Bronchospasm - what is it? Symptoms, causes and treatment of bronchospasm

The pathological condition, in which a person begins to breathe heavily and even suffocates, is called "bronchospasm". Symptoms, treatment, first aid - all these points will be described in the article. Also, we determine who should be treated in case of an attack. We will find out that it is strictly forbidden to apply to a patient suffering from bronchospasm. And we will define preventive measures to prevent the development of this problem.

Bronchospasm: what is it?

This pathological condition, which violates the patency of the bronchi, resulting in disorganized pulmonary ventilation and obstructed the outflow of bronchial secretions. Such negative changes in the body lead to a shortage of oxygen in the organs and tissues, the appearance of a sensation of suffocation.

Signs of approaching an attack

Bronchospasm in children can be felt in advance. If you catch the moment and provide prompt help to the child even before the attack begins, you can warn his offensive. So, before the bronchospasm occurs, the signs appear as follows:

- Anxiety.

- Constant sneezing.

- Cough.

- Discharge from the nose.

Often, an attack occurs at a later time, so another symptom of approaching bronchospasm is an unexpected awakening of the baby in the middle of the night.

If parents monitor the child's condition, they can help him cope with this dangerous phenomenon.

Symptomatics

Symptoms of bronchospasm may be:

- Lack of air, stuffiness in the chest.

- Abnormal breathing patient: an extended exhalation and whistle, audible even at a distance.

- A painful dry cough. The patient can hardly clear his throat, it turns red or even turns blue.

- The patient sits, leaning on his hands. In this position it is easier for him.

- The face is clearly frightened.

First aid for babies

Bronchospasm in children is dangerous because it can lead to death. The child becomes hard to breathe, he may have a gasp. To prevent this, parents should know how to give the baby first aid:

1. Plant the patient, unbutton his clothes.
2. Ventilate the room if the cause of bronchospasm is not allergic. Otherwise, the child needs to be taken out of the dusty room, to close all the windows in the house.
3. Wash, rinse patient with mouth, rinse nose.
4. Give a medicine that will expand the bronchi (for example, the drug "Eufillin" or "Ephedrine").
5. Warm with warm tea, compote.
6. Give expectorants.
7. Immediately call a doctor.

Allergic bronchospasm: the causes of the onset

This type of pathology is found in both children and adults. Allergic bronchospasm develops with increased sensitivity of the organism to external and internal allergens.

The first type includes such pathogens:

- The dust.

- Pollen.

- Wool, dandruff, down, hair.

- Food allergens.

- Chemical pathogens: paint, powder, various detergents, preservatives.

- Medicines (anti-inflammatory, antibacterial drugs).

Allergic bronchospasm can develop in two forms:

1. Atopic.
2. Infectious-allergic.

Get rid of this pathology will help determine and eliminate the allergen.

Prohibited receptions

Many parents are lost and do not understand what to do when a child has bronchospasm. What is this, know not all, so some make mistakes that may even cost a lifetime. It is important to remember the following actions, which can not be categorically interpreted in relation to a person suffering from bronchospasm:

1. Rinse the patient with aromatic oils, creams, put mustard, give honey or medicinal herbs. The admission of these funds will only exacerbate the situation, worsen the patient's condition.
2. Give drugs that suppress cough. For example, Codeine.
3. Take antihistamines. For example, drugs "Suprastin", "Dimedrol" are able to worsen sputum discharge.
4. Give sedatives.

Absolutely all drugs must be prescribed by a doctor. Relatives, relatives can provide first aid, and the main treatment is appointed by a specialist.

Causes of pathology in adults

Men and women suffer from such a phenomenon, as bronchospasm, more rarely than children. The causes of this pathology can be:

- Bronchial asthma.

- Chronic lung diseases .

Bronchospasm in adults can be caused by:

- Smoking.

- Reception of alcoholic beverages.

- Increased allergic reactivity.

- Poor environmental conditions.

- Heredity.

- Negative emotions.

Hidden pathology

Sometimes even doctors are hard to understand the reasons for such a dangerous condition as bronchospasm. Symptoms in adults and children may not be observed, but the problem will exist. In this case, we are talking about a hidden pathology caused by the presence of such diseases as:

- Rhinitis.

- Laryngitis.

- Pollinosis.

- Adenoiditis.

Only the doctor can diagnose an accurate diagnosis, thoroughly examining the patient.

Hidden bronchospasm is dangerous because it does not feel at all on the physical level. But when exposed to, for example, cold air or an allergen, it immediately breaks the respiratory function. The patient has shortness of breath, rales, coughing attacks. Rapidly identifying the problem helps computer bronchophonography, which is often prescribed by pulmonologists or allergists to confirm the diagnosis.

Paradoxical bronchospasm

This pathology develops as a side effect of the use of bronchodilators (sprays "Ventolin", "Atimos", "Salbutamol"). The whole paradox lies in the fact that the treatment of these drugs spasm is further exacerbated.

Adequate therapy

Bronchospasm, whose treatment should be performed only under the supervision of a doctor, is best disposed of in a hospital setting. Usually, the doctor prescribes such medicines:

- Glucocorticoids . They have an anti-inflammatory effect.

- Adrenomimetics . These drugs are able to expand the smooth muscles of the bronchi.

- The medicine "Eufillin".

- Mucolytic, expectorant drugs.

- M-holinoblokatory, whose action is directed to the expansion of the bronchi. You can, for example, use the spray "Atrovent".

Prevention

Prevent the appearance of pathology will help various activities aimed at eliminating the risk factors for the occurrence of such a problem as bronchospasm. What is it and how is the disease manifested, we found out. Now we need to learn about preventive measures:

1. Cure the underlying ailment.
2. If a person smokes, then you must abandon this addiction.
3. Try to walk more often on the street.
4. Take vitamins.
5. Avoid contact with allergens.

If there was a bronchospasm, then you need to make an appointment with a pulmonologist, an allergist, because only a qualified specialist can help.

Discharge from a spasm caused by obstructive bronchitis

There are effective folk remedies, through which you can improve the patient's condition:

1. Inhalations . Thanks to them, warm and moist air, getting into the bronchi, will dilute sputum and facilitate its natural output. Thus the person will cough even more strongly, but it is good, in fact then the bronchospasm will not be repeated. How to remove this pathological condition, what adaptations to use? Adults can do inhalation with an ordinary teapot, filling the medication with it. But children for this purpose it is better to buy a special device - a nebulizer.
2. Warming . This is the next step after inhalation. However, it is possible to warm a sore spot only if the patient does not have a temperature. Boiled potatoes in the peel, special cans, woolen clothing - a method of heating everyone chooses individually.
3. Massage and respiratory gymnastics. This must be done if the bronchospasm is observed in children. The fact is that the kids do not know how to properly cough, so adults should help them get the sputum out as soon as possible. The position of the child during the massage is lying on his stomach or standing on all fours. Mom or Dad is tapping down from the waist to the neck. Then the trajectory of movements changes.

Methods of diagnosis

Sometimes the doctor does not have enough of those complaints that the patient voices to make an accurate diagnosis and to identify the cause of the occurrence of such a dangerous phenomenon as bronchospasm. Symptoms in adults and children may be different, so for the proper assessment of the state are assigned to such studies:

- Clinical and biochemical blood tests.

- Sputum examination.

- Capnography. This analysis allows the specialist to assess the depth of breathing, based on how much carbon dioxide is contained in the air breathed by the patient.

- Bronchophonography. It is carried out with the help of computer equipment. Allows you to explore the function of breathing, even in infants. This method is used mainly in relation to children.

- Pulse oximetry - allows to determine the amount of oxygen in the blood, as well as the pulse rate, the change of which is observed with bronchospasm.

To refuse the above methods of diagnosis is a misunderstanding only so the doctor will be able to understand the cause of the attack and do everything possible so that it does not recur.

Conclusion

The narrowing of the lumen of the bronchi is called "bronchospasm". What is this, how is this problem manifested, we found out. We also understood in what cases an attack can occur. They understood that categorically it is impossible to do during bronchospasm, and also what measures must be taken to alleviate the condition. A trip to the therapist, pediatrician, pulmonologist, allergist should be mandatory. Only an expert will help to choose the right treatment.