DISEASE: ASTHMA

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The asthma onset is, asthma has slowly but surely been increasing in its incidence over ‎the last few decades, until it can be said without exaggeration to have reached epidemic status in ‎many countries, with one in four children now diagnosed to have it some degree in certain ‎industrialized societies. Asthma is not an inconvenience. It is potentially lethal condition that has ‎no cure, only medication to lessen the severity and number of attacks. There are thousands of ‎deaths annually as a direct or indirect result of asthma. Many are preventable. Asthma is ‎responsible for more admissions of children to hospitals than any other condition and is the ‎greatest reason for schooldays lost. These deaths are not generally happening because the asthma ‎is untreated. Statistics show that in some countries asthma medications are now the second ‎largest category of prescriptions dispensed, so conventional medicine trying its best.    

         ‎ Definition of asthma is a condition where the sufferer has difficulty breathing. The word ‎asthma is derived from the Greek word meaning panting or breathing hard. Wheezing and ‎shortness of breath are the most obvious symptoms during an attack. The commonly seen type of ‎asthma is bronchial asthma. It is caused by a narrowing of the passages that carry air from the ‎throat to the lungs. This narrowing can be due to muscle contraction, local inflammation or the ‎production of excess mucus. The result is the same; difficulty in breathing. Wheezing is often ‎heard as the asthmatic person breathes out. Another, uncommon, type of asthma is called cardiac ‎asthma. It is symptoms of heart disease, where the heart is not pumping the blood around the ‎body strongly enough to deliver sufficient oxygen to the muscles. The body’s response is to try ‎to increase the uptake of oxygen by bringing more air into the lungs; a feeling of breathlessness ‎results. Cardiac asthma should be treated by medical practitioners.‎ ‎ ‎

                Normally, air enters the body through the nose or mouth. It travels through larynx (voice ‎box) and enters the trachea (windpipe). The windpipe divides into two main branches. These ‎branches are called bronchial tubes. One branch goes into left lung. The other goes into right ‎lung. In the lung, the bronchial tubes divide into smaller tube, or bronchioles. They deliver ‎oxygen throughout the lungs. A thin layer of mucus coats the inner walls of the airways and ‎helps to cleanse the air. ‎

During an asthma attack, several things happen. The muscles surrounding the air tubes ‎tighten. This is called bronchospasm. The air linings of the air tubes become inflamed. When ‎something is inflamed, it may red, hot or swollen. These two events narrow the opening of the ‎airways. In addition, mucus productions increase. This sticky liquid plugs up airways. All this ‎stop or slow the flow of air in and out of the lungs. Breathing becomes difficult, and the ‎individual begins to labor for breath. In a typical attack the sufferer will first feel tightness in the ‎chest and then will have to gasp for air. The sufferer may feel a need for fresh air and may try to ‎open all doors and windows. In a severe attack the brain will not be receiving enough oxygen to ‎function properly and the asthmatic may become muddled or disoriented. Most attacks are mild ‎and will last no more than an hour. ‎

‎          ‎ Triggers are the substances or circumstances that cause an asthma attack. Many people ‎with asthma attack react to more than one trigger. Some common triggers are viral infections, ‎allergens environmental irritant, weather, emotions, and exercise. These are more than two ‎hundred viruses that can cause colds, influenza (the flu), and sinus infections. These viruses are ‎often very contagious. Children in school are likely to catch four to eight colds a year. When a ‎person with asthma catches a cold, the immune systems often overreact, causing an asthma ‎episode. “ Some winters we have terrible viruses, “ says a hospital nurse, "and even people with ‎mild cases of asthma who regularly take good care of themselves can get sick and land in the ‎hospital. "

‎          ‎ The most frequent triggers for people with asthma is exposure to an allergen. An allergen ‎is something a person comes into contact with that triggers inflammation. A person is said to be ‎allergic to something if his or her body reacts to it by breathing, touching, smelling, or eating it. ‎When a person with allergies breathes in an allergen, his or her immune system considers it an ‎enemy, and takes action against it. IgE antibodies develop to fight the invader. Mast cells rally to ‎secret their chemicals. The person’s airways swell, thicken with mucus, and become constricted ‎by bronchial muscle spasms. Many people with allergies, but not all people with allergies have ‎asthma. Each time a person undergoes an allergic reaction, she or he becomes more allergic to the ‎allergen, making the symptoms worse the next time. People with asthma can be allergic to foods ‎such as peanuts, tree nuts (cashews, walnuts, and pecans), fish, wheat, soy, eggs, and milk ‎products ‎. People with asthma have chronically inflamed airways. Their airways become very ‎sensitive to things that do not bother other people. An experts are not really sure causes this ‎inflammation. Asthma and allergies often go together. A person can have allergies but not ‎asthma. Likewise, people can have asthma but not allergies. However, at least 80 percent of ‎children and 50 percent of adults with asthma also have allergies.‎

‎          ‎ Several clinical types of asthma are recognized, although the pathological appearances ‎are similar. Firstly, allergic (extrinsic asthma) in atopic patients. Onset usually in childhood and ‎may persist into adulthood, although remission in adolescence is common. Associated with ‎allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis (eczema). Second, occupational asthma due to exposure to ‎chemical sensitizers at work. Unrelated to atopic status. Some occupational asthma occurs in ‎atopic subjects due to allergen exposure at work. Third, non-allergic (intrinsic) asthma is onset in ‎adults (late onset asthma). Often associated with perennial non-allergic rhinitis. Accounts for ‎approximately 10% of adult asthma. There is a special type of intrinsic asthma in which the ‎patient is exquisite sensitive to aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ‎.‎ Other explanation of occupational asthma is asthma that starts as a result of something in ‎the workplace and the people do not come against anywhere else. A good example of ‎occupational asthma is that caused by fumes from soldering work in the electronics industry. ‎

                Few babies are with asthma but it can develop at any time of life although it usually does ‎so in childhood rather than in adult years. Asthma is seldom serious in infants but tends to ‎become more severe through childhood, generally worsening around 8-14 years old. Males are ‎more likely more develop to develop asthma from female, for reasons that not understood at ‎present. The most common cause of an infant is a virus infection, but in children up to teenage ‎years house dust and pets do the damage, followed at adulthood by pollens and molds. Over 45 ‎years of age, chemical based irritants, infections and cold airs take over as primary cause of ‎asthma.‎

                The pattern of childhood asthma often changes in adolescence, as a child may simply ‎grow out of the complaint during his or her teenage years. This is not always the case through, ‎and children who has asthmatic are always at higher risk of having attack during adult life if ‎exposed to a sufficiency strong trigger. For minority asthmatic children, about one in five, the ‎asthma will in fact worsen throughout adolescence and into adulthood. ‎

                A typical asthmatic will more than likely have had an early medical history of frequent ‎colds, allergic condition, sinusitis, hay fever, eczema, bronchial complaints, influenza and low ‎resistance to a range of disease. This is to be expected if asthma is linked to the immune system. . ‎Having said that, there are plenty of cases where adults have suddenly developed asthma ‎without any prior warning. The onset is often linked to some change in their circumstances, such ‎as moving house or changing jobs, which bring them in contact with an allergen that they had not ‎been exposed to before. Attacks of asthma have been found to be more common during puberty, ‎times of emotional stress, menstruation, pregnancy and menopause, all of which point to ‎emotional or hormonal factors playing a part. Asthma is more likely to occur if the person is ‎fatigued under or is undertaking strenuous physical activity.  ‎ ‎     ‎

‎          ‎ This is true story about who suffered from asthma. Miles, a thirteen year old, can still ‎clearly remember the night, ten years ago, when he woke up and could not breathe. “I felt ‎something heavy on my chest and I remember trying to push it off. I could not inhale or exhale. ‎It was so scary, I felt like I was in shock. I panicked. Now I know that when you get that ‎worried, it makes it worse.” The “it” Miles describe is his disease, asthma. That night, Miles was ‎brought to the hospital for treatment. After that night, life changed for Miles and his family. The ‎doctors said that Miles allergies had set off his asthma.‎

‎                Allergies are a negative reaction that the body has in response to substances called ‎allergens. Some common allergens are mold, pollen, air pollution, cigarette smoke, and dust.  ‎When the family went home, they cleaned the house as best they could. But Miles never seemed ‎to stay healthy for long. He caught frequent colds that often developed into painful pneumonia, ‎which would then trigger the asthma. So while his sister, Ramona played outside, Miles often sat ‎inside, breathing medicine through his nebulizer (a device that helps him breathe). They would ‎later discover that because they lived in an area that was dark and damp, mold was growing ‎underneath the carpets. The family eventually moved to a different home. Though his health did ‎improve, Miles was still left out many activities that other children enjoyed. In the spring and fall ‎when pollen counts were high, Miles allergies would trigger to asthma. Like many children with ‎his disease, Miles has missed a lot of school. In fact, in the United States, all the children who ‎has asthma together miss more than 14 million days of school each year. On the days Miles did ‎attend school, he was no stranger to the nurse’s office. During recess, he would lose energy ‎running around. Frequently, he retreated to the swings to sit and watch the other kids play. ‎

‎           ‎ After one particularly bad year, Miles and his parents visited an allergy specialist to see if ‎he had an allergy they did not already know about. The doctor gave Miles several allergy tests ‎and his suggestions help Miles and his families to better manage his disease. Armed with more ‎knowledge about his asthma, his health improved. He even played on a roller hockey team. Now ‎that Miles older, he takes more responsibilities for caring for himself and his disease. When I feel ‎tired, and my chest starts to hurt, I just focus on trying to relax and breathe normally. I drink a ‎lot of water and I take vitamins when there a lot of pollen. I know where my medicine is, if I ‎need it. But I am not afraid to go outside and do things. I think that if I move around, I will be ‎stronger for it.” Miles plays the drums and he says that he sometimes he gets so excited playing, ‎that it triggers his asthma. “That’s kinds of embarrassing. I have to tell the band that I need to ‎take a break and sit down. The same thing happens if I am walking somewhere with my friends. I ‎lose energy and I just need to stop and rest. Sometimes they wait for me. And sometimes they ‎say,” Catch up!” Miles grins, “That’s just the way it goes, I guess!”‎

This is another example about asthma. Gwen has joined the campaign for a scent free ‎America. She wants laws that ban perfume in public places. Gwen used to think such laws were ‎silly. Then she discovered that perfume is one of her trigger asthma. Gwen no longer wears ‎perfume herself. But other people fragrances bother her. At the movies, she often must move to a ‎different seat. She cannot walk the cosmetic counter in a department store without gasping. The ‎most embarrassing situation of all involves dating. Gwen must ask her boyfriend’s not to wear ‎aftershave lotion or cologne.‎

‎          ‎ This is perspective international scholar about asthma.  In spite of our understanding ‎and improved treatment, asthma is on the rise and as many as 21.5 million Americans suffer from ‎it. In an effort to further acquaint patients, families and others with this subject. Lieberman ‎‎(clinical professor of medicine and pediatrics. Univ. of Tennessee) provides a lay of exposition of ‎asthma. Also research that rhythmic, another component of temperament, maybe related to ‎asthma in infants. Priel et al (1990) comparing at group of wheezy infants with a group of acutely ‎ill infants who did not asthma, found that rhythmic was associated with asthma. Infants with ‎higher levels of with rhythmic were better able to regulate their airways and to cope more ‎effectively with the stressor of wheeziness.

                Priel et al (1990) pointed up with mothers rhythmic ‎might be better able to recognize deviations in infant health status, thus enabling them to seek ‎more timely medical attention. Future research need to examine further the direct role that infant ‎temperament, motor and cognitive process playing health and illness Moreover, empirical and ‎investigation. Into how parenting might serve to moderate and mediate the influence of these ‎processes on infant health are needed.  For example, infants who are more reactive to ‎environmental stimulation and not able to self-regulate. Their emotional response easily might be ‎more likely to develop health problems if they have parents who are less sensitive to their distress ‎signal and less competent in providing emotional support. Syndromes such as FTT and SIDS ‎might in part be a function of poor fit between specific infants’ characteristic and parenting ‎behavior. As type of relations become better understood, more effective intervention and ‎prevention programs can be designed. ‎

‎          ‎ Other than that, there are Islamic perspective from T. Islam which is the increased ‎asthma risk associated with h01111101 was restricted to children with the GSTM1 null ‎genotype. Common haplotypes in the NOS2A promoter are associated with new onset of asthma ‎and lung function growth.‎ ‎ Also other opinion that says "al-Jauf", the cavity that invalidates the ‎fast when they enter the food into it is "Ma'idah" (stomach) alone, not including other holes in ‎the human body. Scholars have different opinions about "Bakhkhah ar-Rabwu" (gas spray for ‎asthma). Opinion closest to truth (in the view of the author) is not null. Oxygen gas does not ‎invalidate the fast because it is just the wind or air is not there other elements in it.‎

‎          ‎ As my own perspective, asthma can occur at any age but children and young adults are ‎the commonly affected age groups. Asthma is the most common chronic disease of children. ‎Also, both sexes are affected almost equally. There are many reasons causes asthma attack ‎include weather changes. Weather changes can affect lungs and airways of people with asthma. ‎It is usually very hot, humid weather or very cold, dry weather. Other than that, other factor is ‎genetic because asthma tends run in families. Each person with asthma reacts to a different set of ‎factors. Identification of these factors and how to avoid them is a major step for each individual ‎in learning how to control their disease. Asthma is an incurable illness. However, with good ‎treatment and management there is no reason why a person with asthma cannot live a normal and ‎active life. ‎

‎          ‎ Conclusion, people who have been sensitized to certain allergens may get allergic ‎reactions when they come into contact with them. It makes sense for people to avoid the ‎allergens that trigger their asthma, but of course this is not always possible. Research has shown ‎that only reducing exposure to house dust mite in the home does not reduce asthma symptoms. ‎However ,most allergies specialist still advise people with asthma to try to reduce their exposure ‎to as many allergens as possible, in order to reduce (rather than cure) their symptoms. There is a ‎wide range of allergy reducing products that can be purchased. These products all make great ‎claims that getting rid of allergens (mainly the house dust mite) from the home environment ‎improves asthma. Some of them may be effective in reducing the number of house dust mites but ‎do not necessarily improves asthma symptoms. Nearly all products are expensive, so we ‎recommend that you all get specialized advised before spending too much money in the hope of ‎a miracle cure. There are many preparations and devices claiming to reduce house mite levels, kill ‎off the mites or purify the air. Air purifiers may reduce the amount of dust in some areas of your ‎home, but there is no proof that they help to improve asthma.‎
‎          ‎ Some people developed asthma later in life. Researcher are not really sure why this is ‎happens but sometimes a heavy cold, goes to your chest and can be the initial trigger of asthma. ‎It is not allergic reaction, but something that leads to the tendency for colds to trigger asthma ‎symptoms. This is thought to happen because of the way the airways cells respond. You may find ‎that, each time you have a cold, it goes to your chest quickly. The other cause of ‘late onset ‎asthma’ is occupational asthma. There are a number of industries where there is increased risk of ‎developing occupational asthma. People with occupational asthma are often better when away ‎from their environment. ‎

Prevention and long-term control are key in stopping asthma attacks before them start. ‎Treatment usually involves learning to recognize your triggers and taking steps to avoid them, ‎and tracking your breathing to make sure your daily asthma medications are keeping symptoms ‎under control. In case of an asthma flare-up, you may need to use a quick-relief inhaler, such as ‎albuterol. The right medications for you depend on a number of things, including your age, your ‎symptoms, your asthma triggers and what seems to work best to keep your asthma under control. ‎Preventive, long-term control medications reduce the inflammation in your airways that leads to ‎symptoms. Quick-relief inhalers (bronchodilators) quickly open swollen airways that are limiting ‎breathing. In some cases, allergy medications are necessary.‎

‎          ‎ Controlling your asthma may seem like a lot of work, but taking steps now can help you ‎live a normal life. Firstly, find ways to control your asthma triggers. Then, keep your asthma ‎diary up to date and follow your asthma action plan. Third, take your long term control ‎medicines daily or as prescribed. Last but not least, always carry your quick relief medicine with ‎you. All of these steps together can greatly reduce your chances of having asthma attacks. ‎Prevention is the key. All it takes is good information and a working partnership with your ‎provider.‎