𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 & 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬

17. Asthma

"Asthma is a condition in which your airways narrow and swell and may produce extra mucus. This can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing, a whistling sound (wheezing) when you breathe out and shortness of breath."

Asthma can be very minor for some and very severe for others. For those who fall into the latter category, like my mom, it can be a life-threatening daily struggle. Because she struggles with it so much, I'm always attuned to a change in her breathing and try to keep a close eye on her for warning signs of an asthma attack. In fact, a lot of time, I probably get a lot of weird looks because I constantly ask her if she's alright for this very reason.

The symptoms vary in severity for every individual that has it, though. But everyone has their own triggers - be it cat or dog hair, seasonal or regular allergies, inhaling chemicals, exercising or exertion, or even colder weather like my mom has and even my grandmother had.

Signs and symptoms of Asthma can include shortness of breath, chest pain or tightness, wheezing, trouble sleeping because of the previous symptoms as well as coughing.

There are actually four types of Asthma though - mild intermittent asthma, mild persistent asthma, moderate persistent asthma and severe persistent asthma.

Asthma can change over time though and for some, the symptoms disappear entirely. Although for some, it can be the opposite - their symptoms disappear only to return in adulthood.

That's another factor though - anyone can develop Asthma at any age. You don't have to be a young adult or older to get Asthma.

Although it's not curable, it is treatable and most who have it choose to keep an inhaler with them in the case of an Asthma attack.

I don't have Asthma myself but as I mentioned, my mom does as well as her aunt, my sister a little and my grandmother mother did as well. But just from watching them, especially my mom, I know it can be a scary thing to go through when symptoms become severe.

Asthma attacks are literally one of the scariest things because you can't breathe - in or out. I've even heard my dad say to my mom sometimes "just breathe" and yet, that's kind of the point - you can't breathe. Which can cause your anxiety levels to skyrocket and then you start to panic.

I can't even imagine how scary it is to go through but I definitely have sympathy for those who do. I really hope one day a cure can be found so no one has to suffer anymore from attacks like those.

I'm not sure how much advice I can give on Asthma since I don't have it myself but I know for my mom, a lot of times during the winter when she goes outside, she wraps a scarf around the lower half of her face to prevent cold air getting into her nose or mouth and that seems to help her quite a bit. Also, taking Asthma pills if you don't have an inhaler can also give you quick relief when you feel an attack coming on.

I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter and maybe you learned something new or even found something you could relate to ^_^