Types of Asthma

May 09 , 2022 | 2 min read

Asthma is a lung disease that makes your airways constricted, thus making it difficult for you to breathe. This happens because of the swelling and inflammation in the airways, mucous plugging and spasm of the smooth muscles of the airways.

The common symptoms of Asthma are Cough with sticky phlegm, chest tightness, shortness of breath and wheezing (whistling kind of sound coming from the chest). Asthma can be classified in various ways. Knowing about the kind of Asthma will help you deal with it better. Keep reading to find out more about Asthma.

Following are the various types of Asthma.

Allergic asthma
‘Seasonal’ Asthma
Occupational Asthma
Non-allergic asthma
‘Exercise induced’ Asthma
Difficult Asthma
Severe Asthma

Let’s read about each one in detail.

Allergic Asthma

The common allergens that can trigger symptoms of Asthma in an individual are pollen; animal dander such as feathers, hair, faeces, feathers, animal saliva, cockroach faeces, dust mites, faeces, and mould spores. Certain food items like milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, seafood, wheat and soybeans are also known to cause allergies.

Seasonal Asthma

Some people may develop symptoms at the change of season due to variations in temperatures and humidity. This is called seasonal Asthma and could also be due to the presence of certain allergens like specific pollens in specific seasons that trigger Asthma.

Occupational Asthma

As the name suggests, occupational Asthma is caused due to breathing allergens in the workplace. For example, you might be allergic to wheat flour, and if you work in a bakery, that may result in occupational Asthma. Similarly, you might be allergic to latex powder used in gloves, and if you work in the healthcare industry, that can result in Asthma.

Non-Allergic Asthma

It is also known as non-atopic Asthma and is not caused due to an allergen. The exact cause of this type of Asthma is not known, but it generally develops later in life, and symptoms can be severe.

‘Exercise induced’ Asthma.

If you get asthma-like symptoms only during strenuous exercising, you might be suffering from exercise-induced Asthma. Consult your doctor if you are not diagnosed with Asthma yet, but you get symptoms like chest tightness, coughing, and breathlessness after exercising. Exercise-induced Asthma is better called ‘exercise-induced bronchoconstriction’ (EIB) because exercise causes bronchoconstriction but is not a direct cause of Asthma. Exercise is one of the many factors that are responsible for Asthma. The symptoms usually start 15 minutes after the exercise but could occur even after 4-12 hours after cessation of exercise.

Difficult Asthma

Difficult Asthma is a condition in which you find it difficult to manage symptoms because you have other health issues or because you miss a dose of preventive medications. The following symptoms indicate that you might be suffering from difficult Asthma.

If your symptoms do not improve despite taking high doses of medications.
Frequent attacks of Asthma requiring hospitalisation

Severe Asthma

A patient is said to have Severe Asthma if the diagnosis of Asthma has been confirmed using various investigative modalities, existing comorbidities have been controlled/treated, adherence to therapy & correct inhaler technique has been confirmed, and triggers have been avoided, and yet the symptoms are not settling.

If you had more than two attacks of Asthma and despite taking inhalers and preventive medications, you don’t get relief, you could be suffering from severe Asthma.

If you or your loved ones have symptoms of Asthma, consult our top experts as they will help you understand the type of Asthma you have and provide Asthma Treatment accordingly. Book your appointment Now.