What is Asthma?

Asthma is a severe breathing problem that affects all ages of people. The Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia tells that Asthma is a chronic condition involving the respiratory (breathing) system in which the airway occasionally constricts, becomes inflamed, and is lined with excessive amounts of mucus, often in response to one or more triggers. Triggers can be defined as an immediate cause to start an episode of asthma. These episodes may be triggered by such things as exposure to an environmental asthma stimulant such as cold air, warm air, moist air, exercise or exertion, or emotional stress. In children, the most common triggers are viral illnesses such as those that cause the common cold. This airway narrowing or shrinking of air vessels to lungs causes asthma symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. The airway constriction responds to bronchodilators. Between episodes, most asthma patients feel well but can have mild asthma symptoms and they may remain short of breath after exercise for longer periods of time than the unaffected individual. The symptoms of asthma, which can range from mild to life threatening, can usually, be controlled with a combination of drugs and environmental changes.