Asthma
Info
What
is asthma?
-Asthma
is a chronic lung disease, caused by inflammation of the lower airways
and episodes of airflow obstruction. Airways are sensitive, and
swollen or inflamed, in people with asthma to some degree all of
the time, even when there are no symptoms.
-Asthma is characterized by recurrent breathing problems caused
by airway inflammation.
What
are the symptoms of asthma?
-The
symptoms of asthma vary among people and can include wheezing, shortness
of breath and tightness of the chest. Other asthma symptoms can
include: trouble controlling a cough; a persistent cough at night;
difficulty breathing during, or soon after, physical exertion or
exercise; or waking up at night because of one or more of these
symptoms.
-Episodes of asthma symptoms (also called asthma attacks, flare-ups
or exacerbations) occur when airways narrow, making it difficult
- sometimes impossible - to breathe.
-Warning signs of an impending asthma attack may include chest tightness,
light wheezing, coughing, restlessness when trying to sleep, irritability,
itchy throat and watery eyes.
What
causes asthma symptoms and attacks?
-People
with asthma have inflamed airways that are supersensitive to things
that do not bother other people. Although these asthma "triggers"
vary from person to person, some of the most common ones include:
-Allergens,
substances that cause allergic reactions, which can include dust mites,
pollens, molds, pet dander, and cockroaches and their waste. Irritants
in the air, including smoke from tobacco, wood fires or charcoal grills,
as well as strong fumes or odors like household sprays, paint, gasoline,
perfume and scented soaps.
-Respiratory
infections such as colds, flu, sore throats and sinus infections.
These are the most common asthma triggers in children.
-Exercise
and other activities that make a person breathe harder. Weather, especially
dry wind, cold air and sudden changes.
What happens during an asthma attack?
-During
normal breathing, the airways to the lungs are fully open, allowing
air to move in and out freely. But people with asthma have inflamed,
supersensitive airways. Triggers irritate the sensitive airways, and:
-The
lining of the airways swell and become even more inflamed. -Mucus
clogs the airways. -The muscles around the airways tighten (known
as a bronchospasm). These changes narrow the airways until breathing
becomes difficult and stressful, and result in asthma symptoms.
