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Asthma is a condition that
affects the air passages of the lungs. It is a two-step problem:
- When a person has asthma, the air passages
are inflamed, which means that the airways are red and swollen.
- Inflammation of the air passages makes them
over extra-sensitive to a number of different things that can
"trigger," or bring on, asthma symptoms.
During breathing, air is normally
brought in through the nose. After being warmed, filtered, and
humidified as it passes through the throat and into the windpipe,
called the trachea (TRAY-kee-a). The trachea divides into two
large tubes called the right bronchus (BRONG-kus) and left bronchus.
These then split up into much smaller tubes, which in turn branch
into thousands of very small airways called bronchioles (BRONG-kee-olz).
It is the large and small bronchi that are generally affected
in asthma.
When a person is exposed to one of these irritants, or triggers,
the oversensitive air passages react by becoming narrower, swollen,
and even more inflamed. This obstructs airflow to and from the
lungs and makes it very difficult for the person to breathe.
Facts About Asthma
The process of moving air into and out of
the lungs is something most people take for granted. But for as
many as 15 million Americans living with asthma, this simple activity
requires significant effort.
Asthma cannot be cured, but with proper treatment
it can be effectively controlled. Good asthma control allows most
adults to live full, active, trouble-free lives.
Without satisfactory control of asthma, long-term
damage can occur in the respiratory system. Poorly controlled
asthma can lead to reduced physical activities, missed work, and
extra visits to the emergency department.
For most adults with asthma, a reduced quality
of life doesn't have to happen. Arming yourself with information
is an important step in maintaining a healthy life.
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