ASTHMA – DISCRIPTION

Asthma is a common disorder which causes shortness of breath and a wheeze.

It affects the bronchial tubes carrying the air in and out of the lungs.

Three things happen to these tubes — the muscles in the wall constrict or tighten, the lining is swollen, and there is an increase in the amount of sputum, all interfering with the air flow to the lungs.

The wheeze, the most noticeable feature, may be absent and some mild cases may show only shortness of breath or a chronic cough.

The wheeze is most marked in expiration, that is, when the person breathes out. Although there is always some difficulty in inspiration or breathing in, there may be no noisy wheezing.

Asthma is usually associated with allergy and, like the other atopic or allergic disorders of hay fever and eczema, tends to run in families.

Most asthma starts in childhood and, fortunately, many children outgrow it but it can start at any age and, sometimes, persists throughout life.