The LIGHT Center, T-90, College of the Redwoods (476-4290) - October 30, 2000

I am quite confident that all of us are familiar with someone, either friend or relative who has asthma. This is a fairly common disorder, affecting anywhere from 12 to 18 million people in the United States. As many as 5 million of those are children. Asthma is a chronic disease that involves the blockage of airflow in and out of the lungs. The blockage can be the result of muscle constriction, mucous, or airway swelling. Most people with asthma are bothered by factors in the environment that don’t affect non-asthmatics. These environmental "triggers" cause the asthmatic’s airway to become narrowed and irritated. This can result in the characteristic wheezing and coughing commonly associated with asthma.

There are different categories of asthma, including childhood, exercise induced and occupational forms of the disorder. Childhood asthma is one of the most common childhood diseases; one often misdiagnosed as infections by physicians. It is the most frequent serious chronic disease of childhood. Exercise induced asthma is a form of the disease that manifests itself only after the person has engaged in strenuous activity. Approximately 11% of the population suffer from this form of the disease. Between 5 to 20 minutes after beginning exercise, the individual begins to suffer shortness of breath and wheezing. Chest tightness and prolonged shortness of breath also occurs. This is due to several things, one being mouth breathing during exercise. Mouth breathing doesn’t allow the air to flow through the nasal cavities where it is warmed and moisturized. Air from the mouth is humidified to only 60 – 70% relative humidity, while air from the nose is 80 – 90% humidified. Also, exercise induced asthma can result from viral infections of the respiratory system, high pollen counts, and air pollutants. Individuals with this type of asthma are encouraged to engage in sports less likely to trigger a bout of asthma, including swimming, biking, and downhill skiing.

It is estimated that up to 15% of asthma cases in the US are the result of occupational factors. There are certainly some professions that are more susceptible to the problem than others. For example, those working with detergents or printing materials are at highest risk. Also, isocynanates are chemicals encountered in jobs involving spray painting, insulation, or plastics. These are also chemicals which put workers at high risk for respiratory problems. Occupational asthma is caused by one of three factors:

• Direct irritant effects
• Allergies
• Pharmacological mechanisms

The latter of these involves the inhalation of aerosol substances such as insecticides, which build up acetylcholine in the body, resulting in muscle constriction.

Please send any comments to trish-blair@redwoods.edu

All Hallows moon, witches soon.
Canadian Proverb

What are some of the factors that trigger asthma? Included in the list of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology:

• Allergens or irritants

-tobacco smoke, vapors, dust, gases or fumes, cleaners, paints, chalk, weather conditions, perfumes,

• Viral or sinus infections

-sinusitis,

• Exercise

• Reflux Disease

-acid reflux, a condition in which the stomach acid flows back up the esophagus affects 89% of asthma sufferers,

• Medications and food

-Aspirin, non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, milk, eggs, peanuts, soy, wheat, fish and shellfish can all trigger attacks.

• Emotional anxiety

-A recent study done at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that undergraduate students with allergies experienced an increase in eosinophilia. This is a leukocyte in while blood cells found during allergic reactions. Researchers found that students had higher levels of eosinophilia during exam week than at any other time of the year.

TREATMENT

Most cases of asthma are treated pharmacologically. There are effective medications on the market however an evaluation by a physician is essential to asthma management.