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Asthma

 Asthma is a common chronic (long-term) lung disease in which the lungs' bronchial tubes, or airways, become inflamed.

This inflammation causes the airways to become sensitive to environmental triggers, such as dust, smoke, pet dander, or cold air.

In reaction to these triggers, an asthma attack can occur. The muscles around the bronchial tubes tighten, the lining of the airways becomes inflamed, and the airways overproduce mucus, making it difficult to breathe.

Want to know more about asthma? Read on to learn what experts know about this breathing disorder, why some people develop it and others don’t, lifestyle changes that can help you manage asthma, and how to avoid complications linked to the condition.

Common Questions & Answers

What are some of the main causes of asthma?
The exact cause of asthma is unknown, although it tends to run in families, suggesting a genetic component. Exposure to allergens also triggers symptoms of asthma. The main asthma triggers include pollen, air pollutants, smoke, foods, respiratory infections, and medications.
Can you die from having an asthma attack?
Is it possible to develop asthma later in life?
How do you treat asthma?
Are there any good home remedies to treat asthma?

Do You Know What Type of Asthma You Have?

Asthma is a disease that affects your airways, which carry air in and out of your lungs. The type of asthma you have depends on your specific triggers.

Thanks to advances in asthma research, doctors have been able to identify the different types of asthma. The five most common types of asthma are: exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB), allergic asthma, cough-variant asthma, occupational asthma, and nocturnal or nighttime asthma. EIB occurs after physical exertion. It’s not always easy to determine which type of asthma you have. Proper diagnosis and regular communication with your doctor can help you to determine the best course of action.

Asthma is a chronic lung disease, so it’s important to receive treatment as soon as possible to ensure that your condition doesn’t worsen.

Learn More About the Types of Asthma

How to Tell if Your Asthma Is Severe

Doctors differentiate severe asthma from other, milder forms of asthma according to the frequency and intensity of a person’s symptoms.

For starters, severe asthma is persistent, which doctors define as asthma that causes symptoms more than twice a week, explains Patricia Takach, MD, an associate professor of clinical medicine in the section of allergy and immunology at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine in Philadelphia. For many severe asthma sufferers, symptoms occur daily

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