What Is Asthma?

Asthma or bronchial asthma is a chronic condition affecting the lungs wherein the recurring inflammation and narrowing of the airways (bronchi) result in the obstruction of airflow in response to the sensitivity to certain allergic or non-allergic factors. This makes breathing difficult and may trigger recurrent episodes of coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.

For some patients, asthma is minor trouble, but, for a few patients, it can be a major problem that may interfere with their daily activities and may lead to life-threatening asthma attacks.

Asthma is a very common condition affecting people all over the world. It may affect people of any age group, ranging from a month-old baby to elderly people.

Asthma can be controlled with proper management, and one can live a healthy and productive life.   

Childhood Asthma : Asthma in children is known as childhood asthma. The precipitating or triggering factors of asthma attacks, the frequency, duration, and intensity of the asthmatic attack may vary from child to child. Mild childhood asthma may get resolved with proper management during childhood. However, there prevails a risk that asthma might return at a later age. Due to the exposure to different allergens, environmental pollution, exposure to chemicals, genetic factors, food habits, and the misuse of antibiotics, the incidence of asthma is increasing in children from the age group of 1 to 14 years.

Occupational Asthma : Asthma caused due to the occupation of the person is known as occupational asthma. In occupational asthma, the symptoms turn worst while working in a particular place, such as a bakery, chemical factory, farm, laboratory, drug factory, metal or plastic plants, wood factory, painting work, etc.

The relief from the symptoms may improve on the days when the patient is away from the workplace or environment which triggers the episode of asthma.  Some people may experience symptoms, such as a runny nose, congestion, irritation in eyes, cough, etc. along with the symptoms of asthma.

Seasonal Asthma : When some patients experience episodes of asthma at a certain time of the year, it is known seasonal asthma. In this type of asthma, symptoms are triggered by things or conditions that are present only at certain times of the year such as pollens, cold weather, cloudy, or rainy weather, etc.

Exercise-Induced Asthma : In many patients of asthma, a heavy workout can trigger an acute attack of asthma.  Patients may feel chest tightness, shortness of breath, and cough within a few minutes after a workout.