Asthma
By kathy77
@kathy77 (7486)
Australia
April 17, 2007 11:43am CST
What is asthma and how are allergies related to it?
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by airway obstruction, which is at least partially reversible with or without medication, and it is associated with increased bronchial responsiveness to a variety of stimuli. Asthma is often associated
with allergy. Risk factors for developing asthma include:
Sensitization to indoor allergens (e.g., house-dust mites, animal dander's, cockroaches). Sensitization to outdoor allergens (e.g., Alternaria). Early exposure to tobacco smoke. The allergic response in the airways may lead to increased airway inflammation and hyper responsiveness. Rhinitis and asthma involve the upper and lower respiratory tract. Patients with allergic rhinitis may report increased asthma symptoms during the pollen season.
4 people like this
4 responses
@1grnthmb (2055)
• United States
18 Apr 07
Asthma is not fun to live with. I have had asthma my whole life but it wasn't until 1999 that it became a severe problem. I have been on so many medication to control it. They kept switching medicines to try to find what worked best for me. Part of my asthma is induced by allergies but it gets worse with any exhertion and by cold temperatures. A other thing that causes my asthma is that the arthritis that I have has fused my rib cage so I have litle chest expansion when I breath. I normal person's chest expands 3 inches (10.5 cm). Mine only expands 3 cm. This in itself restricts my lungs causing asthma which no medicine can treat. My breating capacity is less then half of what a normal person can breath. It is like walking around with someone giving you a bear hug. Try living with that. I used to be a very active person know I am very limited in what I can do.
1 person likes this
@Bizziebod (3497)
•
15 Jun 07
Hi Kathy, I've recently been diagnosed with having asthma too, although mine is brought on by the damp weather more than anything. Which living in the UK is pretty often. I didn't know about the other effects though.
1 person likes this
@abbey19 (3106)
• Gold Coast, Australia
19 Apr 07
Thank you for your very details description of exactly what asthma is, because a lot of people don't really know. My hushand is an asthma sufferer and has been for years. In fact, two nights ago we had a meal at a restaurant and he had an asthma attack ten minutes after we'd finished the meal. It was fettucine carbonara. I found out that they didn't use real bacon, but those little bacon bits - and they contain msg. I told them they ought to warn people so things like that don't happen to other people.
