Basic Categories of Asthma
Categories of Asthma: How It Varies and How to Manage It
Asthma is a long-lasting health problem that leads to issues with breathing due to swelling and narrowing of the airways. It also causes mucus production in the airways which can result in wheezing, shortness of breath and coughing. Asthma can range from mild, requiring minimal or no medical intervention, to severe and potentially life-threatening.
Health experts categorize chronic asthma into four types from mild intermittent to severe persistent. The type of asthma is determined by numerous factors like frequency and severity of symptoms and the results of tests like spirometry or a peak flow meter. There are also different terminologies used for acute asthma condition, also known as an asthma attack, and different subtypes or phenotypes of asthma.
Understanding Chronic Asthma
Chronic asthma, a longer-term lung disease, has varying degrees of severity:
• Mild intermittent asthma: Symptoms occur up to two days per week and flare-ups at night may happen twice per month.
• Mild persistent asthma: Symptoms arise more than two days per week, but not daily. Nighttime flare-ups can happen three to four times per month.
• Moderate persistent asthma: Symptoms occur daily and flare-ups may last days, impacting daily activities. Sleep can be interrupted at night at least once per week.
• Severe persistent asthma: This rare but serious form of chronic asthma causes daily symptoms and nighttime awakenings can occur up to seven times per week.
Medical practitioners base the severity and control of your asthma on the frequency of your symptoms and your lung functionality by using tools like spirometry and peak flow meter tests.
Addressing Acute Asthma
Also known as an “asthma attack”, acute asthma refers to a sudden worsening of symptoms which could include coughing, wheezing, increased shortness of breath and chest tightness. These attacks could be life-threatening, requiring immediate medical attention and potential hospitalization.
Various terms may also be used to define acute asthma flares:
• Acute severe asthma: A sudden onset of severe symptoms throughout the day which could be life-threatening if untreated.
• Life threatening asthma: A significant drop in blood oxygen or a high level of carbon dioxide can cause this acute asthma exacerbation.
• Near-fatal asthma: This refers to symptom exacerbation that could be fatal without immediate medical attention.
Understanding Asthma Subtypes
There are several subtypes of asthma that provide insight into your specific condition and guide possible treatments:
• Nocturnal asthma: Symptoms occur at night and can cause sleep disturbances.
• Occupational asthma: This type of asthma develops as a result of regular exposure to substances at your place of work.
• Allergic asthma: If you have allergies, you may be at a higher risk of developing asthma.
• Nonallergic asthma: This is a non-allergy-induced type of asthma that often develops later in life.
• Exercise-induced asthma: Occurs during or after exercise.
• Eosinophilic asthma: This severe type of chronic asthma is caused by an increase of eosinophil blood cells which may inflame and damage lung tissues.
Asthma Treatment Goals
The primary goals for treating asthma are to improve symptoms, reduce the risk of hospitalization and loss of lung function, and minimize side effects from medications. This often involves regular assessments of symptoms, lung function monitoring, adjustment of medications if required, education, and discussions around trigger avoidance.
Different individuals may require different treatments, depending on the severity of the symptoms. Those with mild intermittent asthma may only need a rescue inhaler for symptom relief, while those with persistent asthma generally require chronic control medications. It is essential for everyone with asthma to have immediate access to a fast-acting inhaled bronchodilator for quick symptom relief.
People with mild persistent asthma may be prescribed a low dose of an inhaled corticosteroid medication. If you have exercise-induced asthma, you may be instructed to use your rescue inhaler before exercise to prevent symptoms.
Conclusion
Regardless of the type of asthma, it is crucial to educate yourself about your condition for better symptom management. Regular check-ups, following the treatment plan prescribed by your doctor, and having an asthma action plan for emergencies are key steps towards managing this chronic condition.