Asthma

Asthma is a chronic disease that affects your airways. Your airways are tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs. If you have asthma, the inside walls of your airways become sore and swollen. That makes them very sensitive, and they may react strongly to things that you are allergic to or find irritating. When your airways react, they get narrower and your lungs get less air. This can cause wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and trouble breathing, especially early in the morning or at night.

When your asthma symptoms become worse than usual, it's called an asthma attack. In a severe asthma attack, the airways can close so much that your vital organs do not get enough oxygen. People can die from severe asthma attacks.

Asthma is treated with two kinds of medicines: quick-relief medicines to stop asthma symptoms and long-term control medicines to prevent symptoms.

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Asthma on Wikipedia

'''Asthma''' is a chronic condition affecting populations around the world. Public attention has recently focused on this condition because its prevalence and the associated mortality rate have increased over the last several decades. While familial aggregation is observed, no clear pattern of segregation can be discerned. Most likely, there are multiple genetic, developmental, and environmental factors which interact to produce the overall condition. Asthma is a complex disease characterized by bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR), inflammation, and intermittent airway obstruction. A person with asthma may experience wheezing, dyspnea, chest tightness and cough particularly after exposure to an allergen, cold air, exercise, or when emotional. Asthma is treated with drugs, whether inhaled or in the form of tablets, but there are lifestyle changes which can be used to reduce exacerbations.

Signs and symptoms

The main symptom of asthma is wheezing caused by obstruction of the airways. A cough, sometimes with clear sputum, may also be present. Typically the symptoms are very variable, often with rapid onset, and associated with the triggers listed above. In severe cases, symptoms can be worse during the night or upon waking. Asthma sometimes occurs with acid indigestion, especially amongst older patients. Sign (medicine) of asthma are wheezing, rapid breathing, expiratory phase of breathing longer than inspiratory, in-drawing of tissues between ribs and above sternum & clavicles, over-inflation of the chest and rhonchus (wheezy noises heard with a stethoscope). In severe attacks the asthma sufferer may be cyanosed (blue), may have chest pain and can lose consciousness. Between attacks a person with asthma may show no signs at all.

Diagnosis

In most cases the physician can make the diagnosis on the basis of typical symptoms and signs. The typical rapid changes in airway obstruction can be demonstrated ... [ Read More ]

External Resources

BBC Film - Four Weddings star found dead - "Four Weddings and a Funeral star Charlotte Coleman dies aged 33 after suffering a massive asthma attack."

Bio Comics - Take a comic book adventure inside the human body with Captain Biography as he faces off against smoking, HIV asthma, anabolic steroids, skin cancer and biological villans inspired by real-life health threats. Kids can face Sinister Smoke in an interactive games section endorsed by the American Cancer Society.

Dustmitex - A clean and natural non-toxic solution to eliminate house dust mites and allergens in carpet, upholstery, and mattress, greatly reducing symptoms of asthma and allergies.

BioForce Enviro-Tech, Inc. - BioForce manufactures and sells Enviro-Rite and Enviro-Pro cleaning products which are developed by and for people with allergies,asthma, and chemical sensitivities.

Sleep in Beauty - Offering pure cotton open back pillowcases that help relieve acne, allergies and asthma.

Battling The MSG Myth - Debbie Anglesey. MSG or aspartame may be causing your headaches, stomach problems, depression, asthma, chronic fatigue, hyperactivity, or joint pain.

Buteyko Method - The training video teaches a healthy, drug-free way to manage asthma symptoms, bronchitis, emphysema and other breathing problems.

Cure Your Asthma in Just 1 Week - Personal account of a natural treatment for asthma, sinus and allergies that has been proven to work by clinical trials.

Dramatic Asthma Relief - A report on alternative asthma treatment based on personal experience.

Plantavorel - Making herbal remedies for 140 years. We have many specialities such as creams for skin problems and also herbal compositions for asthma and other medical conditions.

Related Pages on HealthTales.com: