Asthma

Asthma is a lung disease characterized by airway obstruction, inflammation, and hyper-responsiveness to environmental factors or “triggers”. In healthy individuals, the lungs have normal anatomy with clear and open airways and air sacs that allow easy flow of air out of the lungs. In contrast, in asthma patients, the lung anatomy is changed. When irritated, the airways can narrow and obstruct breathing, resulting in asthma symptoms. The airway walls are thick and swollen and increased mucus secretion causes blockage or obstruction of air flow. In some cases, breathing becomes painful and doctors usually describe it as an “asthma attack”.

When a person has asthma, he or she may experience the following symptoms:

·     chronic (regular) cough;

·     shortness of breath;

·     wheezing; and/or,

·     a feeling of tightness in the chest.

If an individual suspects that he or she might have asthma, a physician will evaluate his/her medical history and then perform a series of lung-function tests.

Asthma Society

info@asthma.ca

1-866-787-4050

 

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