ASTHMA a respiratory disease

Asthma is a chronic lung disease characterized by chest tightness, shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing.  With asthma, a blockage of airflow in and out of the lungs occurs from muscle squeezing, swelling and excess mucous.  Between 12-15 million people in the United States have asthma, including up to 5 million children.
Physicians who are not specialists in this disease may mistake its symptoms for an infection, unaware that the underlying problem is asthma.  Asthma is characterized by three airway problems:  obstruction, inflammation and hyper responsiveness.  Asthma patients respond to environmental factors differently than non-asthmatics.  In response to a trigger, the asthmatic's airways become narrowed and inflamed, which results in wheezing, coughing and tightness in the chest.  If you have asthma, you can minimize symptoms by avoiding these triggers, and by working with your doctor to develop an effective plan for treatment.

Triggers for Asthma

Asthmatic symptoms can be triggered by several factors, including:

• Allergens or irritants
• Exercise
• Medications or foods
• Viral or sinus infections
• Reflux disease
• Emotional anxiety

Managing Asthma

Because asthma is a chronic disease, it requires careful monitoring and effective treatment.  The treatment of asthma has four main components

• The use of objective measures of lung functions to assess the severity of asthma and to monitor treatment (peak flow meters and spirometers)
• Environmental control measure to avoid or eliminate factors that trigger asthma symptoms or flare-ups
• Medication therapy for long-term management to reverse and prevent airway inflammation as well as therapy to manage asthma flare-ups
• Patient education to foster a partnership between the patient, his family and the physician

According to the Guidelines, there are six goals for the effective management of asthma:

• Prevent chronic and troublesome symptoms
• Maintain (near) ?normal? breathing
• Maintain normal activity levels, including exercise
• Prevent recurrent asthma flare-ups, and minimize the need for emergency room visits or hospitalizations
• Provide optimal medication therapy with no or minimal adverse effects
• Meet patients' and families' expectations of satisfactory asthma care

With proper diagnosis, monitoring and treatment, individuals with asthma can engage in regular physical activity and can live normal healthy lives.

For more information

Contact the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

TEXT SOURCE: http://www.healthchecksystems.com/asthma.htm
VIDEO SOURCE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EDo9pUYvPE