Types of Asthma
Asthma is health condition resulting from difficulties with breathing, which are caused by narrowing and swelling of a person’s airways.
In some cases asthma is quite mild and doesn’t require medical treatment, but asthma can also be extremely serious and life-threatening. Determined by intensity and frequency of symptoms, asthma is typically categorized into four different types known as mild intermittent asthma, mild persistent asthma, moderate persistent asthma, and severe persistent asthma.
With any type of asthma a proper diagnosis and treatment plan is essential. Consult your doctor if you feel you may have any type of asthma.
Mild Intermittent Asthma
In the case of mild intermittent asthma mild symptoms can be expected. Frequency of symptoms can be expected to be minimal, and this kind of asthma does not often get in the way of a person’s normal activities.
Symptoms of mild intermittent asthma include some mucus in airways, mild swelling of airways, some coughing, and possible wheezing during breathing.
A rescue inhaler is the most common treatment for this mildest type of asthma. Daily medications are not usually required. In some cases allergy medications may be prescribed if the asthma is caused by allergies.
In the case of exercise induced asthma, a rescue inhaler may be recommended for used before any exercise for prevention of any symptoms.
Mild intermittent asthma is the one of the most common forms of asthma. Family history, allergies, weight issues, consistent exposure to fumes, occupational chemicals, and/or pollution can all increase likelihood of this type of asthma.
Mild Persistent Asthma
In the case of mild persistent asthma, symptoms are considered mild but are expected to occur more often. With this kind of asthma, symptoms will not occur more frequently than once a day.
Symptoms of mild persistent asthma include chest pain and/or tightness, presence of mucus in airways, swelling of airways, some coughing, as well as wheezing during breathing.
Usually used daily, a corticosteroid inhalant (low dose) is the typical treatment for this type of asthma. A rescue inhaler may also be prescribed for symptoms that still present occasionally. Allergy medications are also often prescribed in the case of allergy induced asthma.
Along with mild intermittent asthma, mild persistent asthma is the one of the most common forms of asthma. Family history, allergies, weight issues, consistent exposure to fumes, occupational chemicals, pollution, and/or second hand smoke, and smoking can all increase likelihood of this type of asthma.
Moderate Persistent Asthma
In the case of moderate persistent asthma symptoms are likely to present almost every day, or at least most days, and symptoms are likely at least once a week during the night, as well.
Symptoms of moderate persistent asthma are similar to those mild persistent asthma (but occur more frequently) and include chest pain and/or tightness, presence of mucus in airways, swelling of airways, some coughing, as well as wheezing during breathing.
Used daily, a corticosteroid inhalant (higher dose) is the typical treatment for this type of asthma. And again, a rescue inhaler may also be prescribed for symptoms that still present occasionally. Allergy medications are also often prescribed in the case of allergy induced asthma.
Family history, allergies, weight issues, consistent exposure to fumes, occupational chemicals, pollution, and/or second hand smoke, and smoking can all increase likelihood of this type of asthma.
Severe Persistent Asthma
In the case of severe persistent asthma, symptoms will present frequently, as much as several times each day, as well as many nights a week. Unfortunately, in the case of severe persistent asthma medications often do not fully relieve symptoms.
Symptoms of severe persistent asthma are similar to those moderate persistent asthma (but occur even more frequently) and include chest pain and/or tightness, presence of mucus in airways, swelling of airways, some coughing, as well as wheezing during breathing.
Aggressive treatment is often required for this type of asthma and usually includes a blend of medications and dosages. Some experimentation by the doctor is often required to find a combination that offers the most relief and control of symptoms, including higher dosages of inhaled corticosteroids and oral corticosteroids, as well as rescue inhalers and other medications.
Any age group may develop sever persistent asthma. Sometimes milder forms of asthma develop into severe persistent asthma, and sometimes asthma just presents, or first becomes diagnosed, in this severe form. In some cases respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia may induce this type of asthma. Luckily, this type of asthma is the rarest type.
Symptoms of severe persistent asthma are similar to those moderate persistent asthma (but occur even more frequently) and include chest pain and/or tightness, presence of mucus in airways, swelling of airways, some coughing, as well as wheezing during breathing.
As with other kinds of asthma, family history, allergies, weight issues, consistent exposure to fumes, occupational chemicals, pollution, and/or second hand smoke, and smoking can all increase likelihood.