What is asthma?? | 7 most common asthma triggers | Asthma
Hi dear reader. In this article I have shared some details on: Asthma Types of asthma Asthma triggers Most common asthma triggers Facts about asthma Hope this article might help you to find the answers to your questions in your mind.
Asthma is one of the most common and chronic respiratory disease that affected more than 20 million people in United States only. It is such a disease that attacks our lungs and airways at very first.
Basically airways are the small and hollow tube like passages in our lungs that helps to take the air in and out of our body by lungs, throat and mouth. The interesting thing about these passages is that they look like roots of a tree because they got narrow and smaller as they getting into lungs, and the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place in these areas.
What Is Asthma?
When these air carrying passages get swallowed due to some sort of inflammations, the process of breathing (inhaling of oxygen and exhaling of carbon dioxide) becomes difficult and this difficult breathing situation is known as asthma.
This inflammation can further cause:
- Contraction of muscles around the air passages,
- Swelling of the airway lining due to airway inflammation, and,
- Excessive mucus in the airways.
It has been seen that in most of the cases people with asthma feels more difficulty during exhaling as compared to inhaling. This happens because during inhalation the air passage opens up, ribs move out because of lowering of the diaphragm and makes lung bigger that makes air to cause lots of restriction.
Types Of Asthma
There are two major kinds of asthma:
1. Extrinsic asthma
This type of asthma takes place in your lungs and air passages due to the sensitivity of some external organs specially nose. It has been seen that mostly it begins in childhood and increases with the passage of time and age. It has been seen that the patients of this type of asthma are mostly allergy sensitive from these:
- Pollen
- Dander
- insect venom
- house dust
- Mold
- kapok
- feather pillows
- food additives and similar to these.
2. Intrinsic asthma
This type of asthma has no concern with external organs that are sensitive to allergy because its relation is with different types of respiratory and lungs infections. Below are some of the things that can cause this type of asthma:
- Irritants
- Emotional stress
- Fatigue
- Exposure to noxious fumes
- Changes in temperature
- Changes in humidity.
It has been seen that in many patients both of these types of asthma can exist at the same time.
Asthma Triggers
Asthma triggers are considered as some activities and environmental conditions that increase the chances of asthma attack and can easily trigger asthma. What these asthma triggers did is that these makes the allergy affected people to breath heavily and creates an environment for asthma attack in the lungs.
Most Common Asthma Triggers
Basically the inflammation in the lungs and these passages increases allergy sensitivity in people and these allergy sensitive people becomes an easy target for some of the other and most common asthma triggers such as:
- Exercise
- Stress
- Medications
- Pollution
- Humidity
- Laughter and some others.
- Dust
- Pollen
- Mold
- Cockroaches
- Dust mites
- Animal dander
- Irritants
- Tobacco smoke
- Air pollution
- Strong odour
- Laughing
- Workplace chemicals
- Common cold
- Infections
- Exertion
- Respiratory infection
Keep in mind that triggers are not same for every person and is different from person to person. Identifying the real trigger for your asthma attack is very important because if you become successful with identifying the trigger then avoiding asthma attacks can becomes easier task for you.
How Asthma Attack Occurs??
Basically during asthma attack the production of mucus in these passage cells increase and cause a lot of restrictions and difficulty in breathing process. Due to this situation you might experience some bad things such as:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightening
- Wheezing
- Coughing
The bad thing about asthma attack is that in severe cases it can take the patient life if the attack is for longer duration of time. As in this disease the patient can’t breath properly and freely so at severe level the patient may be get complete cut out from breath.
Facts About Asthma
Below are some of the facts that might surprise you and you might don’t know about these till now:
- At least 1 out of 6 children are affected by asthma.
- Asthma is the second major cause of children hospitalisation, specially children up to 9 years old and most of these are boys.
- At least 2 out of 15 adults are affected by asthma.
- In America, Africa and other Latin countries asthma has become one of the main cause of increasing death rate.
- In US asthma is one of the major causes of school absentees.
About the Creator
Day 4 of Quitting
If this is how sobriety feels, maybe it’s better to go through life a little buzzed… this, along with other hits like, I want to kill myself, I wish I was dead, and I’m going to throw myself off a bridge have been the only thoughts on rotation these past few days. I promise myself that if, in a month, I still feel like this (‘this’ meaning despondent, full of rage, and simultaneously numb) I can go back to smoking. Until mid-February though? Nicotine is off the table.
By sleepy drafts6 days ago in Longevity
NHS Doctors Dismissed Cancer Symptoms as ‘Women’s Problems’: A Stark Wake-Up Call
The National Health Service (NHS), long considered the cornerstone of the United Kingdom’s healthcare system, is facing growing scrutiny after reports emerged that doctors repeatedly dismissed cancer symptoms in women as mere “women’s problems.” For many, this revelation is more than just an administrative failing; it highlights a persistent gender bias in medicine that continues to put lives at risk. A Pattern of Neglect For decades, women have reported experiencing a troubling lack of attention when presenting symptoms of serious illnesses such as ovarian, breast, or pancreatic cancer. Common complaints—abdominal pain, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, and persistent bloating—were often attributed to menstrual cycles, stress, or anxiety. Patients have recounted stories of being told that “it’s just a woman’s thing” or “hormones are probably causing it,” even when their symptoms were severe and persistent. Medical experts now warn that such dismissals are not only negligent but dangerous. Early detection of cancer is crucial for successful treatment. A delay of even a few months can significantly reduce survival rates. When symptoms are minimized or misattributed to gender-specific issues, women are disproportionately at risk of late-stage diagnoses and more aggressive treatments. The Human Cost The impact of these dismissals is deeply personal and devastating. Women often spend months, and sometimes years, trying to convince healthcare providers that their concerns are legitimate. Many have shared stories of repeatedly visiting general practitioners, undergoing inconclusive tests, and returning home without answers. For some, the delay in diagnosis meant the cancer had already advanced to a stage where treatment options were limited and outcomes bleak. Consider the case of Claire Johnson (name changed for privacy), a 42-year-old mother of two, who repeatedly sought help for persistent stomach pain and fatigue. She was told by her GP that her symptoms were “stress-related” and “just part of being a woman.” Only after a severe hospitalization did imaging reveal advanced ovarian cancer. Today, Claire is undergoing intensive treatment, but the delay significantly reduced her chances of full recovery. Gender Bias in Healthcare Medical studies suggest that women’s symptoms are more likely to be dismissed or misdiagnosed than men’s, particularly for diseases that do not present in textbook fashion. Historically, clinical research has often focused on male subjects, leaving gaps in understanding of how illnesses manifest differently in women. This systemic oversight contributes to misdiagnosis, underestimation of risk, and inadequate treatment planning. Dr. Samantha Green, a prominent oncologist, explains, “There’s a long-standing bias where women’s health concerns, particularly pain or vague symptoms, are often minimized. The assumption is that these are ‘women’s problems,’ not serious medical conditions. This mindset is deadly when it comes to cancer.” The NHS Response Following public outcry, NHS officials have acknowledged the problem and emphasized efforts to improve early detection protocols. Initiatives include increasing awareness among general practitioners, revising diagnostic guidelines to consider gender-specific symptom variations, and expanding access to rapid referral pathways for suspected cancer cases. However, advocacy groups argue that awareness campaigns alone are insufficient. They are calling for mandatory training on gender bias in healthcare, systematic audits of diagnostic delays, and stronger accountability mechanisms to ensure that patient complaints are treated seriously. Moving Toward Change The stories emerging from these cases are not just about healthcare failures—they are about societal attitudes toward women’s health. By dismissing symptoms as trivial or gender-related, the medical system perpetuates a culture where women’s suffering is undervalued. Addressing this requires more than protocol adjustments; it demands a fundamental shift in how doctors listen to, assess, and validate patients’ experiences. Some medical practices are already taking steps in the right direction. Clinics are implementing patient-centered diagnostic procedures, ensuring follow-up on persistent complaints, and prioritizing communication training that highlights empathy and attentiveness. These changes, while gradual, signal hope for a system where women’s health concerns are treated with the seriousness they deserve. A Call to Action For women experiencing unexplained symptoms, the message is clear: trust your instincts and advocate for your health. Seek second opinions, ask for thorough investigations, and insist that your concerns are taken seriously. For the NHS and the wider medical community, the mandate is equally clear: dismantle outdated biases, improve diagnostic vigilance, and treat every patient’s concerns as potentially life-saving information. The dismissal of women’s cancer symptoms as mere “women’s problems” is more than a medical oversight—it is a societal failure with life-or-death consequences. By acknowledging the bias, reforming medical practices, and prioritizing early detection, the NHS has the opportunity to save countless lives and restore trust in a system millions rely on every day.
By Fiazahmedbrohi 5 days ago in Longevity
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