ASTHMA
Asthma is a disease that affects your lungs, characterized by chronic inflammation of the airways, contraction of the smooth muscles of the respiratory system, and bronchoconstriction attacks. It causes recurrent wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and coughing at night or in the early morning. Asthma can be controlled by taking medication and avoiding triggers that may cause attacks. You should also eliminate triggers in your environment that could worsen your asthma.
Asthma is also known as a seasonally recurring condition. Fethiye stands out as one of the most preferred holiday destinations for tourists, with its untouched bays, historical heritage, cultural sites, clean air and opportunities for outdoor sports. However, pollens may be encountered everywhere.
In both children and adults, the diagnosis of asthma is based on the evaluation of symptoms. The classical symptoms of asthma are wheezing (especially when exhaling), shortness of breath, coughing (typically in the early morning or at night) and chest tightness.
Asthma does not have a single cause, and a number of environmental and genetic factors are known to influence its development (preterm birth, low birth weight and exposure to tobacco smoke, especially if the mother smoked during pregnancy).
Triggers of Asthma
Common triggers of an asthma exacerbation include:
- Environmental and occupational allergens (numerous);
- Cold and dry air
- Infections
- Exercise
- Inhaled irritants
- Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (
- Family history of asthma or other atopic conditions (such as eczema or hay fever)
- Childhood bronchiolitis — about 40% of children exposed to respiratory syncytial virus or parainfluenza virus continue to experience wheezing or asthma later in childhood.
- A body mass index of 30 kg/m² or higher;
Allergic rhinitis is often seen alongside asthma; it is unclear whether the two are different manifestations of the same allergic process or whether rhinitis is itself a separate trigger for asthma.
Asthma Diagnosis
- Clinical evaluation
- Pulmonary function tests
- Diagnosis is based on history and physical examination and confirmed by pulmonary function tests. Identifying causes and ruling out other disorders that cause wheezing is important. Asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) can sometimes be easily confused; they cause similar symptoms and produce similar results in pulmonary function tests but differ in important biological aspects that may not always be clinically obvious.
Pulmonary Function Tests
- Spirometry can be used to measure lung function and is a good guide for the diagnosis of asthma in adults.
- Using a peak flow meter, peak expiratory flow measures the resistance of the airways.
Other Tests
In some cases, other tests may be useful:
- Carbon monoxide diffusion capacity
- Chest X-ray
- Allergy testing
- Exhaled nitric oxide
Asthma Treatment
- Trigger control
- Medication therapy
- Monitoring
- Patient education
- Treatment of acute exacerbations
There is no permanent cure for asthma, but the disease can be adequately controlled with medication.
Talk to your doctor about avoiding triggers and using control medications every day.
Outcomes
Asthma can be frightening when a patient cannot breathe properly.
The quality of life of a patient with asthma can be limited. Several factors contribute to a reduced quality of life. The first is the patient's inability to sleep. Insomnia can be a problem for a child who has to get up and go to school, or for those who must get to work on time. Physical activity may be limited and the patient may be at a greater risk of developing medical problems such as obesity and depression.
Environmental Control
Pharmacological treatment alone does not provide good asthma control. Mattress and pillow covers should be free of dust mites. Removing carpets and vacuuming furniture helps. Pets are sometimes troublesome allergens and may need to be removed from the home.
At our hospital located in Fethiye, all your tests and treatments are carried out by our specialist physicians. Fethiye is known as a popular holiday destination thanks to its climate and natural beauty. While planning your holiday, you can also take precautions in line with your symptoms.
