Asthma may begin in the form of
sneezing, headache or mild breathlessness
and it may be ignored because it
is mistaken for signs of the common
cold or over-exertion. However these
symptoms become bothersome when
patients are forced to refrain from
work or school or are forced to
visit the hospital. Eventually the
severity of asthma becomes evident.
Asthma is a chronic disease that
affects the respiratory system.
It causes inflammation and constriction
in the airways which are the tubes
that transport air to and from
the lungs. Inflammation or any
contraction within these tubes
increases the sensitivity of the
tubes to allergens, cold, warm
or moist air, and exertion or
stress. The muscles that surround
the airways shrink when they are
exposed to any of these conditions
and cause the tubes to narrow.
The airways become further blocked
when these muscles produce excess
mucous. These changes cause breathing
difficulties and cause wheezing
or stridor, coughing and tightness
in the chest.
An
individual has an asthma attack
when these symptoms become worse.
The severity of an asthma attack
varies among individuals. In severe
cases, an asthma attack causes
the basic oxygen supply that is
transported to the vital organs
to cease and this leads to death.
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