Recurring Asthma Symptoms and Management: An Overview
Asthma, a common chronic respiratory condition, can present in two main forms: intermittent and persistent. These variations primarily differ in frequency of symptoms, severity, and treatment approaches.
Intermittent asthma, characterised by infrequent symptoms, is less demanding compared to persistent asthma. Symptoms occur fewer than 2 days per week, nighttime awakenings fewer than 2 times per month, and reliever use less than twice weekly. Patients may have normal lung function between episodes and few, if any, activity limitations. Although severe exacerbations are less frequent, they can still occur, with one exacerbation per year possibly being classified as intermittent asthma.
On the other hand, persistent asthma involves more frequent symptoms occurring more than twice per week, more regular nighttime awakenings, and more consistent use of inhaled relievers like short-acting beta-agonists (SABAs). Severity within persistent asthma ranges from mild to severe based on symptom frequency, lung function, and exacerbation history. Two or more exacerbations requiring oral corticosteroids within 6 months is considered persistent asthma, even without daily symptoms.
Treatment for intermittent asthma generally involves as-needed use of quick-relief inhalers like SABAs without daily controller medications. Monitoring is essential as exacerbations can still be severe despite infrequent symptoms. In contrast, persistent asthma requires daily controller medications to reduce inflammation and prevent symptoms and exacerbations. This often includes low-dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) for mild persistent asthma, with combinations of ICS and long-acting beta-agonists (LABAs) for moderate to severe persistent asthma. Severe persistent asthma may need higher doses of ICS or oral corticosteroids.
Doctors work with individuals to create an asthma action plan that includes how to avoid potential triggers that could worsen symptoms and how to manage their breathing. A person with moderate persistent asthma tends to experience symptoms on a daily basis and nighttime awakenings with symptoms three to four times each month. People with intermittent asthma often find that their symptoms become worse following exposure to specific triggers, such as cold air, noxious fumes, chemical irritants, wood-burning stoves, pet dander, pollens, smoke, viruses that cause upper respiratory infections, and allergies.
In conclusion, intermittent asthma features less frequent symptoms and milder disease requiring mainly as-needed rescue treatment, while persistent asthma is more chronic with regular symptoms, requiring ongoing controller therapy to prevent frequent exacerbations and maintain lung function. It is essential to consult a healthcare professional for accurate diagnosis and personalised treatment plans.
- Science continues to evolve in treating chronic diseases like asthma, offering approaches tailored to individual personas.
- A person naive to asthma may be surprised to learn about the importance of sleep in managing asthma and other respiratory conditions.
- Health and wellness are multidimensional, encompassing fitness and exercise, mental health, skin care, nutrition, and the proper management of medical-conditions like asthma.
- Despite the infrequent nature of their symptoms, people with intermittent asthma should not neglect fitness and exercise, as they play a crucial role in overall health and wellness.
- CBD, a compound gaining popularity in natural health circles, may potentially offer relief for some asthma symptoms, though further research is needed to confirm its efficacy.
- In the Integrative approach to health, a balanced diet rich in nutrition supports asthma management by strengthening the immune system and reducing inflammation.
- To minimize the risks of severe exacerbations, patients with persistent asthma should prioritize ongoing communication with their medical professionals, discussing potential adjustments to their treatment plans as needed.
