Asthma is a lung disorder in which spasms and inflammation of the bronchial passages restrict the flow of air in and out of the lungs.

It is an allergic condition resulting from the reaction of the body to one or more allergens, and is the most troublesome of respiratory diseases. An asthma patient gets frequent attacks of breathlessness, in which he may even be completely normal.

It is on the rise today, with increasing levels of pollution and the stressful lifestyle followed by people.

Causes and symptoms

Patients suffering from asthma appear to be gasping for breath. Actually, they have more difficulty in breathing out than breathing in, and this is caused by spasms or sudden involuntary muscular contractions of the smaller air passages in the lungs. The effect is to blow the lungs up because the patient cannot drive the air properly out of the lungs before he has to take another breath. Most asthmatics have more difficulty at night or early morning. They are characterized by difficulty in breathing, sense of tightness and constrictions around the chest and a wheezing noise as the breath is expelled.

The small bronchial tubes which connect with the lungs are constricted due to swelling or accumulation of viscid phlegm in the main bronchi, hence the difficulty in inspiration and expiration.

The attack of the asthma may come without warning because of the hypersensitivity of the patient to certain substances like pollen, dust, emanations from certain animals like dogs and cats, certain foods to which the person is allergic and also by bacterial infections. Usually the attack comes in the early morning when the patient suddenly wakes up with a feeling of apprehension and alarm. He sits up as the breathing suddenly becomes impossible in a recumbent position.

The attack may last for a few hours or a few days before it subsides and in the early stages of the disease, the patient feels normal after the attack. When it becomes chronic, the patient face turns pale and has an emaciated body.

Asthma is caused by a variety of factors. It may be caused due to an allergy caused by weather conditions, food, drugs, perfumes and other irritants. Allergies to dust are the most common. Foods which generally cause allergic reactions are wheat, eggs, milk, chocolates, beans, fish and sea foods. The disease may also result from psychological factors. Heredity also plays an important role.

Diet and other measures

The patient should avoid common dietic errors. Ideally, his diet should contain a limited quantity of carbohydrates, fats and proteins which are acid forming foods and a liberal quantity of alkali forming foods consisting of fresh fruits, green vegetables, sprouted seeds and grains.

The patient should avoid foods that produce phlegm such as curds, refrigerated foods, and lentils. He should also avoid fried and other difficult to digest foods such as strong tea, coffee and alcoholic beverages, condiments, pickles, sauces and all refined and processed foods.

One should also breath fresh air and do light exercise to attain relief from the disease. Excessive exposure to cold and damp should be avoided.

Treatment

Usually oral expectorants such as ephedrine and inhalers such as epinephrine are prescribed.

Oral corticosteroids such as prednisone or prednisolone are prescribed for symptomatic relief in case of an acute attack.

Herbal Pack for Asthma

• Brahmi Chyawanprash – 2 teaspoons twice daily with milk

• Praan Rakshak Churna – 1 to 2 teaspoons twice daily after meals with warm water

• Aller – G – Care – 2 capsules twice daily after meals with warm water