Asthma is a chronic(long-duration) lung disease that causes episodes of coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Manifestations can be mild or severe, and sometimes may be life-threatening.

 Like all chronic diseases, asthma cannot be cured permanently, but in most cases, asthma is a very manageable condition, with the increasing availability of allergy immunotherapy, allergic asthma may be preventable or curable in the future.

• The airways or pathways inside your lungs look like an upside-down tree. The respiratory system is in the chest and is made up of various different parts: 

 Upper respiratory system – Consists of The nose, sinuses, and the parts of the airway called the pharynx and the part of the larynx above the vocal cords. 

Lower respiratory system – This is the part of the larynx below the vocal cords, the trachea, bronchi and bronchioles (all breathing tubes that gradually gets smaller – especially in the lower lungs)

• Muscles that encircle the airways tighten and contract as they try to keep the passageways open. 

Inhaled allergens or irritants like secondhand smoke and air pollution effect as sandpaper on the raw surfaces. You start to cough and wheeze as you struggle to breathe. This is called bronchospasm.

• Bronchospam is the wheezy noise part of asthma. Wheezy asthma occurs when your airways are so inflamed they are very sensitive.
•  Exposure to the very slight irritation or allergen triggers  may cause bronchospasm – the twitching and sudden constriction of your airways creat the coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath that you can hear.  

Asthma mostly begin with inflammation: The lining inside the airways – the breathing tubes leading into the lungs – becomes swollen, inflamed and clogged with mucus and fluid.  

• Anyone of any particular age, family background, race, sex or general health can develop bronchial asthma. 
• Researcher scientists believe many genetic & environmental factors play a role, especially during the first years of life when the immune system is developing. 

• Family history of asthma or allergies in near and dear ones 
• Mother’s smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke or air pollution during pregnancy for fetus. 
• Early age childhood exposure to secondhand smoke, air pollution or indoor allergens such as dust mites, cockroaches or mold 
• Damage to developing lungs due to premature birth or early childhood respiratory illnesses may be hazardous
• For adults, exposure to chemical irritants or industrial dust at the workplace  

Commonest asthma symptoms include:

• Coughing: Coughing from asthma is very often worse at night or early morning. Sometimes it is your only symptom. It may be dry or mucus filled.  

• Wheezing: It is a whistling or squeaky sound especially when you breathe out. Occasionally wheezing can be heard easily; at other times you need a stethoscope. A stethoscope is a medical device used to hear out breath sounds.  

• Chest tightness: It can feel like something is squeezing/pressing or sitting on your chest.  

• Shortness of breath: occasionally You may feel breathless like you cannot catch your breath or breathe deeply enough as you wish. You may feel as if you are out of shape and constantly tired.