What is asthma?

Asthma is a breathing problem that makes it more difficult for you to get air in and out of your lungs. When you inhale, fresh air comes in through your nose and passes into your lungs through tiny tubes (called bronchi). When you exhale, air with carbon dioxide from your lungs is breathed out through the same tubes.

When you have asthma, the breathing tubes become sensitive to smoke, pollen, dust, air pollution, or other triggers. The breathing tubes may start to narrow and tighten, becoming inflamed and swollen after reacting with all these allergenic materials.

The end result is you find breathing difficult to a varying degree. People who are known to be allergic to pollen, pets, or dust have to be extra careful as they are at higher risk of developing asthma.

The diagnosis of this could be complicated especially for older people because the problem could be due to other organic problems such as lung disease or heart disease. Good examples of lung diseases that could cause similar problems are bronchitis and emphysema, particularly with smokers.

Smoking cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or anything else, increases your risk of developing asthma symptoms. If you smoke at home, other members of the family would have a greater chance of developing asthma.

Of course it is also possible for people with lung and heart diseases to be suffering from allergy and asthma as well.