What is asthma?
Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the bronchial tubes (airways) that causes swelling and narrowing (constriction) of the airways. The result is difficulty breathing. The bronchial narrowing is usually either totally or at least partially reversible with treatments.
Bronchial tubes that are chronically inflamed may become overly sensitive to allergens (specific triggers) or irritants (nonspecific triggers). The airways may become "twitchy" and remain in a state of heightened sensitivity. This is called "bronchial hyperreactivity" (BHR). It is likely that there is a spectrum of bronchial hyperreactivity in all individuals. However, it is clear that asthmatics and allergic individuals (without apparent asthma) have a greater degree of bronchial hyperreactivity than nonasthmatic and nonallergic people. In sensitive individuals, the bronchial tubes are more likely to swell and constrict when exposed to triggers such as allergens, tobacco smoke, or exercise. Amongst asthmatics, some may have mild BHR and no symptoms while others may have severe BHR and chronic symptoms.
Asthma affects people differently. Each individual is unique in their degree of reactivity to environmental triggers. This naturally influences the type and dose of medication prescribed, which may vary from one individual to another.
CAUSES
What all people with asthma have in common is chronic airway inflammation and excessive airway sensitivity to various triggers.
Research has focused on why some people develop asthma while others do not.
Some people are born with the tendency to have asthma, while others are not. Scientists are trying to find the genes that cause this tendency.
SYMTOMS
* Increased nighttime cough * Cough or wheezing with physical activity * Tiredness with activities that you normally could complete easily * Decreases in your peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) * Restless sleep or waking up tired * Worsening allergy symptoms like persistent runny nose, dark circles under your eyes or itchy, inflamed skin
These types of asthma treatment can help prevent your child from having any symptoms of asthma. Examples of controller or preventative asthma medicines include: * Inhaled corticosteroids such as Aerobid, Asmanex, Azmacort, Flovent HFA, Pulmicort(available as a Turbuhaler an Respules for use with nebulizers for younger kids), and Qvar * Advair, a combination corticosteroid and long-acting beta2 agonist * Leukotriene receptor antagonists, such as Singulair, Accolate, and Zyflo * Long-acting beta2 agonists, such as Serevent Diskus and Foradil * Theophylline * Other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory controller asthma medications include Intal andTilade. * Xolair injections for children with allergic asthma.