Asthma is a respiratory system condition that affects your lungs. It is characterized by difficulty in breathing that triggers coughing, shortness of breath and whistling sound when you breathe. This is due to your airways narrowing and tightening and being blocked by excess mucus.
Asthma ranges from mild to a life threatening condition. Asthma is a chronic or ongoing condition, it cannot be cured but can be managed.
WHAT CAUSES ASTHMA?
Asthma could be due to genetic or environmental factors, or a combination of both as it is not clear why some people get asthma while others don't. Anyone can develop asthma at any age.
While the direct cause of asthma is unknown, some factors are thought to increase your chances of developing asthma. Factors such as:
Having a parent or sibling with asthma
Smoking and exposure to second hand smoke
Being overweight
Exposure to exhaust fumes or other types of pollution
Asthma could also result due to;
Exercise-induced asthma: This type is triggered by exercise
Occupational asthma: This type of asthma happens primarily to people who work around irritating substances.
SYMPTOMS OF ASTHMA
Chest tightness
Shortness of breath
Trouble sleeping as a result of shortness of breath
Exhaling accompanied with wheezing, a common sign of asthma in children
Coughing or wheezing
Asthma symptoms can vary from person to person. Some may experience less frequent asthma attacks, others may experience induced symptoms as in exercise-induced asthma, while some may have symptoms all the time.
PREVENTION
There is no proven way to prevent asthma, but a detailed plan to managing asthma can be made with your doctor and health team.
Asthma is an ongoing incurable condition that requires regular monitoring and treatment.