| What is it and who gets it? Asthma is a condition | | | | hard for air to get in and out of the lungs. This leads to |
| whereby the smaller airways of the lungs constrict (or | | | | symptoms like wheezing, breathless, chest tightness |
| narrow) from time to time, causing typical symptoms. | | | | and a cough. Not only that, the inflammation also |
| The duration and extent of narrowing vary and they | | | | stimulates the airway to pump out extra mucus, which |
| determine the degree of severity of the disease. | | | | causes the airway to obstruct further.What are the |
| Asthma affects people of all ages, however, it tends | | | | exacerbating factors of asthma or what can make it |
| to starts in childhood and runs in family. Having said | | | | worse? Asthma symptoms may be triggered by |
| that, certain asthma sufferers have no family | | | | certain factors. Occasionally, we do not know why it |
| members who have asthma.What are the symptoms | | | | becomes worse. It is possible to avoid certain triggers |
| of asthma? Typical symptoms are a cough, wheezing, | | | | to help to reduce symptoms. Identifiable triggers |
| chest tightness and shortness of breath. The severity | | | | include:Exercise. Exercise is a known trigger for |
| of asthma can usually be classified according to the | | | | asthma. Having said that, you should not refrain |
| degree of symptoms. Each episode of symptoms | | | | yourself from doing sports and exercises. They are |
| may last from a hour to several days if left untreated. | | | | actually good for your asthma. It is possible to prevent |
| Death is a known but uncommon cause of severe | | | | asthma symptoms while exercising by using an inhaler |
| untreated asthma.Symptoms of mild asthma: Episodes | | | | before you exercise.Pollen and moulds. This is |
| of symptoms only during exercise or triggered by a | | | | particular evident during season of hay fever.Infection. |
| chest or an upper respiratory infection. You are usually | | | | Viral respiratory tract infections like flu or common cold |
| symptom- free between episodes.Symptoms of | | | | are common triggers.Smoking and air pollution.Some |
| moderate asthma: You display symptoms from time to | | | | medicine. Certain medicines are known to constrict |
| time. Symptoms tend to be worst at night and early in | | | | smaller airways in the lungs, they include aspirin, |
| the morning. You may be awakened at night with a | | | | beta-blockers and some eye drops for |
| tight chest and coughing.Symptoms of severe asthma: | | | | glaucoma.House dust mites.Some food. We do not |
| You have symptoms on most days. You may find it | | | | know why certain food can bring up symptoms of |
| hard to talk. Frequent hospitalization for asthma is also | | | | asthma. Food like nuts, eggs and fish can sometimes |
| one of the criteria for severe asthma.What causes | | | | trigger off an asthma attack in people who have |
| asthma? Asthma occurs as a result of inflammation in | | | | known asthma. However, this is not a common |
| the lower, smaller airways. No one is entirely sure why | | | | trigger.Emotion. Asthma has nothing to do with your |
| the inflammation occurs. As a consequence of the | | | | 'nerve'. However, certain emotions like stress, laughing, |
| inflammation, the sensitive airway constricts, making it | | | | anxiety can all cause symptoms of asthma. |