Asthma is a condition in which the airways become swollen and narrow, making it difficult to breathe correctly. It can also include other symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
What Is Asthma?
Asthma is a medical condition in which the airways become inflamed and excess mucus is produced. When the airways become inflamed, they can become more narrow — which makes breathing challenging. Those with asthma can experience frequent bouts of coughing and wheezing, as well as chest tightness or pain. Asthma patients can also experience sleep disturbance due to coughing and shortness of breath.
The cause of asthma is not known, but most suspect it is a combination of genetic and inherited factors. Asthma patients experience “attacks” in which their symptoms become worse and breathing becomes even more difficult. Because asthma has no cure, the key to managing the condition is to limit the frequency and the severity of the attacks.