Asthma Treatment

Asthma is a long-term lung condition that can develop at any age. It is caused by the narrowing and inflammation of the airways, making it difficult to breathe and resulting in coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and tightness in the chest.

Asthma can sometimes be confused with bronchitis, as these conditions share some common symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath caused by airway inflammation. However, asthma and bronchitis differ in terms of the root cause of each condition.

Asthma is a long-term lung condition that can develop at any age. It is caused by the narrowing and inflammation of the airways, making it difficult to breathe and resulting in coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and tightness in the chest.

Bronchitis is caused by a viral or bacterial infection, which increases body temperature (a fever) to help eliminate the pathogens causing the condition. In contrast, asthma is caused by the body’s immune response, which results in airway inflammation and/or exposure to certain allergens and irritants.

For more information, please refer to our expert guide - Asthma vs Bronchitis: What’s the Difference?

The exact cause of asthma is unknown, however, certain factors can increase the risk of developing asthma:

• Allergens: Allergens such as pollen, mould and dust mites can trigger asthma if the immune system perceives them as threats, causing an exaggerated immune response which results in airway inflammation. This subsequently causes the muscles surrounding the airways to tighten and increases mucus production, leading to the narrowing of the airways and making it more difficult to breathe.
• Irritants: Irritants such as smoke, chemical fumes and strong odours can irritate sensory nerve endings in the airways. This irritation can cause mucus production to increase and contribute to the constriction of the muscles around the airways, causing the airways to narrow and making it more difficult to breathe.
• Genetics: Genetics contribute to asthma by influencing specific genes such as IL4, IL13, ADAM33, and ORMDL3, which regulate immune responses and airway inflammation. Mutations in these genes can increase the likelihood of airway hypersensitivity, inflammation and alteration, making individuals more susceptible to developing asthma, especially if there is a family history of the condition.

Research suggests there may be more than 10 types of asthma, classified according to factors such as the primary trigger, the age at which they affect individuals, and more. Some of the most common asthma types include:

• Allergic asthma: Allergic asthma is caused by an immune response to airborne allergens such as pollen, mould spores, pet dander and dust mites. Individuals with allergic asthma are more likely to experience symptoms during hay fever season when tree, grass and weed pollen levels increase. Tree pollen levels typically increase from March to mid-May, while grass pollen levels remain high from mid-May to July and weed pollen levels remain high from June to September.
• Non-allergic asthma: Non-allergic asthma can be triggered by stress, pollution, smoking or the consumption of recreational drugs.
• Seasonal asthma: Seasonal asthma refers to the occurrence of asthma symptoms at certain times of the year such as winter when inhaling the colder and drier air can irritate the airways, exacerbating asthma symptoms such as coughing and wheezing.
• Occupational asthma: Occupational asthma is triggered by factors that the individual is exposed to in the workplace such as fumes, chemicals, dust and animal particles.
• 'Exercise-induced' asthma: Exercise-induced asthma is caused when the airways narrow or squeeze during strenuous physical activity.
• Childhood asthma: Childhood asthma is a form of asthma that develops in children, often due to a family history of the condition.
• Adult-onset asthma: Adult-onset asthma affects individuals over the age of 20. This type of asthma is often linked to triggers including respiratory infections, environmental factors or occupational exposures.

For additional information on the various types of asthma, please refer to our guide - Asthma: Everything You Need to Know

The most common symptoms of asthma include:

• Coughing and/or wheezing caused by the tightening of the airways in response to the release of inflammatory mediators in the bloodstream
• Mucus overproduction
• Breathlessness
• Chest tightness and/or pain

It is important to note that the symptoms listed above can be caused by other conditions such as a cold or flu. However, asthma symptoms differ from similar symptoms of other conditions affecting the lungs in three ways:

• Asthma symptoms occur in response to a specific allergen
• Asthma symptoms are more likely to occur at night or early in the morning
• Asthma symptoms can become more frequent and/or recurrent without treatment

It is important to remember that asthma symptoms differ from person to person based on factors such as the individual’s specific asthma triggers and the severity of their asthma

An asthma attack refers to the sudden constriction of the airways in the lungs due to a trigger such as an airborne allergen.

If an allergen is inhaled, an immune response is triggered which results in the release of anti-inflammatory compounds such as histamines in the body. These substances cause muscles around the airways to tighten (known as ‘bronchoconstriction’) and stimulate the submucosal glands, increasing the production of mucus to help trap foreign particles that may have been inhaled through the nose or throat.

The symptoms of an asthma attack include coughing, wheezing, mucus overproduction, breathlessness and chest tightness.

It is important to remember that asthma attacks require immediate medical intervention to reopen the airways and stabilise breathing as quickly as possible. This involves the use of bronchodilators such as salbutamol which help relax the smooth muscles around the airways.

It is important to remember that asthma attacks require immediate medical intervention to reopen the airways and stabilise breathing as quickly as possible. This involves the use of bronchodilators such as salbutamol which help relax the smooth muscles around the airways.

Recommended reading: Phases of an Asthma Attack, Explained

Ventolin inhalers - this type of asthma treatment consists of a pump which delivers the active ingredient, salbutamol, to the lungs. Once inhaled, salbutamol binds to receptors on the smooth muscle cells in the airways, increasing the body’s levels of an enzyme called cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). cAMP activates a type of protein involved in muscle contraction, causing the muscles around the airways to relax and making it easier to breathe. Inhalers containing salbutamol, such as Ventolin inhalers, are classified as ‘reliever’ inhalers because they provide immediate relief from asthma symptoms.

The AeroChamber Range - AeroChamber spacers are designed to attach to Ventolin inhalers to maximise the delivery of salbutamol from the inhalers to the lungs. Each spacer features a chamber into which salbutamol is pumped, making it easier to inhale the medication through the mouthpiece. Some AeroChamber spacers also include a mask to enhance the transfer of salbutamol from the inhaler canister to the lungs. These features help ensure that as much of the medication as possible reaches the lungs, rather than being lost in the mouth or throat.