Top: Health: Conditions and Diseases: Allergies: Asthma



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Overview

Asthma is a disease of the lungs in which the airways become narrowed and blocked. The lining of the airway becomes swollen due to an increased production of mucus further narrowing the air passages. This narrowed airway, or bronchospasm results in shallow, labored breathing and a feeling that there is not enough air coming into the lungs. All of these changes make breathing difficult.


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Symptoms

Symptoms strike when the airways undergo bronchospasm, swelling, and narrowing. Some people can function for an extended period of time between asthma episodes while others have some symptoms every day. Common symptoms of asthma include:

  • Shortness of breath:
  • Wheezing
  • Constriction of the chest muscles
  • Coughing
  • Sputum production
  • Excess rapid breathing and gasping
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Exhaustion
  • Chronic nighttime coughing in adults
  • Insomnia
  • Chest tightness and chest pains (similar to a heart attack)
  • Extreme sensitivity to odors

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    Potential causes of Asthma

    Diet

    Smoking

    Weight

    Weather

    Pollution

    Dirt


    [ history ]

    based

    1. http://www.healthy-homes.info/hh/home.nsf/id/JSIN5RHQY3 - public domain 



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