Intrinsic asthma, also called non-allergic asthma, causes spasms in your airways that make it difficult to breathe.
This occurs during an “asthma attack” that is triggered by something you are exposed to.
Intrinsic asthma is any key in of asthma that isn’t due to an allergy.
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During an asthma attack, inflammation causes your airways to swell and clog with mucous.
Muscles around your airways also contract, called bronchospasm.
This makes it difficult for your lungs to move air into and out of your body.
These can include:
Asthma attacks can be life-threatening.
Diagnosis
Your primary doctor will likely send you to a lung specialist called a pulmonologist.
There is no specific test for intrinsic asthma.
In addition to your overall medical history, the specialist will perform lung function testing.
Treatment
A variety of asthma treatments are available, depending on the severity of your symptoms.
Short-acting medications (commonly called rescue medications) treat an asthma attack that is actively occurring.
These medications include bronchodilators, which work by relaxing the muscles around your airway and decreasing mucous production.
In some cases, your doctor might prescribe more than one bang out of medication.
Another group of medications called biologics are sometimes used to treat severe cases of allergic asthma.
Corticosteroids can also be used to reduce inflammation in your airways.
Other medications called leukotriene modifiers directly target chemicals that cause your asthma symptoms.
Types of Asthma Medications
Asthma medication comes in several forms.
However, this is not very commonand triggers can change over time.
Asthma is a highly treatable condition that can be managed with the right treatment and lifestyle changes.
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