Asthma Essay Research Paper AsthmaAsthma is very

Asthma Essay, Research Paper Asthma Asthma is very common, but it isn’t well understood. Current treatments for the disease are getting to be more effective. In the future, hopefully advances in medical research will lead to even better treatments then the ones we currently have. We use our lungs to breathe they work by taking oxygen from the air we breathe in and then disposing it as carbon dioxide; Carbon Dioxide is a deadly waste product made by the cells of the body. Once this exchange has taken place, Carbon dioxide is removed from the body by breathing it out, or exhaling. Asthma is a disorder that interferes with the lungs and the airways to the lungs. It causes attacks of wheezing and difficult breathing. An asthma attack occurs when the airways respond to some kind

of trigger, Some examples of triggers for Asthma attacks are dust, mold, pets, exercise, cold weather, and some attacks start for no known reason. The triggers may irritate the airways to the lungs, allowing disease-fighting cells to build up and causing the lungs to swell up. In addition, the airways could get blocked when the muscles surrounding the lungs tighten. This keeps air from circulating freely in the lungs. Or, mucus may clog and narrow the airways in the lungs, making breathing even more difficult. During an asthma attack, the walls of the airways become irate, and the mucous membrane found on the walls of the lungs become swollen with fluid and mucus fills taking up the remaining space, making it difficult to breathe. *Because air cannot flow in and out of the lungs

freely, a whistling or wheezing sound may be heard. During a severe attack, wheezing might stop because of the air moving in and out of the lungs are too weak to make any noise. Asthma attacks are known as three different levels they are mild, moderate, or severe, and they can last up too ass little as a few minutes, or as long as several days. Asthmas attacks can happen at any time and the can happen anywhere. Many attacks occur at night. There can be warning signs of an attack before it happens, but sometimes there aren’t any signs at all. Symptoms of Asthma The symptoms of asthma can different among people. Usually there is itchy throat, or tightness in the chest, followed by a cough, wheezing, or shortness of breath. It’s time to get help if… ? Your symptoms do not get

better with medicine Your breathing continues to get worse after treatment ? Your fingernails or lips turn grayish or blue ? It is difficult to walk or talk, or you have extreme difficulty breathing ? It feels like your neck, chest, or ribs are pulled in with each breath you take ? Your nostrils flare when you breathe Source: American Academy of Family Physicians Triggers of Asthma Although the specific things that trigger an asthma attack can change from person to person, some common triggers are well known. These include the following: Allergens (substances that people are allergic to) Common allergens include pollen, mold, animal hair or fur, household dust/dust mites, cockroaches, and certain foods. Infections Both bacterial and viral infections can irritate the airways,

triggering asthma attacks. Sinusitis (inflammation of the nose and nasal airways) During a sinus infection, mucus draining into the nose, throat, and lungs can cause asthma symptoms. Irritants. Examples of irritants to the airways include strong odors and sprays (perfumes, household cleaners, paints, and varnishes); certain chemicals like coal, chalk dust, and talcum powder; air pollutants; tobacco smoke; changing weather conditions (for example, cold weather). Smoke Inhaling smoke from cigarettes or fires harms the airways and is especially hard on the airways of people with asthma. In fact, cigarette smoking is responsible for more than half of the cases of asthma in people over 40 years of age. Exercise Although exercise is good for people with asthma, it can trigger an asthma