Asthma Definition & Symptoms

Asthma is a chronic and incurable, yet controllable, medical condition that affects the airways used for breathing. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, approximately 20 million Americans have it and about 9 million victims are children.

Definition

Asthma occurs when the bronchial tubes, the airways that transport air into and out of the lungs, become inflamed and close up. The inflammation and constriction cause the bronchial walls to tighten and the airways to develop blockages of excess mucus.

General Symptoms

Signs of asthma include shortness of breath, coughing, difficulty sleeping due to respiratory difficulties, pain or tightness in the chest, and wheezing or whistling while breathing. The severity and persistence of symptoms varies among individuals.

Asthma Attacks

Asthma attacks occur when the bronchial tubes close up too much, resulting in labored breathing and reduced oxygen transported to organs. Severe asthma attacks can cause death.

Symptom Progression

Indications of worsening asthma include more frequent and severer asthma attacks, greater need for bronchodilators (medication that opens up the bronchial tubes) and lower peak-flow rates (a measurement of lung functioning).

Considerations

Asthma symptoms tend to be more severe during late night and early morning. Allergens, irritants, exercising, infections and the weather can also exacerbate the condition.

References

• Myo Clinic: Asthma
• Medline Plus: Asthma
• Medline Plus: Asthma in Children