What is asthma?
Control Your Allergies & AsthmaAsthma is a disease of the respiratory system. Asthma is a chronic state of hyper-responsiveness (when muscles in the airways constrict and narrow excessively in response to inhaled allergens or other irritants). Asthma is characterized by coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and wheezing. Asthma may be triggered by allergens or other, non-allergic stimuli, such as cold air or tobacco smoke.
Related QuestionsPatients' Frequently Asked Questions (PFAQ) - Children's Hea...Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the lungs. Asthma can make breathing difficult and cause symptoms such as coughing and wheezing. Asthma symptoms are commonly triggered by allergies, colds and exposure to cigarette smoke. During an asthma attack, the walls of the airway swell and the airway becomes narrower. This makes breathing harder - like it would feel to breath through a small straw.Related Questions
Lung DiseaseAsthma can be hard to diagnose. This is because the signs of asthma are similar those of other lung diseases. The signs of COPD, pneumonia, bronchitis, pulmonary embolism, anxiety and heart disease can all be confused for asthma. It is important to note that women are misdiagnosed with asthma when they really have COPD more often than men. To figure out if asthma is causing your discomfort, the doctor will first ask about your symptoms and health history. She will then do a physical exam.Related Questions
Asthma Resources, NJDHSSAsthma is a serious chronic disease that affects your lungs. It causes repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing. Asthma is with you all the time, but you may have “asthma attacks or episodes” only when something bothers your lungs. Asthma cannot not cured but can be controlled.1Related Questions
The Healing Mind: The Art & Science of Mind/Body Healing : G...Asthma has several causes, including genetic sensitivity, exposure to environmental irritants, and stress responses leading to "hyper-responsiveness" and bronchial inflammation. Both Inflammation and excess mucus production can close airways, thus making exhaling difficult. This cycle is difficult to stop once it is established. Customary treatment includes daily inhaled steroid medication, an as-needed bronchodilator for use during attacks, and education to avoid environmental asthma "triggers.Related Questions
What is allergic asthma?
Frequently Asked Questions About Allergic Asthma - XOLAIR (O...Allergic asthma is how doctors describe a particular type of asthma. In people with this common condition, certain types of allergens can trigger asthma attacks and symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
Related QuestionsCan asthma be cured?
Control Your Allergies & AsthmaThere is no cure for asthma. However, with the proper diagnosis and treatment, asthmatics can lead normal, active lives with little disturbance to quality of life.
Related QuestionsRespiratory Care FAQ, Sleep Diagnostic Systmes, Ventilators,...If your doctor has told you that you have asthma, you probably have difficulty breathing and often cough or feel short of breath. Your doctor may hear wheezing when he or she listens to your chest with a stethoscope. Wheezing is a whistling sound that can be heard as you breathe. Irritants in the air cause your lungs to become inflamed and your airway to tighten, trapping air in your lungs. This produces an asthmatic episode or “attack.”Related Questions
Control Asthma Now! FAQsThe more you know about asthma, the better equipped you will be to manage your child's asthma. Here are some common questions about asthma and allergies that may help you.Related Questions
Work Related Asthma - FAQBefore discussing work-related asthma I will briefly define asthma in general. Asthma is a pulmonary condition characterized by episodic airflow obstruction that is at least partially reversible. Obstruction to flow of air occurs in the bronchial tubes within the lungs. In asthmatics these air passages become inflamed when affected by various triggers; the inflammation in turn leads to narrowing (broncho constriction) and resultant respiratory symptoms.Related Questions
Asthma UK - FAQs about asthmaAsthma is a condition that affects the airways – the small tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. When a person with asthma comes into contact with an asthma trigger, the muscle around the walls of the airways tightens so that the airway becomes narrower. The lining of the airways becomes inflamed and starts to swell. Often sticky mucus or phlegm is produced. All these reactions cause the airways to become narrower and irritated – leading to the symptoms of asthma.Related Questions
Asthma FAQs Medical Reference Medical Encyclopedia Informati...Asthma is a disease that affects the breathing passages, or airways, of the lungs. Asthma is a chronic (ongoing, long-term) inflammatory disease that causes difficulty breathing. When an exacerbation or "attack" of asthma takes place, the inflammation in the airways causes the lining of the breathing passages to swell. This swelling narrows the diameter of the airway, eventually to a point where it is hard to exchange enough air to breathe comfortably.Related Questions
Asthma FAQThe word asthma comes from the Greek word aazein, which means "sharp breath." Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory disease of the lungs in which the airways narrow, often in response to a trigger such as exposure to an allergen, exercise, or emotional stress.Related Questions
Will I always have asthma?
Asthma FAQSome people stop having asthma attacks as they get older, but in the overwhelming majority of cases, asthma is a chronic disease that requires treatment. If you have asthma, your best plan is to learn how to manage the asthma, avoid triggers, and move on with your life.
Related QuestionsAllergy Store's Learning CenterAsthma is a reversible obstructive lung disease, caused by an increased reaction of the airways to various stimuli. It is a chronic condition with acute exacerbations. In this country, there are approximately 28 million asthmatics; nearly one third of them (8.6 million) are children under 18 years of age. Asthma can be a life-threatening disease if not properly managed. Asthma is characterized by excessive sensitivity of the lungs to various stimuli.Related Questions
Allergy Relief , Air Purifiers, HEPA Vacuums, and Allergy Be...Asthma is a chronic lung condition characterized by inflammation and swelling of the bronchial airways. Patients with asthma often experience wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath or coughing. Some patients with asthma are totally symptom-free, meaning they don't even know they have asthma. Patients are often misdiagnosed and incorrectly told they have reactive airways, asthmatic bronchitis or recurrent pneumonia, when in reality their condition is asthma.Related Questions
The Breathing FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions!Over the last couple of years i have been getting sinusitus on a regular basis as well as other chest infections, but recently it has got worse and now my breathing seems more shallow and i feel the need to hold my breath in order to make myself breathe again. my friend says her asthma is like this, and i had to attend hospital (a&e) the other night because my breathing is starting to panic me since it is constant, whether i am exercising or not.Related Questions
connectix.netAsthma is a condition that affects the airways – the small tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. When a person with asthma comes into contact with an asthma trigger, the muscle around the walls of the airways tightens so that the airway becomes narrower. The lining of the airways becomes inflamed and starts to swell. Often sticky mucus or phlegm is produced. All these reactions cause the airways to become narrower and irritated – leading to the symptoms of asthma.Related Questions
Frequently Asked QuestionsAsthma causes breathing problems. The airways in the lungs get blocked, causing the lungs to get less air than normal. Symptoms of an "asthma attack" can be difficulty with breathing, a tight feeling in the chest, coughing and wheezing. Asthma can develop quickly and it can range from being a mild discomfort to a life-threatening attack if breathing stops completely. Asthma problems are often separated by symptom-free periods.Related Questions
Asthma: General Information: You Can Control Your Asthma | C...Asthma is a disease that affects your lungs. It is the most common long-term disease of children, but adults have asthma, too. Asthma causes repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing. If you have asthma, you have it all the time, but you will have asthma attacks only when something bothers your lungs. We know that if someone in your family has asthma, you are also more likely to have it.Related Questions
UC Davis Children's Hospital: Pulmonary (lung and bronchial)...Asthma, the most pervasive chronic childhood illness, is a treatable but potentially life-threatening inflammatory lung condition that causes narrowing of the airways in the respiratory system. Obstruction of normal breathing occurs as a result of excess mucus secretion, inflammation of bronchial passageways and excessive tension of the muscles that regulate breathing. The shortness of breath that accompanies an asthmatic attack can cause insufficient oxygen levels in the blood.Related Questions
My child has eczema. Will he develop asthma?
Frequently Asked Questions About EczemaWhile atopic dermatitis, the most common form of eczema, is associated with asthma and other atopic disorders, it does not directly cause them, and people with atopic dermatitis do not always develop other atopic conditions. However, a link exists between eczema and asthma. One study found that 46% of boys and girls with asthma also had eczema.
Related QuestionsWill I outgrow asthma?
AIM | Kids FAQsSome kids will stop having asthma symptoms as often, and it may seem like they have outgrown it. But it isn't gone, it just isn't active, and could come back at any time. Other kids will have to deal with asthma throughout their lives. The best thing to do is to get all the help you can. Have regular checkups with your doctor or asthma coordinator to make sure you are getting the right medicines. Keep a positive attitude..
Related QuestionsHow is asthma treated?
Lung DiseaseAsthma is a chronic disease that cannot be cured. But medicines and lifestyle changes can help control the symptoms. One way to help relieve asthma is to avoid things in the environment that make symptoms worse. A number of types of medicines are also used to treat asthma. Most work by opening the lung airways and reducing inflammation. Quick relief medicines are used only when needed. They should be taken when symptoms are getting worse to prevent a full-blown asthma attack.
Related QuestionsHow is Asthma Diagnosed?
Asthma Resources, NJDHSSAsthma can be difficult to diagnose, especially in children under 5 years old. Regular physical exams that include checks of lung function and checks for allergies can help in making the right diagnosis. A health-care provider trying to diagnose asthma will ask you questions about coughing, especially coughing at night, and whether breathing problems are worse after physical activity or during a particular time of year.
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