Asthma is a chronic inflammatory
condition in which the airways undergo changes when stimulated by allergens or
other environmental triggers that causes an inability to breathe properly. The
word asthma was derived from an ancient Greek word meaning panting or
breathlessness.
The cause of asthma is multifactorial and includes both
hereditary and environmental factors. Most cases of asthma are thought to be
related to the presence of allergies, however not all persons with allergies
have asthma and not all cases of asthma can be attributed to
allergies.
Triggers for asthma can include:
Cold, dry air
Exercise
Tobacco smoke
Fumes (paint, exhaust, etc.)
Viral respiratory infections
Environmental allergens such as house-dust mites, molds, and cockroaches
Symptoms of asthma include:
Coughing
Wheezing
Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
Chest tightness or pain
Rapid breathing
Chest retractions due to labored breathing
Irritation of the mouth and throat
Thirst
Need to urinate
Tightness of the neck muscles
Thick stringy mucus (especially at the end of the attack)
Frequent bouts of weakness or tiredness
The major goal of asthma
management is to maintain normal life with normal lung function. This can be
accomplished by meeting the following individual goals:
