What is Asthma?

Answer 1

Many of the Symptoms Have Been Peviously Descibed, But What Mediates Them? Primarily Histamine, but I Think Luekotrienes (See SRS) Play a Significant Role (Consider "Singulair"), Where Do they Come From? Mast Call Granules. As With All Allergic Reactions (See Type I Hypersensitivity), Degranulation of Mast Cells is Mediated By IgE.

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

Asthma is a disorder characterized by chronic airway inflammation, airway hypersensitivity to a variety of stimuli and airway obstruction.It is at least partially reversible,either spontaneously or with treatment.Asthma affects 3-5% of the U.S population and is more common in children than is adults.Airway obstruction may be due to smooth muscle spasms in the walls of smaller bronchi and bronchioles, edema of the mucosa of the airways,increased mucus secretion and/or damahe to the epithelium of the airway.
Individuals with asthma typically react to concentration of agents too low to cause symptoms in people without asthma.Sometimes the trigger is an allergen such as pollen,house dust mites,molds or a particular food.Other common triggers of asthma attacks are emotional upset, aspirin, exercise and breathing cold air or cigarette smoke.
In early phase(acute) response, smooth muscle spasm is accompanied by excessive secretion of mucus that may clog the bronchi and bronchioles and worsen the attack.
The late phase(chronic) response is characterized by inflammation,fibrosis,edema,and necrosis(death) of bronchial epithelial cells.
Symptoms include difficult breathing,coughing,wheezing,chest tightness ,tachycardia.fatique,moist skin and anxiety.An acute attack is treated by giving an inhaled beta2-adrenergic (albuterol) to help relax smooth muscle in the bronchioles and open up the airways.However, long-term therapy of asthma strives to suppress the underling inflammation.The anti-inflammation deugs that are used most often are inhaled corticosteroids(glucocorticoids),cromolyn sodium(Intal) and leukotriene blockers(Accolate)

Hope i gave you enough informations about asthma.
(^^o) breath in
(^^O) breath out

Answer 4

it is a disease that makes your bronchial muscles contract screezing out air, i have asthma, believe me, it is a real pain in the **** to breathe. kinda like a fish out of water, only the fish can kinda breathe, nvm... well anyway it pretty much squeezes your lungs shut... very very bad.

Answer 5

Very scary!!! It is when the broncholi tubes of the lungs swell and can't let the air out (exhale). My son has it and it scares the crap out of me when he has an attack. It can be triggered by allergies, or activity. It can be controlled with medication. If you think you have it, please go to the dr!!!