What is asthma?

Asthma is a chronic disease of the lungs that inflames and narrows the airways. (Chronic diseases are diseases that last a long time). Asthma causes repeated periods of wheezing (wheezing), chest tightness, shortness of breath and cough . The cough often occurs at night or early morning hours.
Asthma affects people of all ages but usually begins in childhood. In the United States more than 22 million people have asthma. Nearly 6 million of these people are children.

General review

The airways are tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. People with asthma have inflamed airways. This makes the airways are swollen and very sensitive, and tend to react strongly to certain substances that are inhaled.
When the airways react, the muscles around them tighten. This makes the narrow and less air reaches the lungs. Swelling may also worsen and narrow the airways even more. The cells of these pathways may produce more mucus than normal. Mucus is a thick, sticky liquid that can further narrow the airways.
This chain reaction can cause symptoms of asthma. Whenever the airways become inflamed symptoms may occur.

Asthma

Figure A shows the location of the lungs and airways in the body. Figure B shows a cross section of a normal airway. Figure C shows a cross section of an airway during asthma symptoms.

Sometimes the symptoms are mild and disappear spontaneously or after minimal treatment with a medicine for asthma. Other times continue to worsen.
When symptoms become more intense or more symptoms, are said to be an asthma attack. Asthma attacks are also called crisis or exacerbations.
It is important to treat the symptoms as they arise. This prevents them from getting worse and cause a severe asthma attack. Severe asthma attacks may require emergency care and can be fatal.

Prospects

Asthma has no cure. Even if you feel well, you still have the disease and may worsen at any time.
However, due to knowledge and treatments we have today, most people with asthma can control the disease. They may have few symptoms or not have them. They can live a normal, active life, and sleep through the night without interruptions caused by asthma.
You can participate actively in control of their asthma. For successful treatment, complete and consistent, form a solid team with your doctor and other health caregivers.