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One of the most common chronic diseases of the respiratory system is bronchial asthma. The disease develops in both adults and children. An individualized approach to asthma treatment is very important, as the doses of medications are selected strictly for each patient, depending on the severity of manifestations and the presence of comorbidities. In Germany, pulmonology departments use a personalized and collegial approach, which significantly improves the course of the disease and extends the remission period.
Causes of occurrence
Asthma is a multifactorial disease and the following factors influence its development:
- genetics
- occupational factors
- ecology
- nutrition
- detergents
- infections
- overweight.
Most often the disease occurs in children. With proper therapy in adolescence, the disease is practically not manifested. However, with stress, infectious diseases, pregnancy and childbirth, symptoms may reappear. In addition, the disease can appear already in adulthood, under the influence of various risk factors. A large number of studies have been conducted, thanks to which groups of genes have been identified, the activation of which can contribute to the development of asthma. In clinics in Germany, genetic studies are carried out to determine and assess the risks of developing the disease. However, in the presence of such genes can prevent the development of pathology, it is necessary to eliminate external risk factors: improve environmental living conditions, avoid allergens, normalize nutrition.
About 15% of all cases of the disease are related to occupational diseases, this is due to the working conditions, when workers inhale harmful substances throughout the day. In bronchial asthma, the main trigger or factor that triggers suffocation is an allergen. This can be pollen from various plants, pet hair. Patients with suffocation often have allergies of varying degrees of severity. In addition, triggers are a sharp cold wind, stress, a sharp smell of perfume or atomizer, physical exertion, chemicals.
Diagnosis
For a correct diagnosis, a consultation with a pulmonologist is required. Initially, he will collect the patient’s medical history and complaints. The main complaints of bronchial asthma are a pronounced cough, shortness of breath of various types, choking, increasing symptoms during physical exertion. These symptoms are characteristic of an exacerbation of asthma or an acute attack. There may also be pain when coughing. After this, the doctor conducts an examination. Asphyxia in addition to the respiratory system affects the cardiovascular system, which is manifested by a change in heart rate, skin discoloration, disturbances in the heart (arrhythmias). In addition, when conducting auscultation, that is, listening to various types of sounds in the lungs, the doctor will determine the presence of wheezing, their nature.
If pathology is suspected, the external respiratory function is examined. This technique is also called spirometry. Spirometry assists the doctor in determining the volume of exhalation for one second. Based on the results, he concludes about the lungs’ ability to fill and the reactivity of the bronchi, how much the patient is prone to bronchospasm.
Different lung volumes are studied at rest, and when administering various drugs, performing stress tests. After that, analyze sputum, blood. Determine the level of eosinophils. In the sputum are determined Kurshman spirals, Charcot-Leiden crystals. In addition, assess the patient’s allergic status, perform skin tests.
The diagnosis is most often made on the basis of clinical findings. If a diagnosis is made, it is crucial to find out:
- the frequency of the seizures,
- whether they occur at night,
- the pattern of choking after exercise and triggers,
- the doses of medications taken and their effect on seizure control.
Asthma outside an exacerbation is quite often confused with bronchitis, which subsequently complicates therapy and stabilization of the condition. Functional tests with drugs that dilate the bronchi help in the correct diagnosis. In addition, skin tests in patients with this pathology are very often positive. If there are suspicions when making a diagnosis, an X-ray examination of the lungs or computed tomography is performed.
Methods of therapy
There are fundamentally two methods of therapy:
- medication
- non-medication
In most cases, these methods are combined.
German clinics usually use drugs as the main therapy and symptomatic drugs. The former have an effect on the mechanism of the disease, the latter only eliminate the attack.
Symptomatic therapy mainly includes bronchodilators, bronchial dilating drugs: beta2-adrenomimetics, xanthines.
Main treatment
In the treatment of choking attacks, it is essential to take baseline therapy agents continuously, as symptomatic treatment alone will increase the need for continuous inhalation.
Inhaled glucocorticosteroids (IGCS) are the most common form of medication for seizures. The medication in the form of inhalation counterbalances the side effects of systemic administration. There are a large number of types of IHCS, they are distinguished according to their chemical structure. IGCS have an anti-inflammatory effect. In addition, they are lipophilic agents, this allows the substance to accumulate in the respiratory tract for a long time, which enhances their effect.
- Antileukotriene drugs are a new type of medication aimed at relieving airway tone.
- Monoclonal antibodies are agents that affect the mechanism of inflammation by blocking pro-inflammatory factors.
- Allergen-specific immunotherapy — influences the immunologic component of asthma.
Eliminating risk factors for seizures improves the course and prognosis of the disease. Usually achieved by installing filter cleaners. Removal of house mites, pet hair, and smoking cessation contributes to a milder course of the disease.
Non-medication methods of treatment include therapeutic exercise, therapeutic massage, breathing exercises. In some cases it is recommended to undergo a course of speleotherapy and halotherapy.
Cost of treatment
The full cost of asthma treatment is listed below. The price depends on the form of asthma and the need for additional diagnostics. In addition, in some cases, additional consultation of related specialists may be required.
The minimum cost of an asthma diagnosis is 700 Euros
Diagnosis and conservative treatment of asthma — from 1900 Euros
Pulmonary rehabilitation — from 350 Euros
Germany is a quality and efficient way to go.
Pulmonology in Germany is one of the priority areas. German clinics have a large number of highly professional specialists who provide quality care for any issues. To identify a particular clinic, you need an intermediary with knowledge of specialists in German clinics. Such an intermediary is Maxim Rykov. His expert team has the necessary knowledge about pulmonologists in German clinics. Maxim Rykov knows German and English, which allows direct contact with clinics and specialists.
Treating asthma is a difficult task. German medicine provides quality and necessary treatment for choking attacks for both adults and children.