Top: Health: Conditions and Diseases: Allergies: Asthma
|
|
Asthma is a disease of the lungs in which the airways become narrowed and blocked. The lining of the airway becomes swollen due to an increased production of mucus further narrowing the air passages. This narrowed airway, or bronchospasm results in shallow, labored breathing and a feeling that there is not enough air coming into the lungs. All of these changes make breathing difficult.
|
|
Symptoms strike when the airways undergo bronchospasm, swelling, and narrowing. Some people can function for an extended period of time between asthma episodes while others have some symptoms every day. Common symptoms of asthma include:
Shortness of breath:
Wheezing
Constriction of the chest muscles
Coughing
Sputum production
Excess rapid breathing and gasping
Rapid heart rate
Exhaustion
Chronic nighttime coughing in adults
Insomnia
Chest tightness and chest pains (similar to a heart attack)
Extreme sensitivity to odors
|
|
Diet
Smoking
Weight
Weather
Pollution
Dirt
|
|
|
