Asthma is called as a chronic lung disease which can be inflames and narrows the airways. Asthma also causes a recurring periods of wheezing (a whistling sound when you breathe), chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing. The coughing should be mainly occurs at night or early in the morning. Asthma affects people of all ages, but it most often starts in childhood.
Sometimes symptoms are mild and go away on their own. When symptoms get more intense and/or additional symptoms appear, this is an asthma attack. Asthma attacks also are called exacerbation. Severe asthma attacks may require emergency care, and they can cause death. Among children, more boys have asthma than girls. But among adults, more women have the disease than men. It's not clear whether or how sex and sex hormones play a role in causing asthma.
Common asthma symptoms include:
- Coughing. Coughing from asthma is often worse at night or early in the morning, making it hard to sleep.
- Wheezing. Wheezing is a whistling or squeaky sound that occurs when you breathe.
- Chest tightness. This may feel like something is squeezing or sitting on your chest.
- Shortness of breath.
Asthma is treated with two types of medicines: long-term control and quick-relief medicines. Long-term control medicines help reduce airway inflammation and prevent asthma symptoms. Quick-relief, or "rescue," medicines relieve asthma symptoms that may flare up.
You can take steps to control the disease and prevent its symptoms.
- Learn about your asthma and how to control it.
- Follow your written asthma action plan. Use medicines as your doctor directs.
- Identify and avoid things that make your asthma worse Keep track of your asthma symptoms and level of control.
- Get regular checkups for your asthma.
