Bronchi are muscular tubes that carry air throughout the lungs, transporting it to and from smaller airway branches called bronchioles. With asthma, the walls of the bronchi are inflamed and swollen which narrows the airway and makes it more difficult to breathe, resulting in wheezing, breathlessness, or coughing.
Acute asthma attacks occur due to variety of reasons. Sudden tightening of the bronchi with production of mucus can block the tubes. The bronchi can become so narrow that very little air can travel in or out. This causes the person affected to cough and wheeze, feel tightness in their chest, and struggle to breathe. Asthma attacks can occur at any time but are especially frequent at night and in the morning. Severe asthma attacks can be life threatening, often requiring immediate medical attention.
According to 'Asthma UK', 1 in 5 households in the UK have a person with asthma. Before puberty, asthma affects more boys than girls and afterwards, it affects more girls. The condition is associated with towns and cities. Asthma is not currently preventable or curable, but it is controllable and most people who have it can lead active and relatively normal lives.
Asthma affects people to different extents. Some people will only use inhalers once a month if they are exercising. Others may need to attend hospital regularly and when they have severe attacks they may be put onto a ventilator.
The exact cause of asthma is unknown, it is a complicated mix of genetics, the enviroment and other factors. The triggers for asthma attacks will be slightly different for each person. Many people with asthma are allergic to particular substances which are called allergens. Asthma attacks can be triggered in these people if they come into contact with these substances. The airways over-react to allergens in the air such as pollen, pollution, mould, dust mites, animals, particles, and fumes. Asthma attacks may also be caused by stress, strong emotional response (laughing, crying, and anger), exercise, and cold air. Medicines such as beta-blockers, aspirin and ibuprofen can trigger attacks. Sulfites found in wine and dried fruit and infections can cause episodes of asthma in some people.
Other lung diseases and conditions can have symptoms similar to asthma. Sometimes other lung disease can occur at the same time as asthma and this may make the asthma attacks worse. Conditions such as GORD (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, also called acid reflux) can trigger or make asthma attacks worse in some people.
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