What Are the Causes of Bronchospasm?
Bronchospasm has many causes, some environmental, others non-physical. The person who develops a bronchospasm may never have had one before, but because of circumstances beyond her control, she experiences one. Should she know that she has a physical condition which predisposes her to bronchospasm, then she should have immediate treatment close by.
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Bronchospasm Defined
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Bronchospasm is a tightening of the airways (bronchial) caused by a contraction of the muscles in the walls of the airways, by an inflammation of the lining of the lung or both. The bronchospasm is temporary. Bronchospasm can be triggered either by an allergic reaction or by the autonomic nervous system. The main cause of bronchospasm is asthma, emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Allergic reactions to chemical substances or anaphylactic shock have also been linked to bronchospasm.
Allergies
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When someone suffering from allergies encounters a substance she is allergic to, her respiratory system and lungs react by forming antibodies to that substance. As she inhales the allergy-causing substance, her lungs go into bronchoconstriction or bronchospasm. Because she is allergic to something, her body overreacts by producing antibodies that can actually harm him. Those substances which cause her to react and form antibodies are generally things like pollen, pet dander, foods, dusts and molds.
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Emotions
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When someone is under a high degree of emotional stress, she can experience an episode of bronchospasm. However, she does not necessarily have to suffer from asthma or any other lung condition to experience this lung constriction. For her to become more susceptible to a possible bronchospasm, the stress she experiences is usually more long-standing, such as problems at work or in school.
Upper Respiratory Infections
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The person who suffers from asthma or another lung disorder who develops an upper respiratory infection is more prone to developing a bronchospasm; the viral illness can cause an asthma attack. Sometimes, because of her respiratory infection, her asthma attack will be more severe than it normally is.
Exercise
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Vigorous physical exercise can set off a bronchospasm, especially in the person who is susceptible. If she has not warmed up before starting to exercise, or if she has not pretreated her lungs by using a short-acting bronchodilator, the likelihood of a bronchospasm is high. If she is exercising outdoors when the weather is cold and dry, she is also more likely to develop a bronchospasm.
Irritants
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If a susceptible person is suddenly exposed to odors such as cigarette smoke, chemicals, smoke and aerosol spray, she may develop a bronchospasm as her body tries to protect itself. If she already knows she suffers from a chronic lung condition, she should be ready to treat a bronchospasm with a short-acting "rescue" inhaler to reverse the bronchospasm.
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