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Asthma

Causes, symptoms & treatment

What is Asthma?

Asthma (sometimes referred to as chronic respiratory disease) is a lung disease characterized by inflamed, narrow airways that can make it hard to breathe. Asthma attacks occur when the muscles around the lungs tighten, causing bronchial tubes to swell and fill with mucus. This significantly limits airflow and makes breathing very difficult. There is no cure for asthma, though it can be managed effectively with appropriate treatment. More than 3.8 million Canadians have been diagnosed with asthma, the third most common chronic condition in the country.

What Causes Asthma?

There is currently no known scientifically endorsed cause of asthma, but there are a number of risk factors associated with the development of the disease.

  • Allergies
  • Lung infections
  • Premature birth
  • Family history
  • Genetics
  • Obesity
  • Hormones
  • Poor air quality

Asthma Symptoms & Triggers

Asthma can be triggered by a variety of factors, both allergic (dust mites, pollen, mold, pet dander, etc.) and non-allergic (smoke, cold air, pollutants, etc.).

Common symptoms of asthma include:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Coughing
  • Increased mucus production
  • Wheezing
  • Chest tightness
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Sweating
  • Decreased activity
  • Exercise

When to See a Doctor

If you experience severe asthma symptoms or symptoms of an asthma attack, you should seek emergency medical attention.

How to Diagnose Asthma

Before an asthma diagnosis can be made, your doctor will need to rule out other lung conditions like pneumonia, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), etc. To diagnose you, your doctor will likely take a thorough medical and family history and ask you to take breathing tests to check your lung function.

Spirometry breathing

Tests require patients to breathe into a spirometer to measure the volume of air produced.

Peak flow breathing

Tests are similar, but measure how fast you can exhale air from your lungs.

Challenge tests

Follow the same procedure as spirometry but ask patients to take the test twice before and after a challenge (like exercising or breathing in a small amount of medication).

Asthma Treatment

If you are diagnosed with asthma, your doctor will likely create a customized asthma action plan to help you manage your condition. This plan may include a combination of treatments including lifestyle adjustments and medication.

Adults with severe asthma may also undergo bronchial thermoplasty, which involves a tube being inserted into the airways to warm them and encourage the surrounding muscles to relax.

Top Prescribed Asthma Medications

Controllers

    Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICS)
  • Beclomethasone (Qvar RediHaler)
  • Fluticasone (Flovent, Flovent HFA, Arnuity Ellipta)
  • Mometasone (Asmanex Twisthaler)
    Anti-Leukotriene Receptor Antagonists (LTRA)
  • Montelukast (Singulair)
  • Zafirlukast (Accolate)
  • Zileuton (Zyflo CR, Zyflo)
    Biologics
  • Omalizumab (Xolair, Xolair Prefilled Syringe)
  • Mepolizumab (Nucala, Nucala Prefilled Autoinjector, Nucala Prefilled Syringe)
  • Reslizumab (Cinqair)

Relievers

    Fast-acting Beta-Agonists (FABA)
  • Formoterol + Budesonide (Symbicort)
  • Formoterol + Mometasone (Dulera)
  • Salmeterol + Fluticasone (Advair)
  • Vilanterol + Fluticasone (Breo)