ASTHMA

We have known that asthma becomes one of the long term health risks of smoking.

 

What is asthma?

Asthma is a common condition that affects your airways and causes difficulty with breathing. Most people with asthma who take the appropriate treatment can live normal lives, but left untreated, asthma can cause permanent damage to your airways. Very rarely, a severe asthma attack can be fatal.

If you have asthma, your airways become irritated and inflamed. As a result, they:

• become narrower
• produce extra mucus

This makes it more difficult for air to flow in and out of your lungs.

Symptoms of asthma

Asthma symptoms may be mild, moderate or severe. They may include:

• coughing
• wheezing
• shortness of breath
• tightness in your chest

These symptoms tend to be variable – not everyone gets all the symptoms and they may stop and start. They are often worse at night or in the early morning.

Causes of asthma

The causes of asthma are not always clear. However, there are often triggers that can result in a flare-up of symptoms. Common triggers include:

• respiratory infection – such as a cold or flu
• irritants – such as dust, cigarette smoke and fumes
• chemicals (and other substances) found in your workplace – this is called occupational asthma
• allergies to pollen, medicines, animals, house dust mites or certain foods
• exercise – especially in cold, dry air
• emotions – laughing or crying very hard can trigger symptoms, as can stress
• changes in the weather – especially changes in temperature
• medicines – certain medicines can trigger asthma. Most medicines are safe, but, if you have moderate to severe asthma, it’s best not to take the painkillers aspirin and ibuprofen. Beta-blockers, used to treat high blood pressure or angina, may make asthma worse

In children, asthma is more common in boys than in girls but in adults, women are more likely to have asthma. Asthma may run in families.
If you smoke during pregnancy, your baby is more likely to get asthma. If you smoke and have young children, they are more likely to get asthma. Premature or low birth weight babies are also more likely to develop asthma.

How an asthma attack occurs?

Watch the video below to see how an asthma attack occurs.

 Source : http://www.bupa.co.uk