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[AJE]

Healthy lungs are essential to feeling good. The lungs are the organs we use to breathe. They work by taking oxygen from the air we breathe in and then exchanging it for carbon dioxide, a deadly waste product made by the cells within our body. Once this exchange has taken place, we get rid of the CO2 by exhaling.

Asthma is a disease that affects the lungs and the airways that deliver air to the lungs. It causes periodic attacks of wheezing and difficult breathing. An asthma attack occurs when the airways become inflamed in response to a trigger, such as dust, mold, pets, exercise, or cold weather. During an asthma attack, the walls of the airways become inflamed, and the mucous membrane covering the walls becomes swollen with fluid. Sticky mucus fills 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 severe attacks, wheezing may stop because there is too little air moving to make any noise.

Asthma attacks are categorized as mild, moderate, or severe, and can last anywhere from a few minutes, to a few hours, or unfortunately several days. They can occur anywhere and at any time. Many occur at night. Sometimes, there are warning signs that an attack is evident, but sometimes they aren't.

Symptoms of Asthma

The symptoms of asthma can vary among people. Usually there is scratchy 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

Triggers of Asthma

Although the specific things that trigger an asthma attack can vary 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 attack. People with asthma need to work with their doctors to prevent asthma attacks due to exercise (certain drugs can help prevent asthma symptoms from occurring after exercise).

Exposure to irritants on the job
Many cases of asthma are worsened or even caused by exposure to vapors, dust, gases, or fumes in the workplace. This type of asthma usually improves when the person takes a few days off from work, such as on weekends and vacations.

Sensitivity to medications and sulfites
About 5% to 20% of adults with asthma have attacks triggered by sensitivities or allergies to sulfites and to medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, indomethacin, and naproxen. People with asthma should consult their physicians before taking any new medication, including those available without a prescription. Sulfites are often used to preserve foods and beverages, including tuna, foods available at salad bars, dried apples and raisins, lemon juice, grape juice, and wine.

Emotional anxiety
Strong emotions and nervous stress can trigger asthma in some people. This may be due, in part, to the ability of emotions and stress to weaken the body's defenses.