Asthma Question: Why isn t there a cure for asthma? Is there hope that a cure will ever come about?
Asthma is a disease of the airways to the lung. It is due to spasm or narrowing of the airways after stimulation by one of many factors. It is usually reversible so that the airway returns to normal after a period of time. It is one of the more common medical problems and is a leading cause of loss of work and school time. In severe cases, it can lead to death and often limits an individual’s activities. Asthma is classified in several ways, but generally falls into allergic and non-allergic types. Allergic is generally seen in young children and teen-agers. Non-allergic is typically seen in older individuals, although there is a wide spectrum of distribution. However, both are due to the hyper-irritability of the airways. Different common triggers include allergens, exercise, cold, chemicals, aspirin, beta- blockers, infections, emotional triggers, and work exposures. Treatment centers on reversing the spasm of the airways. This can be accomplished by one of several drugs. Preventive
