What is Asthma?
Asthma is a chronic lung disease that lasts a long time. It cannot be cured – only controlled.
§ Airways are inflamed. That is airway linings are swollen.
§ Airways narrow and breathing becomes harder to do. This narrowing gets better (but not all the way in some patients), sometimes by itself, sometimes with treatment.
§ Airways are super sensitive. They react to many things such as, cigarette smoke, pollen, or cold air. Coughing, wheezing, tight chest, difficult breathing, or an asthma episode may result. A more complete list of things that can cause some people’s airways to react is given later (see “What Causes Asthma Episodes?”).
What Are the Symptoms of Asthma?
The main symptoms of asthma are:
§ Shortness of breath,
§ Wheezing,
§ Tightness in the chest and
§ Cough lasting more than a week.
Not all people with asthma wheeze. For some coughing may be the only symptom of asthma. Coughing often occurs during the night or after exercise.
It’s important to know that treatment can reverse asthma symptoms. And it’s important to treat even mild symptoms of asthma so that you can keep the symptoms of getting worse.
Normal Breathing
When you breathe in, air is taken in through the nose and mouth. It goes down your windpipe, through your airways and into the sir sacs. When you breathe out, stale air leaves the lungs in the reverse order.
What Happens During an Episode of Asthma?
Asthma affects the airways in your lungs. During an episode of asthma:
§ The lining of the airways becomes swollen (inflamed).
§ The airways produce thick mucus.
§ The muscles around the airways tighten and make the airways narrower
These changes in the airways block the flow of air, making it hard to breathe.
You need to know the ways that asthma affects the airways so you can understand why it often takes more than medicine to treat the disease. Very simply, some medicines relax the airways and others reduce (and even prevent) the swelling and mucus.
What Causes Asthma?
The basic cause of asthma is not yet known. What we do know is that asthma is not caused by emotional factors such as a troubled parent-child relationship. In short, asthma is not “all in one’s head.” It is instead a chronic lung disease.
What Causes Asthma Episodes?
People with asthma have airways that are super sensitive to things that do not bother people who do not have asthma. These things are called triggers because when you are near or come in contact with them, they may “trigger” and asthma episode. Your airways may become swollen, produce too much mucus and tighten up. Common triggers for asthma episodes include the following:
§ Dander (or flakes) from the skin, hair, or feathers of all warm blooded pets (including dogs, cats, birds, and small rodents)
§ House dust mites
§ Cockroaches
§ Pollen from grass and trees
§ Mold (indoor or outdoor)
§ Cigarette smoke; wood smoke; scented products such as hairspray, cosmetics, and cleaning products; strong odors from fresh paint or cooking; automobile fumes; and air pollution
§ Infections in the upper airway, such as colds (a common trigger for both children and adults)
§ Exercise
§ Showing strong feelings (crying or laughing)
§ Changes in weather and temperature.
Is There a Cure for Asthma?
Asthma cannot be cured, but it can be controlled. You should expect nothing less.
How Can Asthma Episodes Be Prevented?
To prevent asthma episodes, you will have to work closely with your doctor to:
§ Plan ways to avoid or reduce contact with you triggers.
How Are Asthma Episodes Controlled?
To control asthma episodes when they occur, your will have to work out a medicine plan with your doctor that includes:
§ Treating symptoms early,
§ Doing the right things for any changes in symptoms and
§ Knowing when a doctor’s help is needed and seeking help right away.
What Can a Patient with Asthma Expect from Treatment?
With proper treatment, most people with asthma will be able to:
§ Be active without having asthma symptoms. This includes participating in exercise and sports.
§ Sleep through the night without having any asthma symptoms.
§ Prevent asthma episodes (attacks)
§ Have the best possible peak low number—lungs that will work well.
§ Avoid side effects from asthma medicines.
Infinite Health Resources does not at any point, for any circumstances suggest that you do not follow or stop medical advice of your physician. We do not advocate any drugs that has not been prescribed by your physician, nor suggest that we are medical doctors nor are we giving medical advice. Infinite Health Resources is here purely as a resource. | 
