Asthma: How Does It Happen?
By Stephen R. Farris
Dealing with asthma is no fun. Most of the time we think of asthma as a childhood disease they can eventually grow out of as they become older. Nope, that's not always the case. While that may be true to an extent, it may linger into adulthood as well. Even if one didn't have it as a child, there are adults who have developed asthma problems. It's a very tricky condition.
Not all asthma is asthma. What I mean is that you may feel like you're having an asthma attack, or at the most, been diagnosed with it, but it might be something else making it difficult for you to breathe.
Reactive Airways Syndrome
Let's say you're hit all of a sudden with wheezing and coughing, and it's making it difficult for you to breathe. You visit the ER or visit your doctor's office and receive treatment. Everything feels fine afterward. It may not be asthma that triggered your difficulty in breathing, but could be associated with an allergic reaction of some type. Maybe a chemical such as bleach, laundry soap, bug spray or certain types of foods and/or ingredients that were used in the cooking process. It very well could be your environmental climate you live in, where there's a lot of dust, mold or thin air. Chances are, after receiving treatment, you might not ever have problems again. Your doctor may even prescribe an inhaler as a precautionary tool, just in case you experience a sudden attack. However, if it continues on a regular basis, then it's probably a good idea -- and your physician will agree -- to be fully tested for asthma. Better safe than sorry.
How Do I Really Know?
That depends on your history. Do you experience tightness in the chest, or cough or wheeze constantly, especially at night and do you have VEAO (variable expiratory airflow obstruction). If so, then a lung function test is usually performed at a pulmonary function lab that has the correct equipment to perform this type of testing and provide in-depth analysis concerning your condition. If your primary physician detects that might be your condition, then they will refer you to the nearest lab to get tested.
The only way to truly determine if the condition you're experiencing is asthma is by making a visit to your doctor so they can run tests.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Flagstaff, Ariz.