Here in the Philippines where listed drugstores are common, access to medicine is easy and quick. However, that’s not to say that everyone makes the most out of it; there are still individuals who do not know how to deal with even the most common ailments found here in our country.

Now, as in the rest of the world, there are a wide variety of illnesses here that could crop up at any time. Knowing how to deal with them and preventing them from spreading is tantamount to ensuring both your own health and that of your loved ones.

Now that our goal is laid out we can now focus on what we truly want to talk about: asthma. What is it, really, and what can we do about it?

WHAT IS ASTHMA?

Asthma is among the common chronic diseases that people from every walk of life can have, and for most, it starts during childhood. It is characterized by a condition wherein the airways in your lungs inflame, narrow, then produce extra mucus. This makes breathing difficult and can trigger a host of other symptoms, including: recurring chest tightness, wheezing, shortness of breath, and even coughing at night or early in the morning.

If you’d look into a list of drugstores in the Philippines, they often stock a huge number of drugs for relieving the said lung disease given its prevalence in the country. Furthermore, according to the Global Asthma Report, there’s a ratio of 1 out of 10 Filipinos who suffer from asthma.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF ASTHMA?

Here are common symptoms that could indicate the presence of asthma. They include:

• Chest tightness that may feel like something’s sitting or squeezing the chest.
• Wheezing wherein squeaky or whistling sound that occurs when breathing.
• Shortness of breath given the narrowing indication that the inflammation causes in the lungs.
• Coughing which may worsen in the early morning or late at night.

When left unattended, these symptoms can develop into more serious cases. That said, make sure to consult a doctor at the onset; early prevention is better than cure after all.

WHAT CAUSES ASTHMA?

Going forward, it’s also best to know what mainly triggers asthma in order to avoid sudden attacks that may interrupt your daily routines. These triggers include:

• Common allergens from animal fur, dust, mold, cockroaches, or pollens from trees, flowers, and grasses;
• Irritants present in the air such as air pollution, cigarette smoke, dust or chemicals in the workplace or other infrastructures, and sprays like perfume or hairspray;
• Colds, flu or other similar illnesses;
• Physical activities such as exercise (depending on the person’s condition);
• Particular medicinal drugs such as aspirin or some other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
• Stress
• Food and beverage additives

Do note that the triggers may differ from person to person. Others may have the following as stated above, while some may not. With this in mind, it’s best to consult a doctor for proper diagnosis and information of the condition, or attend a free medical check up from among the list of drugstores in the Philippines.

KEY TAKEAWAY

While asthma may be common and treatments may be similar, it’s best not to copy someone’s medical prescription in order to treat your own or your child’s. Talk to your doctor and coordinate to come up with an asthma action plan in order to properly treat your condition. Furthermore, ask of what exactly can trigger your condition to avoid sudden attacks.