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Allergies & Asthma

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Causes of asthma

Asthma is a chronic, complicated, incureable (lifelong) Disease, in most cases, smoking pot can damage the Lung.
Some major features of asthma include:

1. Airway obstruction: During normal breathing, the bands of muscle that surround the airways are relaxed, and air moves freely. But in people with asthma, allergy-causing substances and environmental triggers make the bands of muscle surrounding the airways tighten, and air cannot move freely. Less air causes a person to feel short of breath, and the air moving through the tightened airways causes a whistling sound known as wheezing.


(Fortunately, this airway narrowing is reversible, a feature that distinguishes asthma from other lung diseases such as bronchitis or emphysema.)

2. Inflammation: People with asthma have red and swollen bronchial tubes. This inflammation is thought to contribute greatly to the long-term damage that asthma can cause to the lungs. And, therefore, treating this inflammation is key to managing asthma in the long run.

3. Airway irritability: The airways of people with asthma are extremely sensitive. The airways tend to overreact and narrow due to even the slightest triggers such as pollen, animal dander, dust or fumes.

People with asthma have very sensitive airways that react to many different things in the environment called "triggers." Contact with these triggers cause asthma symptoms to start or worsen. The following are common triggers for asthma:
Infections (colds, viruses, flu, sinus infection)
Allergens such as pollens, mold spores, pet dander and dust mites
Irritants such as strong odors from perfumes or cleaning solutions, air pollution,
Tobacco smoke
Exercise or exertion
Weather - changes in temperature and/or humidity, cold air
Strong emotions such as anxiety, laughter or crying, stress

Dust mites (really, their droppings) are the most common trigger of allergy and asthma symptoms. These tiny insects live in the dust particles that naturally collect in our homes. Pet - and human - dander (skin cells) and pollen, of course, also are common culprits that trigger allergy and asthma symptoms. The key is to have as few places as possible for particles to collect on, and to keep these places clean.

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