Recent developments in the treatment of asthma - Essay Example

Asthma is known to have caused by various factors. These include allergens, irritants, and other factors. The signs and symptoms of asthma are unpredictable and vary from one person to another. The four levels of asthma identified depending on the symptoms are: mild intermittent asthma, mild persistent asthma, moderate persistent asthma, and severe persistent asthma. Asthma is diagnosed by spirometry, allergy testing, peak flow meter, chest x – rays and electrocardiogram, and tests to determine how airways would react to exercise, presence of gastroesophageal reflux disease, and presence of sinus disease.

Patients must work together with their health care providers in order to achieve the goal of asthma control. The two types of medicine used to control asthma: Quick relief medicines and Long term control medicines. Asthma is a poorly understood, highly complex disease whose main cause remains unknown (Steinke et al, 2001). The pathogenesis and susceptibility of asthma involves interplay between genetic and environmental factors that are complex in nature (Laprise, et al, 2004). Butz et al. (2000) noted that asthma is the most common long – term childhood disease.

Laprise, et al (2004) and Kips (2001) stated that the interaction of cytokines regulates inflammation of the airways and process of remodeling that are present in milder form of asthma. These govern the appearance of asthma as well as the severity of symptoms of airway responsiveness (Laprise, 2004). Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease affecting the airways. In asthma, the airways become swollen making them sensitive and react to various allergens and lung irritants. As a result, the airways react by becoming narrower making the air flowing to the lung tissues decreased.

Consequently, symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, tightening of the chest, and breathing difficulty especially at night and early morning are manifested (Jeffery, et al., 2006; Courtney, et