What Is Asthma?
Asthma is a Lung disease which causes difficulty in breathing. It is caused by inflammation of the airways and the lungs. It is a chronic condition, which means it can last for a few years to a lifetime. Asthma can't be cured, but its symptoms can be controlled.
Dr Loveleen Mangla, who is an asthma specialist in Faridabad believes that understanding about asthma helps patients in coping with it better. And to understand asthma, you need to understand breathing.
When you breathe, with every breath you inhale the air goes through your nose down your throat into the airway and eventually to the lungs. There are small sacs called alveoli that help deliver oxygen from the lungs into the bloodstream.
When you have asthma, the lining of your lungs' airway swells and the muscles around them tightens and produce more mucus. The mucus reduces the space through which the air passes and causes wheezing when you breathe out and shortness of breath. These conditions then bring on an asthma “attack,” the coughing and tightness in your chest that is typical of asthma.
What Are Symptoms Of Asthma?
The common symptoms of asthma include
- Shortness of breathing
- Tightness in chest
- Coughing and wheezing
What Are Causes Of Asthma?
There are many causes of asthma, to know what is the cause you need to consult with an asthma specialist. The causes of asthma can be
- Genetics/ Hereditary: If there is a history of asthma in the family you are more likely to develop asthma.
- History of Viral Infection: If you have suffered from severe viral infections during childhood, you are more likely to develop asthma
- Exposure to allergen: Frequent exposure to allergens and irritants increases the risk of developing asthma.
Who Is At Risk?
People who have a genetic history of asthma are more likely to develop asthma. Apart from them people who
- Are heavy smoker
- Are overweight
- Have allergies such as atopic dermatitis or allergic rhinitis or hay fever
- Are frequently exposed to secondhand smoke
- Are exposed to exhaust fumes or other pollutants