Bronchial asthma is a chronic lung disease. It often affects children. Asthmatics suffer from constricted and inflamed bronchial tubes. This often leads to shortness of breath and acute asthma attacks. The disease can be well controlled with medication, but a cure is not always possible.
Here you will find further information as well as selected asthma specialists and centers.
The medical term bronchial tubes refers to the part of the airways located below the windpipe. The air we breathe passes through the airways via one branch in each lung.
Asthma patients are hypersensitive to certain physical, chemical or allergic stimuli. Their bronchial mucosa then swells considerably, leading to a narrowing of the bronchi and shortness of breath. It also secretes a transparent to yellowish mucus (sputum), which has to be coughed up from time to time.
The constricted airways cause a lack of oxygen in the patient's body. To compensate, the patient breathes in and out more frequently. Nevertheless, the blood is undersupplied with oxygen (hypoxemia).
Every tenth child and every twentieth adult shows asthma symptoms. In children, more boys are affected, while in adults, women are more likely to suffer from asthma.
If bronchial asthma is left untreated or not treated properly, it becomes chronic. The disease can cause permanent damage to the lungs and heart.
Anatomical representation of the trachea and bronchi in the two lungs © SciePro | AdobeStock
Depending on the cause, a distinction is made between non-allergic and allergic bronchial asthma.
Non-allergic asthma (endogenous, non-specific asthma) is caused by certain physical and chemical triggers. However, it can also have an allergic component and then occurs as a mixed form of asthma.
In allergic bronchial asthma, allergy triggers such as
are the cause. Asthma in children is usually also the result of an existing allergy.
The exact causes of the disease have not yet been sufficiently clarified scientifically. However, lung specialists assume that a combination of genetic and environmental factors leads to it.
Patients with atopic dermatitis and pollen allergy sufferers have an increased risk of developing bronchial asthma. Neurodermatitis is an inflammatory skin disease with weeping, very itchy rashes.
In addition, people with a family history of asthma and allergies have a higher risk of developing asthma.
Non-allergic bronchial asthma manifests itself in an asthma attack that occurs as a result of a non-specific stimulus. This can be, for example
can be the cause.
Medication, such as aspirin, or respiratory infections can also cause symptoms in this type of asthma.
Doctors differentiate between
Coughing usually occurs at night and is often associated with a feeling of tightness in the chest. Breathing out is difficult and there is often a clearly audible whistling sound (wheezing).
During an asthma attack, the person affected is unable to speak. He has palpitations and, in particularly severe cases, bluish discolored nails and lips. The patient must then immediately inhale their emergency asthma spray. If emergency care is not provided in this critical situation, coma and cardiac arrest may even occur.
People who suffer from attacks of breathlessness should consult a specialist in respiratory medicine and seek treatment.
The treating specialist checks the asthmatic's breathing rate and breathing sounds. He or she then taps the patient's chest: the audible tapping sound allows conclusions to be drawn about the extent to which the lungs are already distended. Lung function tests(LuFu) using certain devices reveal deviating values in the patient, especially when exhaling.
If asthma is suspected, the doctor will have the patient inhale a fast-acting bronchodilator. If the patient then achieves better test values in certain areas than before, asthma is likely.
The provocation test provides information as to whether the patient is suffering from non-specific or allergic bronchial asthma. To do this, the lung specialist has the patient inhale metacholine and then carries out another LuFu. The medication causes artificially induced breathlessness. If the patient then shows poorer test results, his illness does not have an allergic cause.
Blood taken from the patient is tested for IgE (immunoglobulin E) antibodies. They are detectable in increased numbers when the immune system reacts to an allergen (allergy trigger). If this is the case, the bronchial asthma is allergic.
In the next step, the examining doctor must find out which allergen is the trigger. This is made possible by the so-called prick test. The asthma triggers form red spots or wheals on the skin scratched with an allergen.
Only some patients can be cured. However, bronchial asthma can be well controlled with appropriate medication. In around 40 percent of adult asthma sufferers, the symptoms also become less severe.
To treat the signs of asthma, the lung specialist administers
As an emergency asthma spray, asthmatics take a fast-acting beta-sympathomimetic. In the event of an asthma attack, it immediately provides the urgently needed relaxation of the bronchial muscles. The doctor prescribes the glucocorticoids for inhalation or as tablets.
If the patient experiences critical asthma symptoms, they are given ipratropium bromide, which has a bronchodilator effect. Oxygen is also administered via a breathing mask.
Avoiding the individual triggers of asthma attacks is also effective. Anyone who suffers asthma attacks due to cigarette smoke should give up smoking and also avoid passive smoking. Asthmatics who come into contact with allergens at work are best advised to change their job so that their condition does not worsen.
Swimming or walking is a good way to strengthen the lungs. The patient starts with short training sessions and then slowly increases. However, they should be careful not to overexert themselves under any circumstances.
In order to breathe better during exercise, it is advisable to inhale a bronchodilator asthma medication before exercising. You should also always have your emergency asthma spray with you and allow yourself a short warm-up phase before your workout.
Patients who tend to have asthma attacks in stressful situations can learn certain relaxation techniques. These include yoga or autogenic training.
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