Types Of Asthma - All You Need To Know

Types of asthma - overview

There are many different classifications for the disease, by severity, underlying cause or the way it is controlled. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. Understanding the type you have can help you find the most effective treatment.

Types of asthma:

Allergic asthma (or bronchial asthma) is one of the most common types of asthma and it may be triggered by allergic rhinitis (or hay fever), different allergens (such as pollen, dust, mold), and also smoke or strong smells.
Cough-Variant asthma is asthma in which dry cough is the main symptom, and other symptoms may be excluded. The cough exasperates with common triggers.
Exercise-Induced asthma is triggered by vigorous exercise or strenuous physical activity. Symptoms may be obvious only during exercising, and few minutes after.
Occupational asthma (or work-related asthma) is caused or triggered by, exposure to various substances in the workplace. These substances may cause an allergic or irritant reaction or a reaction in the body which results in an asthma attack. Types of occupation that may induce asthma include: health care workers, hairdressers, chemical industry workers, animal breeders, farmers, painters, and woodworkers.
Nighttime asthma (or nocturnal asthma) patients experience more severe symptoms during night time and before bed, which can result in inability to fall asleep and other sleep disturbances. This type may be very dangerous and needs to be treated properly.
Seasonal asthma, in which symptoms appear seasonally, usually in the spring (because of the pollen allergies) or summer (due to the heat and air pollution)
Medication induced asthma is another of the most common types of asthma. Certain medication, such as anti-inflammatories (Motrin, Advil or Aleve), some heart disease medications, glaucoma drugs or ACE inhibitors, may cause attacks and worsen the asthma.

Types of asthma - less common types:

Other types of asthma exist as well, including silent asthma (in which the attacks are sudden and come without much warning) and infant asthma (wheezing in small babies).
There are many other conditions that mimic asthma symptoms, but are not in fact asthma. This is why your doctor needs to do a thorough examination to make the right diagnosis. These conditions may be: sinusitis, pulmonary embolism, angina, bronchitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, congestive heart failure and others.

Types of asthma can also be classified based on the way it is controlled, and it can be well controlled (mild symptoms that don't impair quality of life), not well controlled (frequent symptoms), and very poorly controlled (symptoms occur daily).

Recently, a new treatment protocol has stirred the waters of asthma treatment - it's called the Norton protocol. It looks into the autoimmune aspect of asthma. You can visit the official home page of the protocol and learn more about the types of asthma and alternative treatment options.

Gwen Simmons is a health and nutrition consultant and an alternative medical researcher. Born and lived in Ottawa all her life, she developed and interest in the health and wellness sphere at the age of 28 when her mother died of cancer. She is now a renowned health consultant and nutrition expert, specializing in alternative medicine research. She owns a small practice in Charleswood, Ottawa. Hobbies - yoga.

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