Asthma: Understanding the Chronic Lung Disease

Key Points

• Asthma is a chronic lung disease causing breathing problems throughout a person's life.
• Involves constant swelling or inflammation inside the airways, with or without symptoms.
• Lungs of an asthma patient react to triggers that may not affect others.
  • Examples of triggers: dust, tobacco smoke, laughing.

Airway Changes in Asthma

1. Inflammation
   • Airways become swollen and irritated.
   • Causes narrowing, making it difficult for air to flow.
2. Extra Mucus Production
   • Excess mucus clogs the airway.
   • Further narrows the airway opening.
3. Bronchoconstriction
   • Tightening of the muscles around the airways.
   • Reduces the airway opening even more.

Asthma Attack or Episode

• An asthma attack can occur when exposed to a trigger.
• Combination of changes (inflammation, mucus, bronchoconstriction) narrow the airways making it hard to breathe.
• If asthma is untreated or poorly controlled, changes to the airway may become permanent.

Reference

• For more information, visit lung.org.

[Music]