Asthma is a
chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways that results in
symptoms in relation to a diffuse, variable bronchial obstruction,
spontaneously reversible or under the effect of a treatment.
Bronchial hyperreactivity is also one of the characteristics of
asthma.
The triggering factors vary from one patient to the next or from
one period in the life of a patient to another in the same
patient.
Asthma may be allergic or non allergic. For this reason, it is possible to speak of asthmas.
Symptoms:
The symptoms of asthma are respiratory symptoms:
- Cough
- Wheezing
- Oppressive respiratory discomfort (dyspnoea), expectoration or shortness of breath.
These symptoms are characteristic but not specific for asthma, that is, they may be found in other respiratory and heart disorders. They are of variable time, length and intensity. However, two elements are evocative of asthma:
- The recurrent nature of the symptoms
- Their occurrence upon exposure to certain triggering factors.
The triggering factors:
- Immunoallergic factors: the allergens, pneumallergens, trophallergens, plus rarely drug allergens, professional allergens,
- Irritants such as pollutants, sulphites, aerosols, tobacco (20 % of all smokers are asthmatic, smoking is a risk factor for asthma and allergies)
- Psychological factors: asthma may be an expression of deep and unconscious suffering
- Hormonal factors: possible pre-menstrual recurrence of asthma
- Stress: about 75 % of asthmatic children have stress asthma, certain studies report that 35 to 40 % of patients suffering from rhinitis present stress asthma
- Smoking: 20 % of all smokers are asthmatic, smoking is a risk factor for asthma
- Food: although the main manifestation of a food allergy is
eczema, hives, oedema, an exacerbation of asthma may be found in
certain cases.