Asthma and COPD

Asthma

In asthma, the airways are hypersensitive to certain stimuli: the muscles contract, the mucous membranes swell and produce more mucus. This narrows the airways, reduces airflow and causes breathlessness.

Asthma often goes hand in hand with allergies. Allergic triggers that can cause a reaction in the airways include house dust mites, pet dander, mould and pollen. In addition, the airways can react to smoke, chlorine, cooking fumes, temperature changes, steam and fog, as well as physical exertion and colds or flu. Symptoms usually appear immediately, but sometimes only after several hours. Several members of the same family often have asthma.

Treatment of asthma

The aim of asthma medication is to control and manage the condition. These medicines are administered via an inhaler, also known as a puffer, so that they go straight into your lungs. The type of medicine in the inhaler depends on the severity and type of asthma you have.

There are different types of inhalers used for asthma. Anti-inflammatory drugs help reduce minor inflammation in the lungs, making your lungs less sensitive to irritants. They are used daily, even if you have no symptoms, and take about a week to work properly. Bronchodilators They relax the muscles around your airways, widening them and making it easier to breathe. They work quickly to relieve breathlessness or an asthma attack, but they do not cure the inflammation in the lungs. Sometimes these two types are combined in one combination buffer, which both protects the lungs and dilates the airways, providing relief in the long term as well as for acute symptoms.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) is a chronic lung disease in which symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing and mucus production are common. If you have COPD, you often feel short of breath. Normal activities such as climbing stairs, shopping or getting dressed can be difficult. Inflammation in your lungs causes your alveoli to slowly break down. With COPD, you may experience:

• Shortness of breath
• Coughing
• Coughing up phlegm
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Little muscle strength
• Weight loss

It is often difficult to recognise the symptoms of COPD because they worsen slowly and imperceptibly. As a result, people do not notice the symptoms properly, underestimate their severity and do not visit their GP. This is problematic because early recognition of symptoms can ensure that COPD is detected and treated sooner.

Treatment of COPD

Medicines play an important role in the treatment of COPD because they improve lung function. Most people with COPD therefore use medicines. Although there are no medicines that can completely cure COPD, they can reduce shortness of breath and coughing. They alleviate your symptoms, slow down the progression of the disease and reduce the risk of sudden worsening of symptoms.

Most people with COPD use bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory drugs. These are medicines that you inhale using an inhaler, or puffer. Bronchodilators relax the muscles around your airways, causing them to widen. This makes it easier to breathe. Anti-inflammatories take several weeks to work properly, so it is important to use them exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Anti-inflammatories are maintenance medicines and must be used correctly for a long period of time, even if your symptoms temporarily improve. In addition, it is important to have your GP, pulmonologist or lung nurse check at least once a year whether you are still inhaling correctly and whether your medication is still suitable for you.

Tips for asthma and COPD

Your medication works best when you take good care of your lungs. Quitting smoking and exercising regularly helps strengthen your lungs and ensures that your medication works better. These changes will often make you feel fitter and reduce your symptoms.