What is asthma?
Asthma is a common condition which affects the small airways or tubes in the lungs. It often develops in childhood and may be caused by allergy to house dust mite, pollen, and /or pet dander. Often there is a family history of asthma. It is easy to recognise allergic asthma caused by pollen because symptoms appear and disappear with the seasons. The body produces antibodies which react with the allergic agent to trigger cells in the body to produce chemicals such as histamine. These chemicals cause intermittent spasm of the muscles around the small airways causes the airways to narrow leading to episodes or bouts of symptoms of chest tightness, difficulty breathing, wheezing and coughing. Inflammation of the airways may also be accompanied by the production of sputum or phlegm. Most people who suffer from asthma have periodic attacks of symptoms separated by symptom-free periods. Symptoms can be aggravated by cold air and cigarette smoke and are often worse at night or early in the morning. Symptoms often improve or disappear as children approach adulthood. However, in some children asthma can persist into adulthood; and sometimes asthma can present for the first time in adulthood – usually without any associated allergies.
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