What causes Asthma - Are you prone to Asthma attacks

Asthma is caused by spasmodic contraction of the muscular walls of the bronchial tubes. It is an inflammatory disorder of the airways, which causes attacks of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. Asthma attacks can last minutes to days and can become dangerous if the airflow becomes severely restricted. Asthma symptoms can also be triggered by respiratory infections, exercise, cold air, tobacco smoke and other pollutants, stress, food, or drug allergies. This disease is a significant health problem in the United States affecting more than 20 million individuals, including five million children.

Asthma is a condition that makes the bronchial tubes of the lung overly sensitive and easily inflamed. Apart from medications used to treat the ailment, there is a little known approach to asthma treatment. Asthma symptoms can be substantially reduced by avoiding known allergens and respiratory irritants. When an asthma attack occurs, the muscles surrounding the airways become tight and the lining of the air passages swell. Most people with this ailment have wheezing attacks separated by symptom-free periods. In sensitive individuals, the symptoms can be triggered by breathing in allergy-causing substances (called allergens or triggers).

Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications provoke asthma in some patients. Many people with asthma have an individual or family history of allergies, such as hay fever (allergic rhinitis) or eczema. A person with asthma may experience varying symptoms that can include coughing, wheezing, chest tightness or difficulty breathing. The changes in hormonal levels that accompany puberty or pregnancy can also play a role in this ailment. Exposure to certain substances in the work place can also cause asthma symptoms. The tendency to develop this disease is hereditary and can often be traced to other family members. A few of the risk factors for developing asthma have been identified; they include having parents with this disease, having a personal history of nasal allergy, having eczema or food allergy, exposure to dust mites in the house, or growing up with parents who smoke.

The number of people developing asthma has been increasing. The treatment of this disease begins with proper evaluation, to determine its severity and possible causes. Medications for asthma are used in a stepped manner, according to its severity. Most importantly, this disease has to be closely monitored. Individuals who have asthma should not ignore their symptoms, as it can flare up unexpectedly and can lead to long-term loss of lung function due to lung injury.

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