Asthma Specialists in West Bengal

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways in which the bronchial tubes become swollen, narrowed, and produce excess mucus, making breathing difficult, particularly on exhalation. The condition involves heightened sensitivity of the airways to various triggers, which can cause sudden episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, and chest tightness known as asthma attacks. Asthma often begins in childhood but can develop at any age, and its severity can range from mild and intermittent to severe and persistent, significantly affecting daily activities. Air pollution, a major concern in many Indian cities, is a well-recognised trigger and aggravator of asthma symptoms. While there is no cure, asthma can be effectively controlled with appropriate long-term medication and trigger avoidance, allowing most people to lead active, symptom-free lives.

Causes of Asthma

Caused by a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental factors that lead to chronic airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness. Common triggers include allergens such as dust mites, pollen, and pet dander, air pollution, respiratory infections, cold air, exercise, and strong odours or irritants. A personal or family history of allergic conditions such as eczema or allergic rhinitis significantly increases the likelihood of developing asthma.

Symptoms of Asthma

Wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, persistent cough especially at night or early morning, difficulty breathing during exercise, rapid breathing during an attack, fatigue from disrupted sleep, symptoms that worsen with specific triggers

Treatment & Types of Asthma in West Bengal

Long-term control is achieved with inhaled corticosteroids that reduce airway inflammation, often combined with long-acting bronchodilators for more persistent symptoms. Short-acting bronchodilator inhalers provide quick relief during acute episodes of wheezing or breathlessness. Severe or difficult-to-control asthma may require additional therapies such as leukotriene modifiers, biologic injections, or oral corticosteroids during flare-ups, alongside a personalised action plan for managing attacks.

Asthma is classified by severity and control level: intermittent asthma (infrequent symptoms) versus persistent asthma, which is further divided into mild, moderate, and severe persistent based on how often symptoms occur and how much they affect lung function and daily life. It's also grouped by trigger pattern, such as allergic (extrinsic) asthma and non-allergic (intrinsic) asthma triggered by factors like exercise, cold air, or irritants.

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