What is asthma?

Asthma is a chronic disease in which there is swelling or inflammation on the inside of the smaller airways of the lungs. There is also bronchoconstriction or tightening of the smooth muscles that surround the airway. You may hear people say asthma is like having twitchy airways or reactive airways disease. Triggers, like pollen, odors or cold weather, that wouldn’t bother someone without asthma, may cause an asthmatic to have trouble with their breathing. There are different names for times when asthma symptoms appear, such as a flare-up, episode or attack.   

What happens in the lungs with asthma?

• The smooth, rubber band-like muscle constricts and makes airways smaller.
• The interior swells, which further minimizes airway diameter.
• Excess mucus production is the final component when the other two take place.