Asthma Types
There are two main asthma types: childhood asthma and exercise-induced asthma. Some medical professionals classify the disease as either intrinsic or extrinsic. Intrinsic asthma accounts for only ten percent of the cases and usually occurs after the age of thirty. This non-allergic classification is often seen in women following a respiratory tract infection or damage to the bronchial tubes. Extrinsic asthma makes up ninety percent of all cases and is caused by external allergens.
Childhood Asthma
Childhood asthma is a form of extrinsic asthma that affects five to ten million children in the United States. It is a genetic condition that can begin at any age, but usually reveals itself by way of signs and symptoms between two to six years. Seventy percent of people with asthma can trace the disease back to the first three years of their lives. This asthma type is set off by exposure to allergens. The allergens that can initiate an asthma attack are individualized, but many common triggers exist. The common allergens that trigger childhood asthma are:
- Dust
- Mold
- Pollen
- Tobacco smoke
- Pet dander
- Air pollution
- Cockroach droppings
- Perfume
- Spray-on deodorant
- Nuts
- Milk
- Soy products
- Sulfite, a common food preservative
Other non-allergic factors that can trigger an asthma attack include:
- Strong emotions
- Temperature changes
- Heartburn
- Hormonal factors
- Beta-blockers
- Aspirin and ibuprofen
- Sinus infections
- Exercise
Exercise-Induced Asthma
Those who suffer from exercise-induced asthma do not experience signs or symptoms under circumstances other than while performing physical activities. People with this asthma type are generally sensitive to changes in air temperature and humidity. Exercise-induced asthma often occurs in cold, dry weather conditions. When a person is exercising they need to take in more air; therefore, they breathe through the mouth not the nose. Inhaling through the mouth does not warm air the way it does when inhaling through the nose. Exercise-induced asthma occurs when the cold air reaches the warm air in the lungs. The airways switch to attack mode in an effort to eliminate this frigid foreigner. Incongruously, the bronchial tubes fight back too hard and make matters worse for the entire body.
The signs and symptoms of exercise-induced asthma are identical to childhood asthma: coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and extreme fatigue. These signs and symptoms usually begin fifteen to twenty minutes after exercise begins, peak five to ten minutes after exercise stops and gradually diminish within an hour. Sports and activities that trigger exercise-induced asthma are long-distance running, basketball, soccer, ice and field hockey, cross-country skiing and any activity that requires continuous movements in cold, dry environments.