What Is Asthma?
Asthma is a chronic lung disease - it cannot be cured, it can only be controlled. Asthma is characterized by:
Constriction (The breathing passages tighten and narrow)
Swelling ( Inflammation inside the lungs)
More and thicker mucus within the airways
These cause the symptoms of asthma, which are:
Shortness of breath
Wheezing
Tightness of the chest
Cough
The goal of asthma therapy is to keep asthma under control without limiting activity and with the least amount of medications possible. This is done through monitoring asthma at home and having a plan on how to adjust medication as symptoms change. This plan should be developed with a physician based on peakflow results.
A peakflow is a handheld device that can be used at home to measure the ability to breathe. When using this device, medications can be adjusted according to your breathing ability. Managing asthma at home is essential to maintain control of asthma and to become an active participant in your own healthcare.
It is not clear what causes asthma, but we do know there is a hereditary component. There are also a variety of triggers that can stimulate an asthma attack including:
Allergies
Strong Odors
Infections
Exercise
Cold Air
Smoke
Asthma triggers only produce asthma symptoms in an asthmatic. Asthma is a physical problem that is characterized by tightening and swelling of the airways. Asthma is never caused by psychological problems, but may be worsened by stress.
