Asthma is a chronic airway disease characterized by widespread blockage of the same variable, which is reversible spontaneously or after treatment. This process is associated with the presence of bronchial hyper-responsiveness that causes recurrent episodes of wheezing, dyspnea (difficulty breathing or shortness of breath), coughing, and chest tightness. Asthma affects people of all ages, but it usually begins in childhood. Heading over to Midwest Express Clinic can help with diagnosing and the treatment of this disease.
Your airways are tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. People who have asthma have inflamed airways. This makes the airways swell and become very sensitive. This makes the lungs react strongly to certain substances that are inhaled. When the airways react, the muscles around them tighten. Then the airways narrow and less air flows to your lungs. The swelling can worsen and further strengthen the respiratory tract. The cells of these pathways may produce more mucus than in normal conditions. Mucus is a sticky, thick liquid that can further narrow the airways. Going to a Blood Test and Lab Test Clinic could help you when these symptoms arise.
These types of chain reactions can result in asthma symptoms. Every time the airways are irritated, symptoms may occur. Sometimes they are mild and disappear spontaneously, and other times they can wither away after minimal treatment with asthma medicines. Other times, symptoms continue to worsen. When they become more severe or other issues appear, an asthma attack occurs. These attacks are also called exacerbation. It is important to treat the symptoms as they arise.
The exact cause of asthma is not known. Researchers believe that a combination of factors (family genes and certain environmental exposures) is needed for asthma to be present, usually in the first years of life. These factors are:
- An inherited tendency to develop allergies;
- Presence of asthma in the parent;
- Certain respiratory infections during childhood; and/or
- Contact with allergens (substances that can cause allergies), which are transported by air or exposure to some viral infections in the first months or years of life.
Common triggers include the following:
- Powder;
- Exercise;
- Mold;
- Pollen;
- Animal dander or hair;
- Changes in weather;
- Strong emotions, like stress;
- Chemicals in food or the air;
- Tobacco products; and/or
- Respiratory infections, like common colds or bronchitis.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, heading over to your nearest Blood Test and Lab Test Clinic is important to getting healthy.
