What is Asthma?

Asthma is a lung disease that causes obstruction of the airways. During an asthma attack, spasms in the muscles surrounding the bronchi (small airways in the lungs) constrict, impeding the outward passage of stale air. Sufferers often describe this plight as starving for air. Typical symptoms of an asthma attack are coughing, wheezing, a feeling of tightness in the chest, and difficulty breathing. A condition called chronic asthmatic bronchitis in which the airways in the lungs are obstructed due to persistent asthma and chronic bronchitis may occur.

The spasms that characterize the acute attack are not the cause of the disorder but a result of chronic inflammation and hypersensitivity of the airways to certain stimuli. An attack my be triggered if a susceptible individual is exposed to an allergen or irritants such as animal dander, chemicals, drugs, dust mites, environmental pollutants, feathers, food additives such as sulfites, fumes, mold, and tobacco smoke; but any kind of allergen can precipitate an attack in a susceptible individual. Other things that can bring on asthma attacks include adrenal disorders, anxiety, changes in temperature, exercise, extremes of dryness or humidity, fear, laughing, low blood sugar, and stress. A respiratory infection such as bronchitis may also be involved. Whatever the particular instigator, it causes the bronchial tubes to swell and become plugged with mucus. This inflammation further irritates the airways, resulting in even greater sensitivity; the attacks become more frequent and the inflammation more severe. In the last decade, the number of Americans with asthma has increased by one third, affecting more than 10 million people (3 million children and 7 million adults), or 4 percent of the U.S. population. Children under 16 and adults over 65 are more likely to suffer from asthma than the rest of the population. Among children, the incidence of hospitalization for asthma has increased fivefold in the last 30 years; the rate for adults has doubled.

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