Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition characterised by inflammation, airway obstruction and spasms of the bronchial tubes. It arises from a combination of genetic and environmental factors such as allergies, air pollution and respiratory infections. When asthma is triggered due to dust, pollen or stress, the airways constrict, leading to symptoms like wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and chest tightness. If left untreated, asthma can cause recurring episodes of breathing difficulties, impacting daily life and overall well-being.

In a conversation with Jagran English, Dr Gyanendra Agrawal, Director, Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Noida explained about six types of asthma.

Types Of Asthma

Allergic Asthma- In this type of asthma, certain allergens (allergy-causing agents) are responsible for causing the asthma attack. Whenever a person is exposed to an allergen, the airways tighten which leads to difficulty in breathing. Common allergens include pollen grains, dust particles, mould spores etc. Symptoms include- difficulty in breathing, wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, itchy eyes etc. Treatment focuses on avoiding exposure to allergens.

Non-Allergic Asthma- This type of asthma is caused by other external factors and not allergens. These factors could be respiratory infections, stress, hormonal deviations etc. Symptoms are similar to allergic asthma. These are difficult to treat. Treatment primarily focuses on medications.

Exercise-Induced Asthma- This happens when the airways become narrow due to engaging in excessive or hard physical activities or exercises, such as 5-8 minutes in chlorinated pools or running huge miles. Also known as exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in medical terms. Symptoms specific to this type include- fatigue during exercise, decreased athletic performance.

Occupational Asthma- This happens due to substances which are found in the organization or workplace. People who have sensitive airways tend to have asthma attacks when they are exposed to these substances. The people who are at higher risk include bakers, farmers, millers, manufacturers of detergents, people working in factories etc. Symptoms are similar to those of allergic asthma.

Seasonal Asthma- This happens due to deviations in weather and seasonal allergens such as pollen. If a person who has asthma notices an increase in symptoms during weather or seasonal changes may indicate they have seasonal asthma. Symptoms are the same as allergic asthma. Avoiding the triggers and certain medications may help in the treatment.

Asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS)- This is characterised by the presence of both asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Both of them have overlapping features and together, it is known as Asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS). There is not enough evidence to differentiate whether their treatments are similar. However, inhaled corticosteroids are administered to asthma patients and inhaled bronchodilators are administered to patients with COPD. Symptoms are similar to other types of asthma.

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