An introduction to Asthma

Asthma is a chronic lung disease, with people all over the world suffering from it. It is
characterized by the sudden inflammation and narrowing of the respiratory tract, the body’s
natural airways.

Our airways are composed by three main sections, the bronchi, the bronchioles, and the alveolae.
These last ones are responsible of conducting the oxygen from the air into our blood, and the
carbon dioxide out of it, and into the air we exhale. Our bronchioles are in charge of regulating the
air influx of our body. They expand when the air we are breathing is of a good quality, and do the
opposite is it is not.

An Asthma attack is basically an overreaction of the muscles that regulate the expansion of the
bronchioles, and the secretion of mucus of the alveolae – a substance that has the purpose of
blocking potentially dangerous allergens-. Most are caused by the presence of allergens in the air.
These can be indoor allergens, such as dust; outdoor allergens, such as pollen, and food allergens,
like peanuts or shellfish. An asthmatic crisis can also be caused by other conditions, such as
existing diseases.

There are several symptoms in an asthma attack, like coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath;
these are all caused by the contraction and obstruction that muscles and mucus cause.

Luckily, there are medications one could take in order to lower the risk of an asthma attack (Long
acting medication), and also, if one is unlucky enough to be in the middle of one, there are also
drugs that can help take the stress off the airways (Short acting medication).

In conclusion, asthma is a serious chronic disease, which can be managed with medication. There
are no known cures, so care must be excersiced everyday in orther to avoid dangerous situations.