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Description of Disease
Asthma is a disorder affecting a person’s ability to breathe. People with asthma
have sensitive airways which narrow causing difficulty to respire. When a person without asthma inhales, the air travels
past the pharynx and larynx and reaches the trachea. From there, the air travels into the bronchi which branches off into
smaller and smaller tubes finally ending at small sacs called alveoli. Oxygen is essential for survival and in the alveoli
is where oxygen is passed onto blood.
People with asthma will have difficulty breathing when there are certain elements
in the air which triggers their airway to constrict. The airway narrows because of inflammation and swelling of the airway
lining, tightening of airway muscles and production of excess mucus. The result is reduced airflow in and out of the lungs
due to bronchospasms. People with asthma have airways which are extra sensitive to triggers such as animal dander. The airways
react to triggers by narrowing and inflaming when they are irritated. The narrowing of the airways makes it extremely difficult
for oxygen to move in and out of the lungs.
Please visit The Health Encyclopedia for more information on the description of asthma.
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Other Interesting Facts
- Asthma can occur at any age, but 50% of cases diagnosed in children under 10 years old
- Asthma is a major public health problem in many countries throughout the world. It is one of the most common chronic diseases
worldwide affecting over 100 million people.
- Asthma occurs in all countries regardless of the level of development, but appears to be less common in poorer countries.
- The specific cause for this condition is still unknown, so there is no specific cure.
- There are 3 million Canadians with asthma today.
Please visit the Dr. Greene website for more asthma fast facts.
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