Asthma and Its Risk Factors

Asthma is a long-term condition that directly impacts the lungs and makes the hard to breathe. People who have asthma have sensitive airways that can become narrow when it is triggered. This makes it critical for air to move in and out of the lungs.

When an individual with asthma comes into contact with a trigger, their airways directly react with the production of extra mucus, end tightening the situation. The common symptoms of asthma include Coughing, Wheezing, and Shortness of Breath that affect the lives of people. These symptoms can come and go as they can be mild or appear in a serious situation.

• Risk Factors:

Various risk factors can cause asthma and increase the chances of developing it. Some people are born with a risk of asthma because it can be hereditary. As young adults become older, new lifestyle choices can become a factor of risk, with the vapors containing harmful chemicals. Going to crowded places like bars and festivals is a common risk for young people who have asthma. Respiratory infections, like Colds, COVID-19, and the Flu, are also the main triggers of asthma attacks.

1.    Understanding of the Respiratory System and How We Can Breathe

The system of respiratory system is the element of the body that directly helps us to breathe. The main functions of the Respiratory System are to take in oxygen from the air and rid the body of CO2 Carbon Dioxide, which serves as a waste gas made by the body.

Every cell in the body needs oxygen to work properly, without it, we would not have the proper energy. Breathing appears all the time, even when we are sleeping, and usually don’t even notice this situation.

Air directly enters the body through the mouth as well as the nose. The nose helps to clean the air of dust particles and germs with the tiny hairs. Air travels down the throat into the entire tube, which is called the trachea. This tube has the function of splitting the smaller tubes called “Bronchi” that go into smaller tubes like bronchioles.

The final function is the end of smaller tubes as tiny air sacs called alveoli. The Alveoli are integral because this is the part where oxygen from the air passes into the composition of blood. There are various alveoli in the lungs, and they are surrounded by Tiny Blood Vessels that carry oxygen around the body. Breathing in and out is called mechanical respiration.

• Mechanical Respiration:

Mechanical Respiration happens with the help of a muscle called the Diaphragm, which sits under the lungs. When we breathe in, the diaphragm moves down and the ribs move out. This makes more space in the chest, and air can be pulled into the lungs. The Mechanical Respiratory system pushes the air back out of the lungs, and the air we breathe in contains the amount of oxygen, and the air we breathe out contains CO2 or Carbon Dioxide. Breathing can become critical for someone with asthma.

The tubes that carry air in the lungs can tighten and swell. It can directly cause Wheezing and Shortness of Breath. When asthma is triggered then these symptoms may come and may require quick treatment.

Smoking and Vaping make asthma critical because they can damage the airways. If someone doesn’t smoke, then being around others who smoke is called secondhand smoke. Vaping for some time can be safer, but introducing new types of chemicals raises the chances of flu and other types of infections that affect the lungs.

It is very important for people who have asthma disease, to examine how their lungs work and how to create specific interactions. By Checking the Peak Flow each day and writing it down, we can see how well the lungs are working. The learning of the respiratory system works and helps keep track of breathing. Young people with asthma can better manage the better conditions.

2.    Understanding the Gas Exchange in the Lung:

Breathing is just taking air in and out of the lungs, but one of the most important functions of this is to provide healthy and quality air. One of the most important elements of breathing is known as “Gas Exchange”.

This process where oxygen from the air we can breathe is passed into the CO2 and blood, as waste gas from the body is removed, is known as the gas exchange process. This process happens inside the lungs and follows the tiny air sacs called alveoli.

• What Happens in Breathing?

When we inhale, the air enters the nose or mouth and travels to the trachea. After traveling into the Trachea, the air moves in smaller tubes in the lungs until it reaches the Alveoli. These avails are small, and you can’t see them without the entire microscope.

The walls of both capillaries and alveoli are thin, which allows gases to pass easily between them. The air we breathe contains almost 21% oxygen. Once the air reaches the alveoli, the thin walls of it manage the inside capillaries. This process appears because of something called Diffusion.

There is more oxygen in the alveoli compared to the blood, so it moves from the blood. The red blood cells carry oxygen within the body to the organs and need to work properly.

When the body uses oxygen then it creates carbon dioxide as a waste product. The carbon dioxide is carried back in the form of blood to the lungs. There is more carbon dioxide in the blood than in the alveoli as it moves into the alveoli to the things out.

Once the carbon discoed is in the alveoli and removed from the body, then we breathe out. Gas Exchange is an important element because every cell in the body needs a direct supply of oxygen that helps to create energy without enough oxygen. Gas exchange can be affected in people who have the disease of asthma.

3.    How Irritants Impact the Lungs and Breathing Process:

The respiratory system is made up of various delicate tissues, like as the airways and lungs. These tissues are designed to stay clean and clear to allow easy airflow and the exchange of gas. Moreover, when irritants like smoke and dust enter the respiratory system then they can cause issues. These irritants trigger the natural defense of the body, which can lead to inflammation in the airway and lungs.

When the body senses an irritant in the airways then the immune system responds to protect the Lungs. It sends the extra blood or immune cells to the area, causing the tissues to swell and become entirely inflamed. The reaction is often stronger compared to normal in people with asthma. The small amounts of smoke and vape vapor can trigger the swelling and tightening of the muscles around key airways.

• Impact on Respiration:

The swelling in the lungs makes it harder for the air to move in and in, less oxygen gets into the lungs, and even less is passed in the form of blood. This can cause symptoms like Shortness of Breath and Wheezing, with Coughing. If swelling is severe and not treated, then it can lead to serious asthma attacks. People with asthma need to avoid the irritants where is it possible and use the inhalers when needed.

Because swelling and narrowing in the key lungs happen slowly, asthma patients need to track their breathing.

The drop in “Peak Flow” reading and the early sign of swelling, as the person does not feel unwell. So, the understanding of how irritants affect the lungs and the track of the entire symptoms. Young people with asthma can take control of their conditions and manage the serious complications.

4.    Why the Tracking Your Breathing Important?

If an individual has a disease of asthma, then he or she needs to learn about how to manage it. The well is one of the best things. Asthma is a condition that impacts the airways (the tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs).

When an individual has asthma then these airways can become more inflamed. Some days of breathing may feel normal, but on other days it may safely change or feels critical. That’s why keeping track of breathing daily, can help to support the issues early and stay monitored.

One of the important ways to control asthma is the use of tools like the “Peak Flow Meter”. This is a small tool that measures how fast an individual can blow air out of the lungs. This tool helps to understand how well my lungs are reworking at this moment.

• Reading of Peak Flow:

The Peak Flow Reading gives important information related to the health of the lungs. When the airways are open and clear, then the number of peak flows will be in the Normal Range. On the other hand, if airways start to become inflamed, then the peak flow reading will start to decline.

So, the checking of peak flow on a regular day helps an individual to catch the asthma issue even before feeling unwell. When the asthma is self-controlled, the self-controlled peak flow will give the highest number, and it is a guide to understanding the daily reading.

You should have a Chart or Table that tracks the reading each day and helps to see the patterns of asthma. Peak Flow is a tool that helps to catch the Asthma Rating and the stage where it can be controlled easily and directly impact the number of causes that appear in the entire patient.

Green Zone, Yellow Zone, and Red Zone are different rating patterns that give the effective peak flow tools’ benefits related to the entire predicted area in the cleared roles. This situation makes it easier to manage or change the treatment plan, if needed, and keeps it safer. Many young people with asthma are worried about keeping up with their friends and playing sports.

5.    Evidence-Based Recommendations:

Here are some recommendations that help manage the disease of asthma by following the key guidelines and the instructions.

• Smoking and Vaping are two of the major asthma triggers. People should avoid these harmful chemicals that irritate their airways and make them swollen. These chemicals lead to the whizzing and shortness of breath. Evidence shows that quitting smoking can improve the overall functions of the lungs and reduce the flare-ups of asthma. The National Health Sciences and Asthma Charities, like Asthma + Lung UK, recommend that people with these diseases avoid smoking and vaping.
• People who have asthma must Avoid Going to crowded as well as polluted places. Going out the places such as bars, nightclubs, and key concerts can expose the triggers, like strong perfumes and dust. These things can affect the lungs and make the asthma worse. People should stay away from polluted and smoky areas, to prevent this disease and manage the asthma’s impact on the lungs.
• Exercise is one of the good treatment methods for everyone, including those people who have asthma. Being active can boost the lungs and improve breathing, as it boosts the immune system. It also helps to feel more energetic and improve the mood. Moreover, some people may find that asthma is triggered by exercise in the cold as well as dry air.
• People having asthma must eat well and follow a Proper Healthy Diet. Eating well can help to support the immune system and keep the body stronger. Some studies indicate that avoiding too much junk food or sugary snacks is integral to being overweight and makes asthma harder to control.

6.    Conclusion:

In this report, the explanation of asthma affecting the respiratory system, as well as young people’s management of conditions, is provided. Asthma causes the airways in the lungs and become filled with mucus. The report talked about how integral it is to track the disease of asthma. The “Peak Flow Meter” is one of the most beneficial tools that helps individuals track their asthma.

Asthmatics work and make healthy choices, but young people must live an active lifestyle. Asthma must be avoided by eating well and not going to crowded places. Tracking is another helpful tool for the doctor or nurse. When an individual brings the reading to the clinic appointments, it gives a clear picture of how the asthma has varied.