bronchial asthma causes

Read and learn more about bronchial asthma causes. For more, visit the Asthma website MrAsthma.com

Q: May I ask if what is the cause of of Bronchial asthma?

A: Much of the cause may be due to genetics. There are studies that show a predisposition to sensitivity and therefore brochospasms. There is a chemical call leukotriene that is present in the lungs and the more sensitive you are to irritants the more leukotrienes the body produces this in turn triggers the swelling in the bronchial tubes for which asthmatics are noted.
You also have to take into consideration envirionmental factors such as the increasing amount of pollution in the atmosphere. Another factor is second hand smoke. Though a person may have the predisposition it takes a trigger to actually produce the reaction and induce the spasm. We are truly fortunate in that asthma is one of the most treatable diseases on the plant and due to the increased public awareness we are developing more varied and potent medication that help us to provided increased quality of life for our patients.

Q: what is acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma?
my husband had admitted to the hospital due to breathing trouble and severe cold. The discharge summary specifies that my hubby had diagnosed by acute exacerbation of bronical ashtma. due to expenses he stopped the treatment with that dr. what are the causes of the above bronchial asthma whether he has to continue the treatment or not?

A: Well, acute exacerbation means that suddenly, his chronic asthma worsened and became life-threateningly bad. That’s why they admitted him. What brought such a sudden change in his breathing? Only the two of you know that. Did he breath fumes from something? Was he doing more exercise than he is used to? Forget his inhaler or to take his medications?

Yes, he needs to continue seeing his doctor….I know it’s expensive, but he has to. If this happens again, he could very simply die. I had a friend die from a sudden asthma attack.

Q: Why do obstructive pulmonary diseases like asthma cause greater problem when expiring ?
In asthma bronchial spasm occurs in response to an allergen so theoretically a patient shud find it as hard to inspire as to expire but that is not the case seen practically.The patient faces a problem mainly while breathing out. Can someone tell me the cause behind this.

A: We all have a normal “reflex” in our bronchi, that decreases the lumen of them everytime we exhalate air….when there is inflamation and secretion of mucus, such as it happens in asthma, this reflex is exaggerated, bringing more of a “spasm” of the muscles of the bronchi….
So its dealt with, according to the cause (chronic infections, smoking, exposure to toxic substances like asbestos, allergies), and symptomatically, decreasing the inflamation, and dilating the bronchi, with special medications (terbutaline, ephedrine derivetives, amynophylline), and sntihistaminics and antagonist of the allergic response (if the cause is allergy) such as pralukast sodium astemizole etc…
So, as You see,normal inspiration by itself, normally DILATES the respiratory entrance (the portion surrounded by smooth involuntary muscle), and during expiration it NARROWS the outlet, because the exaggeration of the normal reflex we have cited in the beginning
Hope this wil clarify things a little bit, though..
Cheers

Q: Which is more dangerous with Asthma: bronchial constriction, or the inflammation?
I’m not sure which is more deadly, I do know that both combined is what causes the attack and it can be life-threatening and dangerous. However, what’s more dangerous, the actual constriction or the inflammation.

The inflammation really cannot be brought down by the emergency inhalers, and it can only be controlled with the long-term maintenance drugs.

However, wouldn’t the inflammation really be the key cause of Asthma and the most dangerous aspect of it? Being that it is responsible for being ultra-sensitive to anything and everything including triggers?

The bronchospasms and constriction would be to me a secondary reaction to the asthma, and can easily be reversed by medication, whereas the inflammation is harder and more long-term to treat.

What’s your take?

Also which drugs are more effective on the inflammation, and which drugs on the bronchoconstriction?

I’d assume prednisone would work better for the inflammation and albuterol for the constriction.

A: Luke, Asthma is a very complex condition that has many triggers. These triggers may be bronchospastic in nature or inflammatory.

The tricky thing about bronchospastic episodes is finding the trigger … is it intrinsic (within the body via various pathways) or extrinsic (via allergies … cold air … exercise … etc.).

Thus the huge range of drugs offered. Obviously, inflammatory response is going to be controlled by a steroid such as fluticasone, beclomethasone, etc. This is usually considered a maintenance drug and must be taken as prescribed. It will not give you relief on an emergency basis.
If you have a severe inflammatory response … off to the hospital and IV steroids will be necessry.

If you have a good response to your bronchodilators … you most likely have an bronchospastic component … not inflammatory (key word most likely) … this is called reactive airways disease ….

I like Xopenex for bronchodilation and Ipratropium Bromide (Atrovent) …

There are a few new steroids on the market that I havent used … so my experience for inflammatory response is Flovent (Fluticasone) …. I work strictly with neonates now so I am unaware of the efficacy of the new steroids ..

If you have repeatedly dosed yourself with the resue inhaler … and no response .. go to the ER …. Asthma can be DEADLY!

Q: bronchial pnemonia and asthma?
my granddaughter was diagnosed with asthma and bronchial pneomonia and was put on antibiotics. she is only 8 1/2 months old. can some one please explain what it is and what causes it? is it serious? is it contagious? will she always have asthma? i was near her will i get it?

A: Bronchial pneumonia is a bacterial infection of the bronchial tubes. She probably got it as a secondary infection from a cold. Because of the congestion in her bronchial tubes she also has asthma. Once the bronchial pneumonia has been cured with the antibiotics she will probably be tested for asthma to see if it was caused by the irritation of the bronchial pneumonia or if she actually has bronchial asthma.

Bronchial pneumonia generally is not contagious and you probably won’t get it.
Asthma is never contagious.

Q: asthma and bronchial pnemonia?
my granddaughter was diagnosed with asthma and bronchial pneomonia and was put on antibiotics. she is only 8 1/2 months old. can some one please explain what it is and what causes it? is it serious? is it contagious? will she always have asthma? i was near her will i get it?

A: Asthma is not contagious and can not be treated with antibiotics. Asthma causes the bronchioles (small tubes in your lungs) to have inflammation and cause the smooth muscle around them to constrict. This causes wheezing, shortness of breath, and/or coughing. Asthma can be serious, but if it’s controlled properly, shouldn’t cause any trouble. It is also common for many children to outgrow the disease, but that doesn’t always happen (like in my case).

There are many, many triggers for asthma. It can be exercise/sports induced (think of running a mile and not being able to catch your breath), caused by allergies, or be caused by anything from ibuprofen to breathing in very cold air. Everyone who has asthma can have different triggers. One person could be triggered by one thing, while the next person who has asthma could be unaffected by it.

Asthma is most commonly treated by “rescue inhalers” such as albuterol or ventilin (sp). These provide short term relief and are usually used when an attack is happening. More long term relief is provided by corticosteroids such as flovent, advair, etc among other kinds of drugs (including non-steroidal). These are taken daily and used to prevent attacks by decreasing the long-term inflammation in the lungs. Some of these can cause side effects, so it is important to weigh the risks (side effects) with the benefits (control of asthma).

Pneumonia is not highly contagious, but it can be contagious. I wouldn’t be worried unless you are immuno-compromised, smoke, or have any other major health problem involving the lungs or immune system.

Good luck!

Q: Can I take Albuterol for Asthma/Bronchitis if I am on Diltiazem(Cardizen) for Tachycardia(SVT)?
I was recently diagnosed with SVT (supraventricular tachycardia) and was prescribed Toprol XL (beta-blocker) to lower blood pressure and hence reduce riski of further SVTs’. I was told to avoid Albuterol because with beta-blockers it could cause bronchial spasms and worse. Now, Cardizen is a calcium channel blocker which relaxes blood vessels allowing the heart to beat slower and steadier. Would Albuterol still be contraindicated for bronchial/asthma symptoms?? I am still taking Flovent with no problems.

A: No, there are other bronchodialators that your doctor can give you.. and if they don’t want to prescribe them… there are other heart meds they can give you..

Q: Are asthma problems caused by chlorine common for swimmers?
I have been swimming competitively for two years and in the past few months, I have had asthma-like breathing problems everytime I get in the pool. I know it is brought on by the chlorine, and that it is my bronchial passageways swelling. When I run and bike I have no issues whatsoever. Is this common for swimmers? Should I just get an inhaler and keep swimming?

A: chlorine is probably the worst thing about pool swimming and a lot of people react negatively to it. I think there is a decent chance that there is a problem with the chlorination process in your pool. Ask your coach to check the levels and make sure everything is kosher with the water. It’s kind of odd that you are just now having issues with it. I would give up swimming if I had to rely on an inhaler of steroids to open up my airways.

Q: Symptoms that arent going away?
Im 13 years old and for the past say month are even more ive had every symptom under the sun. It started with a pain in my throat sorta like a lump was there. And then it started with heart palpitations, shortness of breathe, and tension headaches. Then muscle aches like everywhere. Today my neck is stiff are was stiff. I also had a bittter taste in my mouth sorta.and sometimes a burning feeling going up my throat. I havent had any fever are vomoting. I have bronchial asthma cause i have the rales along with that. Now it feels like heartburn in my throat sorta..im scared!
Can anyone help??
But i know part of what i have is anxiety related/Stress related..No chest pains right now..nothing at all just a wierd feeling in my neck chest area.!! i bet its mono.
Thanks, Ive been to the doctors maybe 2 weeks ago and they put me on anti-biotics…didnt do a thing ..i was devoloping an ear infection to. I think i may go to the doctors maybe tommorow are the next day. Im guessing its Anxiety are stress related..ive been worring so much

A: Tell your parents and have them take you to your doctor immediately.

Q: Is this feline herpes or feline asthma?
Adopted 6 month tabby from shelter. Noticed noisy breathing from bronchial area with rattly purring as he falls asleep. No runny nose, eyes, sneezing. Rarely has dry hacking cough. Shows no sign of illness. Breathing seems fast at times and vet heard slight lung congestion with inflamed throat & she said probably feline herpes. From all I read it doesn’t sound like herpes but asthma especially after I had scented candle burning and he got very congested and also gets worse when back from outside in the cold. Could asthma cause an inflamed throat and once in awhile one of eyes will get slightly inflamed but not runny? I thought herpes main symptom was sneezing and runny eyes and nose. He is very healthy except for his noisy breathing (not open-mouthed) that can worsen at times. Any ideas?

A: Herpes usually stays in the eyes. If it’s in the throat I’d suspect an upper respiratory, especially as animal shelters have this go through all their animals like wildfire.

If he runs around and doesn’t stop suddenly and breathe with an open mouth, it’s not asthma. The gums would also be white or blue if it was, as oxygen can’t get to the tissues.

You can get a bottle of Lysine (or L-lysine, same thing) from the vitamin section of the grocery store and crush a pill to put on his food once a day for a week. Any herpes virus causing problems will bond to the amino acid and be negated,clearing up the problem in the cat. I see fast results, usually in 3 days, with lysine. A cat dose is 250 to 500mg. It’s tasteless and the cat eats it fine, just don’t use the gel caps, that tastes awful. It’s a standard treatment for FIV+ cats who have the herpes eye issues, and we’ve found it reliable.

Is there any discharge from the nose? Clear water drop hanging there or mucus? That’s an upper respiratory.

Overall…..it could be both things, or just an upper resp. Hard to say. But if it is herpes, you can stop it with the lysine. I crush the pill with the back of a spoon, it’s easy to administer and a bottle of 60 pills in the generic format is only $4.

Q: I have a really bad cough and wheezing problem and it feels like there is something that needs to be cleared?
but never can be cleared. I just quit smoking on the 3ed of Oct. I am taking Primatene Tablets for Bronchial Asthma to loosen the fleem but I can’t stop coughing and wheezing and it is getting worse then it ever has been what can I do besides a doctor I have no insurance and what do you think may be causing it?

A: when you quit smoking your body starts clearing out your lungs and you cough up all kinds of interesting things. Most quitters don’t tell new quitters this part for some reason… it will go away once you’re all cleared out…

Q: What is the difference between an immune disorder and an autoimmune disease?
1.What is the difference between an immune disorder and an autoimmune disease?

A.When an immune disorder becomes very severe, it becomes an autoimmune disease.
B.An immune disorder occurs when the immune system does not function properly. An autoimmune disease occurs when the body’s immune system attacks its own cells.
C.An immune disorder is the overreaction of the immune system to substances that are not dangerous. An autoimmune disease occurs when germs affect the immune system.
D.An immune disorder is a disease caused by germs, such as pollen or dust. An autoimmune disease occurs when the body’s immune system attacks its own cells.
2.An allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to

A.dust.
B.a substance in the environment.
C.carbohydrates in food.
D.an autoimmune disease.
3.During an asthma attack, the

A.bronchial airways narrow and become clogged with mucus.
B.bronchial airways constrict in response to environmental stimuli.
C.lining of the air passages swell and become inflamed.
D.All of the above
4.All of the following are good steps to take to avoid an allergic reaction except

A.avoiding substances you are allergic to.
B.washing sheets and blankets weekly.
C.cleaning bathrooms and kitchens to avoid molds.
D.taking long-term control drugs every day.
5.Which of the following is not an example of an autoimmune disease?

A.rheumatoid arthritis
B.type 1 diabetes
C.multiple sclerosis
D.AIDS
6.Most allergies and autoimmune diseases can be

A.prevented.
B.treated with medication.
C.eliminated with stress management techniques.
D.reduced by avoiding allergens.
7.Which of the following suggestions is not an important step to take if you are diagnosed with an immune or autoimmune disease?

A.Follow your treatment plan without asking any questions.
B.Let your doctor know if new symptoms occur.
C.Be honest with your doctor.
D.Learn about medications and medical tests necessary for your condition
8.Match the following terms to their definitions.
1.itchy swellings on the skin caused by allergies to foods or certain drugs
2.an autoimmune disease in which the immune system begins to destroy the linings of the joints
3.a disease in which the immune system attacks the cells of the body that it would normally protect
4.a disorder that causes the airways to become narrow and clogged with mucus
5.a disease in which the joints of the skeleton wear out as a person ages

A.rheumatoid arthritis
B.autoimmune disease
C.asthma
D.hives
E.osteoarthritis

A: Do your own homework.

You – FAIL

Q: Can stress lead to an asthma attack?
Ok, last night I had an astham attack. I have bronchial astham. It was in the lower 50s upper 40s where I was at and my doctors tell me the cold weather and fall air will irritate my asthma but I had a very stressful week and time before. Like my ex girlfriend has been going around telling people I am dating a special ed girl and the school whore and even told both girls that I liked them so now the girls have been telling people I like them, I lost a bunch of friends this week because they turned out to be fake, my brother has tormented me about everything the whole week and has tried to get me thrown out of the house and around the time of the asthma attack I was under a ton of stress because my friends were fighting and a couple of other friends kept cussing at me and teasing me. So can stress cause an asthma attack or what?

A: I have a three year old daughter with asthma, no allergies. In fact, she never has attacks at all…except whenever she gets worked up and starts to have a tantrum (and occasionally when it is humid out), the doctor calls it stress induced asthma. Obviously, you are probably well past tantrum stage but stress effects you nonetheless and is absolutely capable of triggering an attack. I am not sure about the science of it exactly but probably when you are upset, your body takes in more air and somehow overwhelms asthmatic lungs. Anyway, she takes Singulair for maintenance and it works really well.

Q: Under developed lungs?
If a child is born, non-prematurely at 36 weeks, and is healthy weight, but has trouble breathing and has to be put on a breathing tube for awhile, then later on in their teen years, develops chronic bronchial asthma, what could be the cause? COPD? Chronic lung disease? Lung cancer? Just curious. Thanx

A: It’s unlikely that the earlier respiratory problems brought on or influnenced the development of asthma. Emphysema and Bronchitis are forms of COPD, both often occur together, but COPD and asthma are different. Although people can and often do suffer Asthma and COPD together.
The term lung disease refers to many disorders affecting the lungs. Asthma is a iung disease. So is COPD, influenza, pneumonia, tuberculosis, lung cancer, and many other breathing problems. Lung cancer and Asthma are two seperate diseases.

Terry

Q: Can you be allergic to pot and cigarettes?
I smoke pot and cigarettes and when i start to run i have to use a bronchial inhaler. does that mean i have asthma. or is it the smoking that is causing me to have to use an inhaler? it’s a primatene inhaler you can buy at any grocery store for allergys. I have never been diagnosed with asthma.

A: To answer your topic question; yes you can be allergic to marijuana as well as cigarettes. I personally am allergic to cigarettes. When I am around someone or a group of people who are smoking cigarettes, my eyes water, i get short of breath and i eventually get a serious headache. However, those aren’t the symptoms you are describing.
You are not allergic to cigarettes or pot, you are suffering from the side effects of smoking these things. As you may know, these substances are horrible to your lungs thus affecting your breathing.
My advice is to stop before you suffer from something far worse than breathing troubles.

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