by Lucinda Davis

Created on: November 15, 2009

Asthma is a chronic lung disease with recurrent attacks of wheezing and shortness of breath. This disorder causes the airways to become inflamed and produces thick mucus that makes it difficult to breathe. Asthma is more common in women than in men. Currently there are about 20 million asthma sufferers.

An attack will happen when it is triggered. A trigger can be changes in the weather, medications, allergens like mold or animal dander, sinus infections, exercise, dust, smoke, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and stress.

When this trigger causes an attack then it is followed by swelling of the passages and thickening of lung secretions. This closes off air to the lungs.

Symptoms include tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, wheezing when breathing out, coughing especially at night. The cough may have a little sputum. Rapid shallow breathing is easier for asthma sufferers to endure while sitting up. Neck muscles may tighten causing breathing even more difficult.

If you are having a severe attack then your skin could turn a bluish color, you'll be exhausted, you may find it difficult to speak and you'll be exhausted.

Prevention can be exercised by avoiding any known triggers such as allergens or air pollutants. If your doctor prescribes a medicine then take it on a regular basis and don't skip doses just because you feel fine. Sit upright during the attacks to make them easier.

Your doctor might prescribe oral, injected or more common inhaled anti-inflammatory drugs like corticosteroids. Cortisone drugs by nebulizer have fewer adverse reactions than when taken orally.

He might also prescibe leukotriene modifiers which will combat the agents that may be responsible for your inflammation and tightened airways. Another prescription you could receive is a bronchodilator that helps to open air passages when you are having an attack.

Possible complications that can come from asthma are respiratory failure, lung infection, COPD and pneumothorax. Children tend to outgrow asthma but it must be treated to avoid fatal possiblities.

Stay active but avoid sudden bursts of exercise. Tomatoes, leafy greens and carrots are now thought to reduce your risk for asthma. The vegetables that are high in vitamin A helps to keep the lining of your respiratory tract in tact and boost your immune system.

Researchers are pushing for a cure for asthma and hope that they will be able to find a drug to elimate the cells that cause this problem. Until then you need to take your current medications and maintain your health.

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