What is asthma in general
health advisory
Hospital
Diseases
2007-11-12 17:56:00
Answer:
Put simply, the airways overreact to contaminants in the air by swelling up to prevent the toxic air getting in.
Although this is a natural reaction and a beneficial way for the body to protect itself, in asthmatics the airways swell to the point where no air at all (or very little) can get to the lungs (or in some types of asthma back out of the lungs). So the person could suffocate if left untreated.
Asthma is a condition of the lungs that is characterized by inflammation and bronchial constriction.
It is a restrictive airway disease; smooth muscle in lungs contract and tighten, usually an allergic reaction or a response to triggers such as cold, smoking, or other irritants. It can occur at any time in life.
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