Asthma Types and How They Affect Sufferers Differently

When people hear the word asthma, they associate it with the inability to breathe well. Asthma is a chronic disease that leads to a temporary inflammation in the bronchial tubes which carry oxygen to the lungs. When the tubes are constricted it makes it difficult for air to reach the lungs and causes shortness of breath, tightness of the chest, coughing and wheezing. Although asthma sufferers can experience some of the same symptoms, it doesn’t mean that they have the same type of asthma. Advances in medical studies have found that there are different types of asthma such as exercise induced asthma and nighttime asthma.

It is important for people who suffer from this ailment to know the different asthma types and have their type diagnosed. This is essential in order for them to receive adequate treatment for their particular asthma. The various asthma types that people can suffer from include:

Allergic Asthma—this is the most common of the asthma types. Allergies and asthma are linked since often asthma symptoms are triggered by allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis is the inflammation of the inside lining of the nose and it causes people to have swollen nasal passages, a runny nose, weepy eyes and excess mucus buildup. Often doctors will prescribe allergy medication to those with this type of asthma since it helps lessen asthma symptoms.
Exercise-Induced Asthma—of the asthma types, this is the one that occurs when a person physically over exerts themselves. Many people suffer some level of exercise-induced asthma during exercise. When someone with exercise-induced asthma begins to workout, their airway passage narrows making it difficult to breathe within 20 minutes. Your doctor can prescribe an inhaler to use before you exercise which helps reduce the possibility of your asthma symptoms arising.
Cough-Variant Asthma—for kids, this is one of the common asthma types. As the name suggests, the main symptom is persistent coughing. Some call this condition chronic cough because it lasts longer than six to eight weeks. Sometimes cough-variant asthma mixes with another of the asthma types, exercise-induced asthma, since coughing can increase during exercise.
Nocturnal Asthma—is also one of the common asthma types. Most people who have asthma experience symptoms during sleep because asthma is greatly influenced by the sleep-wake cycle. Asthma symptoms like wheezing, coughing and trouble breathing can be particularly dangerous while you’re sleeping. Studies have shown that most of the deaths related to asthma have occurred while the people were sleeping.

Again, it is crucial that you know the different asthma types that can affect you. If you are experiencing symptoms, consult your physician to narrow down which of the asthma types you have so they can prescribe you the right medication. Only the correct treatment can help you control your asthma and help you lead a normal life.