What is ASTHMA?
Asthma 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. Asthma breathing problems usually happen in “episodes” or “attacks”. An asthma episode is a series of events that result in narrowed airways. These include: swelling of the lining , tighting of muscles, and increased secretion of mucus in the airway. The narrowed airway is responsible for the difficulty in breathing with the familiar “wheeze”.Triggers range from viral infection to allergies, to irritating gases and particles in the air. Each person reacts differently to the factors that may trigger asthma, including some respiratory infect
