What Is Asthma And How Is It Caused

Most people only have a vague idea of what is asthma. Well, asthma is an incurable chronic respiratory disease in which difficulty in breathing is experienced from time to time. In asthma, the airway passageways (bronchioles) to the lungs become constricted due to inflammation, extra mucus, and swelling.

This constriction causes difficulty in breathing. The inflammation and swelling in bronchioles is due to two types of causative agents, namely allergens (that can be identified as specific triggers) and irritants (that can be identified as non-specific triggers).

The airways to the lungs are in a state of bronchial hyperactivity (BHR). They become overly sensitive. Individuals whether only allergic or those already asthmatics have a higher degree of BHR as compared to non-allergics and non-asthmatics.

Asthma symptoms vary from one individual to another. Some asthmatics may have no discernible symptoms, whereas others may display severe asthmatic symptoms and chronic BHR. The susceptibility and reactivity level of different asthmatics to environmental triggers is different. This is why the type and dosage of medication provided to different asthmatic patients varies widely. The symptoms of asthma may include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and tightness in the chest. Different permutations and combinations of these symptoms have been observed in different asthmatic individuals. The immune defense system of the body plays a large role in the mechanism by which the disease occurs in asthma-prone individuals. The basic cause of asthma and the bronco-constriction that occurs is inflammation of the air passageways to the lungs. The specific triggers and irritants that cause asthma in a specific individual are treated as foreign bodies by the immune defense system of the body. It reacts to these 'foreign' bodies through the release of certain substances by the mast cells that line the bronchial airways. These substances include histamine and leukotrienes. The release of these substances is a signal to white blood cells to flood the area. The white blood cells then bring about the inflammatory response by surrounding the 'foreign' triggers and irritants. Extra mucus is also released in the process. The inflammation and swelling that occurs is due to the action of white blood cells on the foreign bodies. Further, the contraction of the muscles surrounding the air passageways that causes the bronchial constriction is also part of the standard defensive response of the body's immune system. The three ingredients, namely inflammation and swelling, the extra mucus, and the contraction of the muscles, together are responsible for the individual's breathing difficulties. In non-asthmatic individuals the immune defense does not react in this manner. Although there is no cure for asthma yet in sight, asthma can be managed by the use of two types of inhalers, namely dry powder or metered-dose preventer inhalers and reliever inhalers. The substances used in these inhalers include beta-adrenergic agonist bronchodilators, anticholinergics, and theophyllenes. Now that you know what is asthma and the basics of how it is caused, you can better respond to an asthmatic attack.

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