Asthma
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## 🌬️ **Asthma**
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### ❓ **What is Asthma?**
**Asthma** is a **chronic (long-term) inflammatory disease** of the airways in the lungs.
It causes the **airways to become swollen, narrow**, and produce **extra mucus**, making breathing difficult.
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### 🧠 **Key Features**
- **Reversible airway obstruction**
- **Inflammation** of the airways
- **Airway hyperresponsiveness** (overreacting to triggers)
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### 🧪 **Causes / Triggers**
Asthma doesn’t have a single cause. It’s usually triggered by a combination of:
#### 🔹 **Allergens:**
- Dust mites
- Pollen
- Animal dander
- Mold
#### 🔹 **Irritants:**
- Smoke
- Pollution
- Perfumes/chemicals
#### 🔹 **Other Triggers:**
- Cold air
- Exercise
- Respiratory infections
- Emotional stress
- Weather changes
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### ⚠️ **Symptoms**
Symptoms may come and go and vary in intensity:
- **Coughing** (especially at night)
- **Wheezing** (a whistling sound while breathing)
- **Shortness of breath**
- **Chest tightness or pain**
- **Fatigue**
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### 🚨 **Signs of a Severe Asthma Attack**
- Trouble speaking or walking
- Bluish lips or fingernails (cyanosis)
- Use of chest muscles to breathe
- No improvement after using an inhaler
👉 **Emergency care** is needed immediately!
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### 🧪 **Diagnosis**
- **Medical history** + family history
- **Physical examination**
- **Spirometry** (lung function test)
- **Peak flow meter**
- **Allergy testing** (optional)
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### 💊 **Treatment**
#### 🔹 **Reliever Medications (Quick Relief):**
- **Short-acting beta-agonists (SABA)** like **Salbutamol (Albuterol)**
- Used during asthma attacks or before exercise
#### 🔹 **Controller Medications (Long-Term Control):**
- **Inhaled corticosteroids** (e.g. Budesonide, Beclomethasone)
- **Leukotriene modifiers**
- **Long-acting beta-agonists (LABA)** (combined with steroids)
- **Oral steroids** (in severe cases)
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### 📦 **Devices Used**
- **Inhaler** (with or without spacer)
- **Nebulizer** (for younger children or severe attacks)
- **Peak Flow Meter** (for monitoring)
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### 🛡️ **Prevention & Management**
- Avoid known **triggers**
- Take medications **regularly**
- Use **inhalers properly**
- Keep **indoor air clean**
- **Vaccinate** against flu and pneumonia
- Regular **check-ups** with a doctor
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### 🧒 **Special Notes for Children**
- Asthma can interfere with **play, sleep, and school**
- With proper treatment, children can **live normal, active lives**
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### 🩺 **Prognosis**
- **No permanent cure**, but can be **well-controlled**
- Many children may **outgrow** asthma or have fewer symptoms as they age
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