Narrowing and swelling of airways of your lungs causes asthma. You tend to witness tightness in your chest, coughing, wheezing as well as other related breathing problems. As per latest estimate, more than 260 million experienced symptoms of asthma. You are advised to stay away from possible allergies or triggers; such safety precautions help avoid incidence of an asthmatic attack. Asthma is a chronic condition; it can affect people of any age group. But, is asthma considered a disability? Caring to know more about this can be of help to you.
The onset of asthma is pronounced among people living in low-income and mid-income nations. This lung condition largely remains under-treated in many of these countries. Asthma often causes spells of fatigue, disturbed sleeping cycles and inability to stay focused. You may also miss work or school more often than others. If you are unable to inhale and exhale, it is a good practice to seek medical help on an emergency basis.
However, no two people with asthma may develop the same types of symptoms. Discomforts may turn acute during night hours or while you do workouts. In general, these are termed as asthma attacks. These attacks are characterised by spells of wheezing (while exhaling) and while you exhale (in some cases).
What causes asthma?
Several reasons are at work and enhance the risks of an asthmatic attack. Hence, it is a tough thing to single-out one direct reason. You are more likely to get it if a family member – siblings or a parent – has it. Babies born with lesser weight, prematurely delivered infants, those exposed to pollutants or tobacco-smoke are at a higher risk of getting this lung condition.
People who are often exposed to allergens such as mites, dust, pollen, etc. are more vulnerable. Also, if you are working in a polluted environment – exposed to fumes, smoke or chemicals, the odds are high. On a related note, people who are obese are at a higher risk of experiencing an asthmatic attack.
Is asthma considered a disability?
The answer is a direct yes! Asthma is indeed considered as one of the disabilities by the Americans with disabilities Act. Individuals with asthma often find it challenging to manage this lung condition. Nearly 1 out of 12 people (i.e., adults) are known to live with this disorder. As the signs of asthma can affect your quality of life, asthma is labelled as a disability.
Medical conditions that restrict you from any one or more of these activities are qualified as disabilities: working, engaging in recreational tasks, participating in any social activity or obtaining preventive / healthcare support. Asthma makes it difficult for you to breathe. You experience a tightening of the chest region and also repeated episodes of coughing / wheezing.
There is no permanent remedy for this lung-based disorder. However, your caregiving team will develop an action plan to manage asthma attacks. A thoughtful and customised plan can control possible events of panting and / or shortness of breath. A typical plan issues separate zones for you to do a self-assessment.
Green-zone indicates that you do not have any signs of an asthmatic attack. Yellow denotes that a few signs of an attack viz., wheezing, tightness of chest, shortness of respiratory cycles, etc. exist. In order to control the condition from turning worse, you are advised to use meds with faster remedial capabilities.
If left untreated, asthmatic attack can be near-fatal or even fatal. In the US, you can call 911. You may also call food and drug administration for needful help. In Canada, reaching out to Health Canada can offer needful support. You may also visit a local healthcare setting – like a clinic or a hospital – for quicker clinical support. You are advised to talk to a qualified chest physician to know more on is asthma considered a disability.
Disclaimer
Information provided here are only of supplementary nature. Information shared here does not substitute a qualified doctor’s advice. This website is not suggesting intake of this drug as safe or appropriate. Hence it is advised to talk to your doctor before consuming this med or any other drug.
Education: Bachelor’s in Journalism with a minor in Nutrition from Northwestern University. Experience: 15 years as a health journalist, writing for major publications like The New York Times and TIME, with a focus on diet, exercise, and chronic disease management.
