Asthma is an important chronic disease characterized by constriction and inflammation in the air passages of the respiratory system. A person having asthma shows several symptoms of asthmatic attacks after being exposed to certain allergens or triggers. In general, the airways of such person become swollen, inflamed, tighten and secrete excess mucus that sometimes leads to mucus plugs. The most common symptoms are shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain and chronic cough.

Asthma is caused due to genetic or environmental factors or both. Air pollution especially using fossil fuels that produce harmful gases such as smog, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide trigger the process of asthmatic attacks. Smoking either active or passive smoking at the time of pregnancy can increase the risk of asthma in the newborn baby. Other allergens that stimulate asthma attacks include wastes from household pests (cockroaches, dust mites), pollen, food allergies and indoor pollutants (perfumes, hairsprays, cosmetics). In children, asthma is mostly caused due to viral respiratory infections.

It is difficult to diagnose asthma at early stages, as it resembles other respiratory diseases such as bronchitis, emphysema and respiratory tract infection. In fact, many people suffer from asthma but are not aware of the disease condition. Diagnosis of asthma is usually done based on the symptoms, medical history and physical examinations. Read the rest of this entry »