Patients living with untreated asthma will understand how even minor tasks might become challenging. Asthma causes your airways to literally restrict you from enjoying all that life has to offer. The long-term effects of uncontrolled asthma can build up over time. We outline these effects below.
The Long-Term Effects of Uncontrolled Asthma
Asthma symptoms exist on a spectrum. For some patients, the condition can be life-threatening. Other patients with milder symptoms may not even know they have asthma.
However, even mild asthma may require treatment to avoid the long-term effects of uncontrolled asthma. These can range from minor daily impairments to significant health risks. Our recommendation to every patient with asthma is to work with a specialist. Both your body and mind will benefit from your efforts to manage your asthma symptoms. Below are some of the complications that can occur if you do not control your asthma.
Airway Remodeling
Airway remodeling describes irreversible scarring of the airways and lungs. This scarring then causes increased difficulty breathing. Additionally, scarred airway tissue can lead to a decrease in the efficacy of asthma medication, making future management of the condition more challenging.
If left unchecked, airway remodeling may also lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This condition is caused by previous damage to the lungs and causes chronic airway obstruction. COPD has no cure, and the condition tends to only worsen over time.
Interruptions to Sleep
Insufficient airway flow can impede restful sleep, particularly if a patient coughs or wheezes throughout the night. Sleep plays a vital role in many bodily processes, so interruptions rarely go unnoticed by the body.
Poor sleep can lead to:
- Fatigue
- Difficulty concentration
- Memory and learning deficits
- Increased risk for mental health disorders
Additionally, untreated asthma can increase your risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This condition is marked by partial or full collapse of the upper respiratory system during sleep.
Exercise Limitations
If you have a hard time breathing, you likely will encounter limitations to which exercises you are able to engage in and for how long. Your body requires increased oxygen input for workouts, but asthma can make this task of increasing oxygen intake significantly more difficult.
Untreated asthma may lead to patients following a more sedentary lifestyle. Decreased exercise is directly tied to a range of harmful conditions, including obesity, mental health disorders, and diabetes.
Furthermore, patients who exercise less will likely feel more fatigued during the day. This leads to a greater decrease in activity, which then only creates a vicious cycle.
Pregnancy Complications
During pregnancy, a mother is breathing for two (or more!). The fetus’s lungs are not yet developed, so its entire oxygen supply comes from the mother. Oxygenated blood flows through the umbilical court to give the fetus’s cells the energy they need for healthy development and differentiation.
Asthma limits the amount of oxygen a mother can take in, increasing the risk of:
- High blood pressure
- Preeclampsia
- Premature delivery
- And even pregnancy loss
How to Control Asthma
While asthma has no available cure (yet), there are effective means of regulating and managing it. Another silver lining is that the condition improves over time for many patients. Children with even severe asthma symptoms may demonstrate improvements by the time they reach adulthood.
Work with a Specialist
A pulmonologist can work with you to build a personalized asthma management plan. Asthma presents differently in each patient. While this is good news for patients with mild symptoms, it does make managing it more complex.
Your specialist will need to look at factors like allergies, diet, environment, and lifestyle to build an appropriate treatment plan.
Inhalers
Bronchodilators, often available in the form of inhalers, help open the airways, restoring airflow to the lungs. Several types of inhalers exist, and the frequency of use varies between patients. Regardless, inhalers are the foundation of most asthma treatment plans.
Environmental Management
Maintain a clean environment that minimizes exposure to allergens. Many patients with pet allergies and asthma may be surprised to know that living with a pet only worsens their condition.
Routinely vacuum and dust your living spaces. But do wear a mask while doing so. While cleaning eliminates many allergens, it can stir them up during the process.
Biologics
Biologics are reserved for severe cases of asthma. But these are precisely the cases that put you at greatest risk if left uncontrolled. Not all providers offer this treatment. Ask your pulmonologist about it during your next visit if you have notable asthma symptoms.
A Specialist Who Helps You Breathe Easier
As a top-rated allergist in New York, Dr. Mayank Shukla has helped patients of all ages with asthma and other pulmonary conditions. Kids and adults breathe easier thanks to his tailored treatments.
