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Bronchial Asthma
Bronchial Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that makes airways (bronchial tubes) particularly sensitive to irritants and leads to difficulty in breathing.
Bronchial Asthma is a highly ranked chronic health condition in adults in most western countries, and it is the leading chronic illness of children. About one in 13 adults and one in eight children have asthma in the western world, and rates are on the increase. It can affect anyone, at any age, anywhere.
Researchers have not found a cure for asthma, so for most patients it is controlled so that they have only minimal and infrequent symptoms and they can live an active life.
If you have bronchial asthma, managing it is an important part of your life. Controlling your asthma means staying away from things that bother your airways and taking medicines as directed by your doctor. By controlling your asthma every day, you can prevent serious symptoms and take part in all normal activities. If your asthma is not well controlled, you are likely to have symptoms that can make you miss school or work and keep you from doing things you enjoy.
When a person experiences a worsening of their asthma symptoms, it is called an asthma attack. During an asthma attack, smooth muscles around the bronchial tubes contract, making the airway openings narrower so less air can flow through. Inflammation increases and the airways become more swollen and narrow. Cells in the airways also make more mucus than usual, which narrows the airways further. The changes to the airways cause the symptoms of bronchial asthma.
Asthma attacks are not all the same-some are worse than others. In a severe attack, the airways can close so much that not enough oxygen gets to vital organs. This condition is a medical emergency. People can die from severe asthma attacks. A person suffering from an attack has a sensation similar to drowning.
If you have bronchial asthma, you should see your doctor regularly. You will need to learn what things cause your asthma symptoms to worsen and how to avoid them. Your doctor will also prescribe medicines to keep your asthma under control.