Asthma Overview

Asthma is a disease that affects the airways of the lungs (bronchioles). Asthma is caused by chronic (ongoing, long-term) inflammation of the passages. This makes the airways or respiratory tract, the person with asthma is very sensitive to different "triggers."

When the inflammation is "triggered" by an arbitrary number of external and internal factors, the passages swell and fill with mucus.

Muscles contract in the breathing passages (bronchospasm), causing further narrowing of the airways.

This narrowing prevents the air to breathe out (exhaled) from the lungs.

This resistance led to the expiration of the typical symptoms of an asthma attack.

Because asthma causes resistance or obstruction of breathing, it is called obstructive pulmonary disease. The medical term for lung diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are or COPD. COPD is actually a group of diseases that do not include asthma, but also chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

Like any other chronic illness, asthma is a condition that you live every day of your life. You can have an attack any time you are exposed to one of the triggers. Unlike other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma is reversible.

Asthma has no cure, but can be controlled.

You have a better chance to control your asthma if it is diagnosed early and treatment is begun immediately.

With proper treatment, people with asthma can have attacks less frequent and less severe.

Without treatment, they will have asthma attacks more frequent and severe and can even die.

We grew up, children are less susceptible to infection than our ancestors, which made us more sensitive to the immune system.

We spend more time indoors, where we are exposed to indoor allergens such as dust and mold.

Breathing the air is more polluted than the air in most of our ancestors breathed.

Our lifestyles have led to less exercise and get our obesity epidemic. There is some evidence suggesting a link between obesity and asthma.

Asthma affects people of all ages, although it is more common in younger people. Frequency and severity of asthma attacks tend to diminish a person ages.

Asthma is the most common chronic disease among children.

Asthma has many costs to society and the individual concerned.

Many people are forced to compromise on their lifestyle to accommodate their disease.

Asthma is a major cause of work and school absenteeism and lost productivity.

Asthma is one of the most common causes of emergency room visits and hospitalization.

Good news for asthmatics is that you can live life to the fullest. Current treatments for asthma, if followed carefully, so that most people with asthma to limit the amount of attacks they have. With the help of your health care provider, you can manage your care and your life.