Asthma – Types, Causes And Treatment

With environmental and various other triggers rising by the day, many chronic conditions like asthma are becoming increasingly common. While asthma may not be life threatening in most cases, it can become tough to manage or treat the symptoms if the condition is severe and chronic. This is because the costs of medicines, consultations, diagnostic tests, and more could quickly add up.

Health insurance from a reputed and trusted insurance provider can help you manage the financial implications of chronic conditions like asthma. However, if you already have the issue before you purchase a health insurance policy, ensure that you mention it as a pre-existing condition in your application form.

If you have any doubts about the process, you can always reach out to the insurer’s customer support team for more details. For instance, if you have an Aditya Birla health cover, you can call the Aditya Birla Health Insurance customer care number in case of any queries. That said, aside from the financial implications of the condition, you must also know more about the types of asthma, its causes, and how you can treat it. This will help you make an informed decision about buying health insurance as well.

Asthma: Meaning and Types

Asthma is a type of chronic respiratory illness that results in the narrowing of the respiratory passageways. This issue stems from an inflammation in the lungs, which could reduce the air supply for the body. Some common symptoms of asthma include wheezing, coughing and breathlessness. In severe cases, it may also lead to tightness in the chest and an increase in the mucus produced by the body.

Depending on causes, triggers, and the life stage in which you develop asthma, the condition can be of the following types:

1. Childhood Asthma

As the name indicates, this type of asthma develops in children. Studies have shown that children up to the age of 14 are most likely to develop the condition. The common triggers for this include allergens, air pollutants, and respiratory infections.

2. Adult-Onset Asthma

This type of asthma develops in adults, due to various triggers like obesity, stress, smoking, and other lifestyle factors. It can also develop due to respiratory infections or illnesses and exposure to allergens or pollutants.

3. Seasonal Asthma

Seasonal allergies and cold climates can trigger seasonal asthma in both adults and children. The symptoms of seasonal asthma may be easier to manage if you know the underlying cause and take measures to minimise exposure to the triggers.

4. Occupational Asthma

Occupational asthma can develop due to triggers in the workplace. They could include allergens, pollutants or other irritants that you may be exposed to as a part of your job. Studies have shown that around 1 in 6 cases of adult-onset asthma begin due to triggers in the workplace.

5. Severe Asthma

Severe asthma, as the name indicates, is a type of asthma where the symptoms become too chronic. Many of these symptoms may not respond to standard treatment protocols. Some examples of severe asthma include eosinophilic asthma and refractory asthma.

The Common Causes of Asthma

Asthma may develop in children or in adults due to a variety of factors. Some common causes of this respiratory condition are listed below.

• Allergies
• Exposure to environmental pollutants
• Stress
• Smoking tobacco
• Hormonal imbalances
• Genetic aspects
• Obesity
• Pregnancy

Treatment Options for Asthma

Asthma cannot be completely cured, its symptoms can be managed effectively with the right treatment protocol. The good news is that with each passing year, the treatment options for asthma are improving and becoming more accessible and effective. Some standard treatments used to manage this chronic condition include the following.

• Asthma medications like bronchodilators to relax the air passageways
• Anti-inflammatory medications to tackle respiratory inflammation
• Antibiotics to treat infections that cause asthma
• Corticosteroids to treat severe asthma
• Quick-relief medications for short-term or acute asthma
• Regular exercise and physical activity to improve lung function and lung capacity

The overall goal of any kind of treatment for asthma is to help the patient breathe easier, to make it possible for the patient to engage in regular activities, and to reduce the frequency of asthma attacks. If you or anyone you know suffers from asthma, it is best to visit a physician and identify the triggers for the condition. The medical professional can then prescribe treatments accordingly.

Conclusion

This sums up all the important details you must know about asthma, its types, and its causes. You can also use this information to get a better idea of the treatment options available for people who suffer from this condition.

In case the costs of managing asthma become recurrent and steep, you can always opt for health insurance from a trusted provider like Aditya Birla Health Insurance. If you do this, ensure that you mention asthma as a pre-existing condition, if applicable. Filling in wrong or incomplete information could invalidate your application.