The exact cause of asthma is unknown, but it is believed to be the result of a genetic component, as well as environmental factors. Based on this understanding, the following are several key risk factors that are believed to increase the likelihood of an individual developing asthma- Being obese or overweight. Having an allergy, including hay fever or atopic dermatitis. A history of the disease in your family. Being a smoker. Exposure to secondhand smoke. Exposure to pollution or exhaust fumes. Exposure to chemicals in the workplace (a risk faced by factory workers, hairdressers etc.) Miscellaneous urban environmental factors. Frequent use of antibiotics during formative years.

Based on the severity of symptoms , the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) has grouped asthma into 4 categories – mild intermittent, mild persistent, moderate persistent, and severe persistent. This classification system is used to help guide treatment. Mild Intermittent Asthma: Does not impact normal daily life Symptoms occur less than 2 days per week. Broken sleep due to shortness of breath less than twice a month. Need to use rescue inhaler less than twice a month. FEV1 (forced expiratory volume 1) is normal. Mild Persistent Asthma:  Has minimal impact on normal daily life Symptoms occur more than 2 days per week, but not every day. Broken sleep due to shortness of breath more than twice a month. Need to use rescue inhaler more than twice a month. FEV1 >80% predicted. Moderate Persistent Asthma: Has some impact on normal daily life Symptoms occur daily. Broken sleep due to shortness of breath more than once a week. Need to use rescue inhaler daily. FEV1 60-80% predicted. Severe Persistent Asthma: Daily life impacted by symptoms Symptoms occur multiple times a day. Broken sleep due to shortness of breath on most nights. Need to use rescue inhaler several times a day. FEV1 <60% predicted.

Asthma is a condition in which the airways of the lungs – the trachea, bronchial tree, and bronchi; become inflamed and narrowed due to increased sensitivity to various stimuli. As a result, there is an overproduction of mucous and a decrease in the ability of air to flow through the narrowed passages of the lungs. This causes a subsequent reduction in the amount of oxygen entering the body. Wheezing and a feeling of shortness of breath are the most common asthma symptoms .  While the exact cause of asthma is unknown, it is believed to be the result of a genetic component as well as environmental factors. Asthma is closely associated with allergies, although you may have asthma without having an allergy. Asthma occurs in two forms  – acute and chronic. Acute asthma, commonly known as an ‘asthma attack’, is an episodic event that occurs due to an asthma trigger. Chronic asthma develops due to changes that occur from prolonged inflammation. Acute Form of Asthma When a patient comes into contact with an asthma trigger, a chain reaction of events occur that leads to an asthma attack. The exposure to the trigger will cause the muscles that surround the airways to “clamp down” or contract, thus narrowing the spaces for air to travel through.

Asthma takes place in two forms; acute and chronic. Acute asthma, known as an asthma attack is an episodic event that occurs due to an asthma trigger. Chronic asthma develops due to the changes that occur from prolonged inflammation over time. Acute Asthma When a patient comes into contact with an asthma trigger, a chain reaction of events occur that leads to an asthma “attack.” The exposure to the trigger will cause the muscles that surround the airways to “clamp down” or contract, thus narrowing the spaces for air to travel through. In addition, the trachea and bronchial passageways will become inflamed with an increase in mucous production. Patients will experience a rapid onset of symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing, chest tightness, and wheezing. Chronic Asthma It is believed that patients always have some degree of inflammation in the lungs that make them more sensitive triggers. Chronic inflammation over time can lead to changes in the structures of the lungs and increased mucous production. Proper control of asthma can limit these effects. Asthma triggers include physical exertion, infection, environmental factors (cold air, high altitude), irritants (smoking, perfume, cleaning agents, etc), emotional upset, allergies (pollen, mold, dust, food allergies, pet allergies, etc), cold air, heartburn, and even some medications such as NSAIDs.

The symptoms of asthma vary from person to person and are based on severity, but the most common symptoms of the disease are wheezing and shortness of breath. Asthma symptoms tend to worsen during or after exercise, after exposure to a trigger, at night or early morning, during strong emotional responses such as laughing or crying, and while experiencing seasonal changes. Symptoms of asthma Wheezing – the sound air makes when passing through narrowed airways, is heard when you exhale. The sound is somewhat akin to that of whistling. Tightness or pain in the chest. Shortness of breath. Cough Signs that asthma is worsening  Difficulty sleeping due to wheezing or cough. Difficulty speaking. Difficulty swallowing and drooling. Decreased or absent breath sounds.