Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease which affects 7% of population of the United States of both genders and all ages. It is characterized by inflammation and constriction of the airways in the lungs (bronchi) which cause asthma attacks severity of which ranges from minor wheezing to severe asthma attacks which may lead to respiratory arrest and death.
The number of people suffering from asthma is rapidly growing especially in western developed countries. The reasons for rapidly increasing prevalence of asthma in the developed world are not exactly known and there are several different explanations. Due to improved living conditions and hygiene many people are less exposed to pathogens during early childhood which can later trigger excessive immune response even to harmless antigens such pollen, animal hair, dust, etc. Researches have also shown that antibiotic use in early childhood greatly increases risk of asthma as well. Besides environmental causes asthma can be also caused by genetic factors.
Asthma cannot be cured but it can be successfully controlled. If left untreated it can greatly affect the quality of life and in severest cases be even life-threatening. Asthma treatment usually bases on prevention which features avoidance of asthma triggers which greatly vary from person to person, while asthma control often also requires asthma medications for long term control, for quick-relief or for allergy induced asthma. Successful asthma control also greatly depends on patient’s education. There are many asthma education centers which provide all the necessary information and direction how to manage asthma.
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