Help! I can’t catch my breath.
Help! I can’t catch my breath. This statement was something I used to hear him say after he ran up and down the soccer field, chased up down the neighborhood street or jumped too long on the bed. My younger brother, Tyler.
The baby of the family! He was one of the most active out of us four children, but he was the only one who was constantly stopped in his tracks, gasping for air, because he couldn’t breathe. Ever since I could recall he knew he had asthma. He loved playing outside, getting into things in or around the house, spending time climbing trees, rolling down hills and playing the most competitive sports. Thankfully, his health condition didn’t stop him from exploring the things he loved. Yet it did create challenges that he had to learn to navigate if he wanted to continue to partake in them. As a child I didn’t understand why he and I both could play the same game of basketball, running outside and he’d start wheezing for air #helpican'tbreathe and I’d be okay. I thought, another asthma attack, sheesh! I know he’s faster (not by much 😊), but does it cause all of that. A few puffs of his inhaler and he was back to new. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve seen the various effects asthma has on people’s lives, alongside how my brother Tyler, now able to run alongside his children today and not have that once debilitating wheezing happen. I decided I could learn more about the cause of it all and why it only effects some people.
Asthma is the leading chronic disease in children. You can live with it every day; it has no cure and can be life threatening. It’s a lung disease that causes breathing problems from everyday factors. It’s where an individual’s lungs react to things, due to the airway being sensitive when exposed to them. Many factors can be a trigger that impacts one’s ability to breathe with asthma. Some of those factors are dust, smoke, pollen, viral infection, chemical irritants, cold air, or even extreme emotions such as anger or fear (Asher, 2020). Viral respiratory infections are the leading trigger for an asthma attack. On average children develop 6 of these infections each year (Tesini, 2023). Yet things such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza (flu) can be very damaging to someone who has asthma. Children getting the flu on average once or twice a year (Tesini, 2023). From viral infections alone, they have a heightened chance of experiencing asthmatic symptoms. Not to mention everyday indoor and outdoor pollutants. Smog, fragrances, chemicals, and such can irritate the lungs and cause greater inflammation to the airway. Outdoor allergens such as grass, weeds, trees, and mold can make asthma symptoms worse (Williams, 2021). These things can cause changes in the airway, making the space to breathe smaller and smaller. This happens by way of swelling or inflammation of the airway, extra mucus produces making the airway even smaller and tightening of muscles referred to as bronchoconstriction, narrowing the airway and irritated (Ingelheim, 2023). Each of these changes reduces or constricts the airway path, making it hard to breathe. When one or all three of these changes take place, it triggers an asthma attack #asthmaattacks. Symptoms of an asthma attack are severe shortness of breath, tightness, or pain in your chest, wheezing or coughing and fast heart rate (Seladi-Schulman, 2023).
So how does one control these symptoms or triggers from occurring? One learning and being mindful of individual triggers is helpful, this gives insight to things you can attempt to avoid that can bring on asthmatic symptoms or allow you to be prepared to treat them should they come. As I mentioned, my brother used an inhaler. It’s known as an rescue inhaler, which contains medication that expands one’s airway (Seladi-Schulman, 2023). Inhalers are the preferred way of treating an asthma attack, it’s not the only form of treatment. Although treatments are specific to everyone some common practices to help during an asthma attack are to have the asthmatic person sit up straight, this helps opens the airway. Remain calm as the calming allows for better breathing. Steady their breathing with slow, steady breathes and to move away from known triggers. These things can help reduce asthma symptoms. If the attack is serious, such as symptoms get worse after treatment, wheezing becomes severe, speaking becomes difficult and short or chest muscles are straining, call for medical attention immediately.
Learning more about what causes asthma, what can help prevent or calm symptoms I was still curious as to why my brother didn’t seem to have those same attacks now. Since asthma isn’t curable why didn’t he experience the same symptoms. Seeking out answers further I learned there may be stretches of time where asthma flare ups or other symptoms don’t occur. It unfortunately, doesn’t mean it disappeared, but it is nice to experience the relief. Avoiding asthmatic triggers are experienced when you have a solid treatment plan that you’re adhering to. Such as taking your medications or staying away from known triggers (2023). So, although my brother didn’t outgrow asthma, he has learned overtime how to navigate it to not experience those heart wrenching asthma attacks. He’s like how can learn to manage asthma to be able to live a normal and healthy life. Now he can explore nature, games, and such with his kids #livingwithasthma. And although asthma can be passed down, none of his children have it. It is most common being passed down when both parents have it.
Reference
Asher, M. I., García-Marcos, L., Pearce, N. E., & Strachan, D. P. (2020, December 1). Trends in worldwide asthma prevalence. European Respiratory Society. https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/56/6/2002094 Seladi-Schulman, J. (2023, May 9). What to do when you have an asthma attack without an inhaler. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/asthma/asthma-attack-no-inhaler
Can you outgrow asthma?: Carolina Asthma & Allergy. Carolina Asthma & Allergy Center. (2023, November 2). https://www.carolinaasthma.com/blog/can-you-outgrow-asthma/
Tesini, B. L. (2023, October 13). Overview of viral respiratory tract infections in children - children’s health issues. Merck Manuals Consumer Version. https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/children-s-health-issues/common-viral-infections-in-infants-and-children/overview-of-viral-respiratory-tract-infections-in-children#:~:text=Children%20develop%20on%20average%20six%20viral%20respiratory%20tract%20infections%20each%20year.&text=Upper%20respiratory%20tract%20infections%3A%20Symptoms,and%20include%20the%20common%20cold
Williams, K. W. (2021, June 8). 9 asthma triggers and what to do about them. HealthyChildren.org. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/allergies-asthma/Pages/asthma-triggers-and-what-to-do-about-them.aspx