Respiratory pathology (and III). Asthma (Txurruna)

Every day, when you get up and lie down, for ten minutes:

• Catch the air through the nose while extending the belly (as if air entered the tripod)
• Expel the air through the mouth, contracting as much as possible the belly. This exercise is done first lying down, then sitting and finally standing, always in the well ventilated room (opening the window).

Consultation with the doctor

All the asthmatic people I know are desperate with the disease and only seek to relieve discomfort. Is it possible to cure asthma?

Today it is possible to cure many forms of asthma, especially those due to allergic reaction. In these cases, when the substance that causes the crisis is known, a series of subcutaneous injection is administered (this is what is called desensitization), obtaining a definitive cure before or after.

However, the patient should be told to stop having relationships or contacts with this substance.

Other times it is not completely cured, but the periods of crisis, without symptoms, are prolonged. In many cases, the frequency of attacks decreases based on age (coinciding with the development of the child), while current medications have significantly improved the quality of life of asthmatic people.

People suffering from asthma tend to “cool down” in winter. Is it convenient to insert asthmatics against the hoarseness?

At present, doctors usually recommend vaccinations to asthmatics. In these patients a flu, or even a simple cataract or hoarseness (processes that generate little discomfort in normal people) can cause serious asthma crises. Although a few years ago the flu vaccines were doubtful, the current ones are of great utility to prevent asthma.

Why does it happen that many asthmatics have ports in certain seasons of the year and have no problem in the rest of the year?

In our environment there are many issues that can cause asthma attacks when allergic people breathe. In fact, at certain times of the year, the concentration of this substance in the atmosphere is usually higher. For this reason, people allergic to plant flowering only suffer from asthma crises in spring or summer. On the contrary, if the triggering factor of asthma is home dust, ports will occur continuously throughout the year or in certain circumstances (when a house that has been closed for a long time is adapted for holidays, for example) will increase.

Those who have asthma in my family are many. Is it pure chance or does asthma have any hereditary component?

Asthma usually appears in people with special tendencies. In the air we breathe there are issues that do not harm most people, but that can cause a serious crisis to an asthmatic patient. Undoubtedly, this trend is transmitted from parents to children, as well as the color of the eyes or hair, but the son or daughter of the asthmatic person will not necessarily be an evil.

Can the person with asthma do something to avoid attacks or at least the ports are so hard?

The asthmatic, when he perceives the crisis coming to him, must try to be as calm as possible. It is not advisable to open windows to “breathe better”, since the air, especially if it is cold, worsens the port. Breathe in a warm environment, taking air through the nose, as slow as possible, never through the mouth. We eject soft, long air as if we wanted to light the fire. If the port does not disappear, take medicines prescribed by the doctor, but note that in severe crisis situations the doctor is always necessary.

Asthmatic children are often of high season. Can these children do as much sport as their friends?

Sure! For asthmatic reasons for children and adolescents, sport should not be prohibited. It is true that physical effort can lead to an asthma crisis, but it is shown that if the child gets used to using the inhaler before doing sports, during exercise there will be no problem.

However, it must be taken into account that some sports generate asthma attacks in more than others. In this sense, swimming is highly recommended.

The worsened smoker often coughs, although with respiratory difficulty, and usually produces rare sounds or sounds. Is asthma?

Probably in these cases, more than asthma, it is a chronic bronchial disease caused by tobacco. If the person cools down, when passing the air finds in the form of inflamed bronchial obstacles and stacked mucus. This process is known as asmatiform bronchitis, since respiratory sounds are similar to those produced by the asthmatic, but both processes are not the same.

Do pollution in large cities and smoke from cigarettes favor the tendency to asthma attacks?

Yes, air pollution and cigarette smoke contain substances that irritate the mucosa of the bronchi and can cause asthma attacks in people who are predisposed. Many times the sensitivity of the patient is so large that he may be forced to change his work or residence.

Cortisone benefits asthmatics a lot, but doctors are always asking for them to be used with care. Why?

Cortisone relieves the discomfort of asthma, it is true. But in the long term it can become worse and can reduce the chances of prescribing other drugs. On the other hand, high doses of cortisone represent an important increase in weight (face like “full moon”). Other times acne appears, more hair appears throughout the body and the tension increases. In the long term, the most serious complication is bone decalcification, and as a result, fractures (suddenly, proper or by very small strokes). It is also common to see stomach pains and ulcers.

Therefore, cortisone is a good drug to use in a severe asthma attack, but in the long term it should not be used continuously by the mentioned problems.

What complications can asthma cause throughout your life?

In asthmatic children the deformations of the chest box (chest cage) are frequent. In adults, whose bones are not as elastic as children, the entire cage expands by forming a “chest in the barrel.” In some cases, ribs can be broken due to the strong explosions that asthmatics must make to expel mucosities. Asthma can cause delays in growth in children and greater facilities to get respiratory infections. Finally, a long-term asthma can bring more serious complications, such as pulmonary emphysema or heart disorders.

What is the goal of breathing exercises in asthmatic people?

These breathing exercises are very appropriate to relax and strengthen the chest muscles. Complete expulsion of air (maximizing diaphragm and abdominal muscles) is usually very effective in the treatment of asthma. Sometimes this type of gymnastics can be enough if the port of asthma is not very strong. The patient makes the most of his breathing capacity and abilities, avoiding the chest deformations that asthma usually brings in the long term. In young children, breathing gymnastics can also help correct deformities.

What is this about desensitization?

The substance that produces allergy is injected subcutaneously, increasing the dose progressively. Through this process, the patient is somehow “accustomed” to this external substance and at the end of the treatment there is no longer any allergy (and therefore no asthma).