A bronchospasm happens when the muscles around the airways in your lungs get tight and narrow, making it hard to breathe. This can cause symptoms like coughing, chest pain, wheezing, tightness in the chest, and more.
Individuals who have allergies, asthma, or other lung problems are more possibly to have bronchospasms. Young children and older adults, especially those around 65 years old, are also at higher risk.
Bronchospasms themselves are not contagious, meaning you can’t catch them from someone else. However, the bacteria and viruses that can lead to bronchospasms can be spread from person to person.
Causes
Bronchospasms can be triggered by various medical conditions, medications, and allergens. Typical causes include asthma, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and chronic bronchitis. Lung infections caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi can also lead to bronchospasms. Other factors like air pollution, smoking, and environmental allergens like pollen, pet dander, dust, and mold are known triggers. Exposure to certain food additives, chemicals, smoke from manufacturing and cleaning products, cold weather, general anesthesia, and even exercise can induce bronchospasms. Additionally, some medications, like blood thinners, blood pressure treatment, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, and antibiotics, have been linked to bronchospasms.
Exercise-Induced Bronchospasms
Researchers are still exploring why exercise causes bronchospasms in some individuals. Traditionally, these exercise-induced bronchospasms were thought to be a symptom of asthma. However, a study in 2014, surveying nearly 8,000 French schoolchildren suggested that physical activity bronchospasms might be a distinct condition separate from asthma. This study also found that bronchospasms were linked to various kinds of atopic rhinitis, a long-term condition that leads to the formation of dry crusts in the nasal cavities and the slow loss of the line of mucosal.
Impact of Smoking and New Alternatives
Researchers are investigating whether smoking options, like electronic cigarettes and Nicotine are known to activate the primary nerve in the lungs, causing bronchospasms and muscle constriction. A study in 2017 discovered that one puff from an electronic cigarette containing 12 mg of nicotine was sufficient to induce bronchospasms in drugged guinea pigs.
Medication-Induced Bronchospasms
A few chemicals in medications designed to open the air passages, known as bronchodilators, can also cause bronchospasms, although this occurrence is uncommon.
Symptoms of Bronchospasm
The symptoms of bronchospasm are usually quite noticeable, and their severity depends on how much the air passages have reduced and how restricted the airflow has become.
Frequent symptoms include tightness, pain, and a feeling of pressure in the back and chest. Individuals may also experience difficulty breathing or getting enough air, accompanied by a whistling or wheezing sound when breathing. Coughing is another frequent symptom. Additionally, people with bronchospasm might feel unusually exhausted or tired without an obvious reason and may also experience light-headedness or dizziness.
Diagnosis of Bronchospasm
A healthcare provider is required to determine and suggest medication for bronchospasms. In complicated cases, a pulmonologist (a lung specialist) may help verify the diagnosis.
Commonly, the healthcare provider will start by asking questions about the individual’s history of allergies and lung conditions. Then, they will hear to the lungs by using a stethoscope.
If bronchospasms are suspected, the doctor may perform several tests to assess how much the individual’s breathing and airflow are restricted.
Common Diagnostic Tests for Bronchospasm
- Lung Diffusion, Lung Volume Tests, and Spirometry: A person inhales and exhales several times with gradual and maximum force along a tube linked to a computer, which measures various aspects of lung function.
- Pulse Oximetry Tests: A thing attached to the ear or finger calculates the quantity of oxygen present in the blood.
- Arterial Blood Gas Tests: This blood test determines the levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen present.
- Computed Tomography (CT) Scans and Chest X-rays: Pictures of the lungs and chest help eliminate infections or other lung conditions.
Exercise-Induced Bronchospasm Test
To regulate, if exercise causes bronchospasm, a healthcare provider may suggest a eucapnic voluntary hyperventilation test. While testing, the individual breathes in a mix of carbon dioxide and oxygen to observe modifications in lung function.
When to consult a healthcare provider
Immediate medical attention is necessary for severe, persistent, or suffering bronchospasms. If airflow is overly compromised, it’s crucial to call 911 or immediately go to the emergency department.
- Painful Bronchospasms: If the pain is intense, it’s important to seek medical advice.
- Interference with Daily Activities: Spasms that disrupt normal activities should be discussed with a doctor.
- Light-headedness or Dizziness: These symptoms during spasms indicate the need for medical evaluation.
- After breathing in an Allergen: Spasms triggered by allergens should prompt a doctor’s visit.
- Unexplained Spasms: Spasms occurring without a clear reason should be investigated.
- Exercise-Induced Spasms: Spasms that worsen or happen during exercise require medical attention.
- Coughing up sputum: Especially if the sputum is discolored or dark, this symptom needs medical evaluation.
- Fever: A temperature over 100°F accompanied by bronchospasms should be checked by a doctor.
- Significant Breathing Difficulty: If it’s hard to get enough air, seek medical help immediately.
Treatment for Bronchospasms
In several cases of bronchospasm, healthcare providers will suggest bronchodilators, which are drugs that help widen the airways and enhance airflow. The three most frequent kinds of bronchodilators are theophylline, beta-agonists, and anticholinergics. These medications are available in injectable, tablet, and liquid forms, but they are often most effective when breathed in.
The best medication plan for bronchospasms depends on individual elements like the seriousness of the spasms, their frequency, and their underlying cause. For chronic cases, healthcare providers may prescribe steroids to decrease inflammation in the air passages and further increase airflow. If bronchospasms are caused by bacterial infections, antibiotics may also be prescribed.
Frequent Medications for Bronchospasms
Short-acting Bronchodilators
Short-acting bronchodilators provide quick relief, starting to work within minutes and lasting for many hours. They are commonly prescribed for severe, sudden spasms and exercise-induced spasms. Commonly, these drugs should only be taken one or two times a week.
Short-acting bronchodilators can be administered through “rescue inhalers” or as a liquid that develops into an inhalable mist via a device known as a nebulizer. Frequent short-acting bronchodilators involve:
- AccuNeb, Ventolin, Proair
- Maxair
- Xopenex
- Metaproterenol
Long-acting Bronchodilators along with Steroids
For severe bronchospasms, long-term medicines may be suggested along with breath-in steroids to assist in stopping spasms. These medications are usually taken two or three times per day at scheduled times and are not suitable for quick relief.
Frequent long-acting bronchodilators involve:
- Symbicort
- Pulmicort
- Advair
- Flovent
- Serevent
- Foradil
- Prednisolone
Outlook
If someone has bronchospasms triggered by exercise, they can reduce the risk by using inhaled corticosteroid medications and long-term bronchodilators 15-20 minutes prior to starting exercising.
For bronchospasms caused by contact with allergens, irritants, or certain medications, stopping or avoiding contact with these triggers can help prevent or reduce the spasms.
When bronchospasms occur due to general anesthesia, healthcare providers commonly suggest additional anesthesia medication to help. If this doesn’t work, they might use intravenous corticosteroids and short-acting bronchodilators to manage the spasms.
Summary
Bronchospasms occur when the airway muscles tighten, making breathing difficult. They can be caused by conditions like asthma, allergens, infections, or exercise. Common symptoms include chest tightness, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. Diagnosis involves tests like spirometry and chest X-rays. Treatments include bronchodilators, inhaled steroids, and avoiding triggers. For exercise-induced bronchospasms, medications before exercise can help; for anesthesia-related cases, additional medications or corticosteroids may be needed.
