What is asthma?
Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory condition of the airways. The airway linings become very sensitive and receptive to irritants. With asthma the air passage linings swell, mucus develops and the air passages narrows. Simultaneously a contraction of the muscles around the airways can occur, who will then narrow even further.
Typical of the illness is the variation of the airway obstruction. Sometimes the asthmatic suffers from the illness and sometimes he or she feels completely well. It also happens that the asthmatic "gets used" to having some asthma symptoms without realising that it could get better. This is something to be avoided since it could lead to complications in the form of permanent damage to the air passages. It is important to treat the asthma so that the resistance to airflow will be as small as possible.
Symptoms:
Characteristic is the wheezy breathing. An irritating cough is also common. During an asthma attack exhaling becomes difficult, the chest may feel tight and many are affected by deep anguish. It can feel like holding your nose and breathing through a straw.
