Treatments for Reactive Airway Disease

Reactive airway disease is a common ailment and is commonly known and referred to as asthma. This lung condition occurs when the airways within the lungs are stimulated and overreact to those stimuli. Episodes occur when a trigger causes the airways to react differently than they normally would. Common triggers include smoke, animals, seasonal pollen and exercise.

Most people who have reactive airway disease, or asthma, have more than one stimulus that will trigger an episode. Knowing what your triggers are and avoiding situations of prolonged exposure to the trigger will reduce the chance of experiencing an episode. When an episode does occur, patients will experience shortness of breath, wheezing and sometimes chest pains. Often times, these will be accompanied by a dry cough, sweating and hunched shoulders. This occurs because not enough air is entering the lungs. Many people become tired and listless before, during or after an episode. Again, this is because the body is not receiving enough oxygen. There is no cure for asthma, but the use of certain medications and knowing your personal limits will aid in controlling the disorder. It is not uncommon for children to outgrow asthma. Adults, on the other hand, usually have the disorder throughout life.

Treating an episode is important, and should begin at the first recognition of the onset of an episode. Notice the warning signs and take appropriate steps to relieve the attack. If you are in an area that contains known triggers, remove yourself and do your best to get away from the trigger. This will not stop the attack, but it will slow the process and make it more manageable. Staying calm is the key to controlling an episode. If you get anxious and panic, your airways will constrict more, enhancing the attack. If possible, drink warm liquids. This will thin the buildup of the thick mucus that is making it hard to breathe. Cold liquids and drinks with milk may make spasms worse and thicken mucus.