The most common symptom is wheezing.
Disclaimer - The contents of this site are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of a qualified physician for any doubts. 
 

         Copyright © 2004- 2006 TAJ Pharmaceuticals Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Site Requirements : Internet Explorer 5.0+ or Netscape 5.0+, Flash Player 5.0 & Real Player 8 Basic
To get in touch with us, call on 91-22-2637 4592, 91--22-2637 4593 or fax us at 91-22-2634 1274 

Terms and Conditions | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Sitemap | Feedback | FAQ