What is asthma?

Asthma is a chronic (long-term) disease that makes it hard to breathe. Asthma can't be cured, but it can be managed. With proper treatment, people with asthma can lead normal, active lives.

If you have asthma, your airways (breathing passages) are extra sensitive. When you are around certain things, your extra-sensitive airways can:

Become red and swollen - your airways get inflamed inside. They fill up with mucus. The swelling and mucus make your airways narrower, so it's harder for the air to pass through.

Become "twitchy" and go into spasm - the muscles around your airways squeeze together and tighten. This makes your airways narrower, leaving less room for the air to pass through.

The more red and swollen your airways are, the twitchier they become.

Normal airways
Airways of a person without asthma / Airways of a person with asthma - redness and swelling (inflammation) / Airways of a person with asthma - tightened muscles (bronchospasm)
In people without asthma, the muscles around the airways are relaxed, allowing the airways to stay open. There is no swelling or mucus inside the airways. / In people with asthma, the inside of the airways can get red, swollen, and filled with mucus. / In people with asthma, the muscles around the airways can spasm and squeeze tighter. This leaves less room for air to pass through.
What sets off your asthma symptoms?

Many different things can set off your asthma symptoms. Each person with asthma has her own set of asthma inducers and asthma triggers.

Asthma inducers: If you breathe in something you're allergic to- for example, dust or pollen- or if you have a viral infection- for example, a cold or the flu- your airways can become inflamed (red and swollen).

Asthma triggers: If you breathe in an asthma trigger like cold air or smoke, or if you exercise, the muscles around your airways can go into spasm and squeeze together tightly. This leaves less room for air to pass through.

It's important for every person with asthma to know what they triggers and inducers are, so they can avoid them.

Answer the following questions in the space below

1.  What is asthma?

2.  What causes asthma?

3.  Describe the symptoms of asthma.

4.  What options are available for people suffering with asthma?