Perennial Asthma: Symptoms, Causes And Treatment Tips

Are you the one having breathing difficulties of having persistent could over a period of time? If yes, then you must get yourself check for asthma. Asthma is of different types and can occur in adulthood as well. It is one of the most common conditions that affect people and could lead them to severity at any point of time if not given attention. Asthma is a chronic obstructive airway disease which is mostly episodic in presentation. But when a patient of asthma has occurrence of symptoms on most of the days in a year, this is called persistent asthma or perennial asthma. Today, we will know about this type of asthma in detail to raise awareness about this respiratory condition. 

What is Perennial Asthma?   

We spoke to Dr. Manoj Goel, Director, Pulmonology, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram to know about perennial asthma and its effect on your health. He said that is a chronic disease which is persistent and does not have any particular cure. Patients of perennial asthma usually complains of breathing difficulty, cough, chest tightness and wheezing throughout the year. Gradually these symptoms become more frequent and increase in severity if the asthma is not appropriately treated. In fact, the word persistent asthma is obsolete and no more used by the clinicians.  This is now termed as uncontrolled asthma or perennial asthma which falls in the severe category.

These patients over a period of time develop irreversible airway disease leading to chronic respiratory disability and increased cardiac load. The patients of perennial asthma are at a higher risk of severe acute asthma attacks which could be life-threatening.   

Cause of Perennial Asthma 

The most important causes of persistent uncontrolled asthma are inappropriate drug therapy and continuous exposure to the asthma triggers. The key in asthma management is controller inhaled therapy.  The controller inhalers contain inhaled corticosteroids with or without a long-acting inhaled bronchodilators. These inhalers are available in a variety of devices which a doctor can prescribe by judging the patients’ preferences. 

Also Read- Inhalers Are Best For Asthma Management, Know Why Doctors Vouch For Them 

Use of Inhalers in Perennial Asthma 

Many patients avoid inhalers because of the device itself which they feel is a stigma and also because of misconstrued fear of inhaled corticosteroids. But let me tell you an inhaler contains very small doses of the drugs which make it very safe to use for a long period of time as preventive and controller therapy without risks of any significant side effects.  The inhalers are more effective and safer compared to oral drugs.  

Triggers and Tips to Avoid Perennial Asthma 

The various triggers of perennial asthma can include smoking, dust, pollution, cold air, pet hair and dander, pollens, stress and anxiety.  Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease.  Therefore, this is important to continue controller and preventive inhalers as long as prescribed by your doctor even when you are not having asthma symptoms. 

1. Avoid triggering factors such as smoke due to cigarettes, bidis, hukkah, e-cigarettes, agar Battis, oil lamps, and biofuels.  
2. Avoid exposure to animal dander, hair or feathers.  
3. Avoid mold/fungus by keeping your home dry. Remove carpets, wallpaper, and woodwork which is infested with molds.  
4. Maintain good hygiene to avoid infection.   
5. Take flu and pneumonia vaccine as advised by your doctor.  
6. Eat whole-some food which includes nuts, colored fruits and vegetables.   
7. Avoid cold water and drinks which can trigger asthma.  
8. Avoid heavy meals and junk foods.   
9. Do regular exercises, yoga and relaxed breathing. 
10. Be careful while going out in pollution or dust as it might trigger perennial asthma.  

Also Read- Can IVF Prevent Thalassemia? Know What Experts Say

Can Perennial Asthma Be Cured? 

Please remember that there is no cure for asthma, but this can be easily controlled by using preventive and controller inhalers and avoidant of known triggers.  A patient of well controlled asthma lives practically a normal life with preserved lung functions. Therefore it is important to get diagnosed if you have any such symptoms and take relevant precautions against this disease.

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