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The constriction of the bronchi is confusingly similar to an attack of breathlessness of the bronchial asthma type, but it is distinguished from typical bronchial asthma by the lack of an allergic-immune reaction.
Like bronchial asthma, it occurs suddenly, unexpectedly, with great variability in severity over short periods of time.
Depending on the situation and the triggers of the secondary response, bronchospasms and the asthmatic state, several forms can be distinguished.
• Infectious asthmatic syndrome, also called respiratory tract infection syndrome; it occurs in the course of various infections, e.g. in catarrhal conditions of the bronchi.
• Reflex asthmatic syndrome – contraction of the lower respiratory tract wall occurs as a reflex, e.g. to a foreign body, sudden irritation of the mucosa with harsh chemicals or dusts.
• Post-exercise asthma syndrome – bronchospasm and expiratory dyspnea occur as a consequence of exercise, usually in people with chronic bronchitis.
• Psychogenic asthmatic syndrome – in its course, under the influence of some mental stress, deepening of breathing and hyperventilation occur, and then secondary to biochemical changes triggering bronchospasm.
Pre-medical assistance and possibly medical attention should take into account:
• the cause of bronchospasm (elimination of the state of infection, removal of a foreign body from the respiratory tract, limitation of physical effort, elimination of stress and conflicts, or pharmacological increase in their tolerance by taking sedatives),
• action to eliminate bronchospasm.
Prevention
In the case of the syndromes discussed here, it is a prophylaxis of states that trigger them.