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Asthma

Asthma is a chronic disease of the lungs. Your airways become inflamed, making them narrow and causing breathing difficulty. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and trouble breathing. Severe symptoms are called an asthma attack. During an attack the airways can close so much that your body does not get enough oxygen. People can die from severe asthma attacks.

There are two types of asthma: allergic (extrinsic) and non-allergic (intrinsic). Allergic asthma like the allergy allergic rhinitis is caused by airborne allergens such as pollen, dust mites, mold and pet dander. Non-allergic asthma is caused by environmental factors such as anxiety and stress, exercise, cold or dry air and smoke.

The effects of asthma are usually temporary and are treated with two kinds of medicines: quick relief medicines to stop symptoms and long term control medicines to prevent symptoms. For allergic asthma, allergy shots (immunotherapy) may also be effective. You must first undergo allergy testing to determine which allergen is causing the reaction, then allergy shots are administered over a long period of time with a steadily increasing dose of the allergen that causes the attacks. The aim is to increase the body's tolerance of the allergen and reduce the severity of the symptoms.

Doctors that treat asthma include general doctors, pediatricians and pulmonology doctors. When they want expert advice they refer to an allergy doctor.








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