During breathing, air is normally brought in through the nose where it is warmed, filtered, and humidified. It then passes through the throat and into the windpipe, called the trachea (TRAY-kee-a). The trachea divides into two large tubes called the right bronchus (BRONG-kus) and left bronchus. These then split up into much smaller tubes, which in turn branch into thousands of very small airways called bronchioles (BRONG-kee-olz). It is the large and small bronchi that are generally affected in asthma.



Asthma Causes

It is not clear exactly what makes the airways of people with asthma inflamed in the first place. Your inflamed airways may be due to a combination of things. We know that if other people in your family have asthma, you are more likely to develop it. New research suggests that being exposed to things like tobacco smoke, infections, and some allergens early in your life may increase your chances of developing asthma.

Asthma Treatment

Treatment and care of asthma is directed toward immediate relief of the attack. Parents of asthmatic children may anticipate an approaching attack and medication that provides sedation and bronchodilation. The control of asthma depends on finding the cause and eliminating it. No smoking for adults who have asthma. There are two kinds of asthma medicines: those that relieve airway constriction and those that reduce swelling and inflammation like steroids. They are usually given via inhalers but pills are used as well. In some cases, studies have shown that coffee, can help relieve an acute asthma attack, supposedly because of the caffiene and heat.

Asthma Symptoms

People with asthma have symptoms when the airways are narrowed (bronchospasm), swollen (inflamed), or filled with mucus. Common symptoms of asthma include:

&bull    Coughing, especially at night

&bull    Wheezing

&bull    Shortness of breath

&bull    Chest tightness, pain, or pressure

Asthma Medications

Asthma medicines are divided into either quick relief medicines or controller / preventive medicines. Within each of those categories are several subcategories, depending on how the medicine works.

Long term control medications are medications taken daily on a long term basis to manage the recurrence of the respiratory illness. Long term control medications come in many forms but the most common are the inhaled corticosteroids.

Quick-relief medications are used for sudden asthma attacks. They stimulate the airways to open quickly to allow air back into the lungs. Quick-relief medications are useful because they have few side effects and can be taken as soon as wheezing starts.

Bronchodilators are medications that directly relax (or "dilate") the muscles of the airway. Rapid-acting bronchodilators are "rescue medications" used to help relieve an asthma attack.