| Learn about asthma and its symptoms |
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Do you get that tight feeling or a bit wheezy in cold weather or during springtime? You could be one of the many who have asthma. Asthma it is a long-term condition that affects the respiratory tract (the airways, e.g. throat and lungs). It is a very common condition affecting one in 13 adults in the UK, which means that one household out of five having at least one family member affected by asthma. In terms of numbers, this means that there are 5.2 million people in the UK currently receiving treatment for asthma (this is more than the entire population of New Zealand), 1.1 million of these being children.
The parts of your respiratory system affected by asthma are the alveoli and the trachea, which are the tubes carrying oxygen in and out of your lungs. In asthmatics, these small tubes are very sensitive and can react by swelling very easily. Irritation causes the muscles around them to tighten as the airways become inflamed, and the tubes themselves may also start to produce extra mucus/phlegm. This inflammation, tightening and mucus means that air has trouble passing through the airways. What you will experience is that you will find it harder to breathe and your chest may feel tight, and you may experience wheezing and coughing.
Your experience of asthma may be very slight, severe or moderate, with the moderate cases being more common than the two extremes. But even if you have the mild version of asthma, you should monitor the condition and have a regular check-up about it with your doctor. Severe attacks can come on suddenly, even if your symptoms are usually mild. If a serious asthma attack happens, then see your GP or a hospital specialist without delay.
A range of things can act as triggers that bring on the symptoms of an attack. Common allergens such as animal fur and pollen may act as triggers, but other triggers include the house dust mite, smoke, cold air and chest infections. |
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