What is Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic lung disease in which a person’s airways are blocked, making it difficult to breathe. The airways get inflamed and become too narrow for the air to pass through. It is characterized by varying symptoms, among which includes wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and cough – all of which are continual or recurring in nature.

People of all ages can have asthma. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, nearly 6 million of those affected with asthma are children. In the United States alone, an estimated 20 million Americans are known to have the disease.

The air that you inhale and exhale pass through what is called the airways. The largest airway is the windpipe (trachea). It branches into two smaller airways, the left and the right bronchi, both of which lead to your lungs. A person with asthma has inflamed airways, making it more sensitive and prone to swelling. Because it is too sensitive, the airways tend to narrow and tighten when you breathe in air. The narrow passage only allows less air to pass through to your lungs, causing a sudden shortness of breath. The inflammation can also cause the airways to swell even more, which can worsen the situation. Also, the cells found in your airways may result in more sticky mucus or phlegm than normal which can further narrow your airways. All these reactions make it difficult to breathe, and worse can lead to the different symptoms of asthma.

As mentioned above, the usual symptoms of asthma include wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and tightness in the chest. Some people may experience all symptoms, while others will only experience some of them. Keep in mind also that asthma symptoms may vary from one attack to another.

Check for early signs of asthma such as frequent coughing, especially at night, shortness of breath, tiredness, wheezing, decrease or change in lung function, signs of allergies or trouble in sleeping. These early signs can help you from having an asthma attack or prevent it from getting worse.

Other symptoms include very rapid breathing, difficulty talking, feelings of anxiety or panic, retractions, pale, sweaty face and blue lips or fingernails. Aside from the usual symptoms, some patients may experience the following: rapid breathing, fatigue, difficulty in sleeping, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, chronic cough and inability to exercise properly.

As soon as you notice any of these symptoms, consult with your doctor. Write down the symptoms, and the time when you experienced it so that you can take note of the pattern. It can also help in letting your doctor know when and how you felt the symptoms to properly diagnose whether it’s asthma or not.

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