Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways. The impact of symptoms differs per period and is usually intermittent. Symptoms can be unpredictable in duration and severity due to external factors.
Small triggers in the air, like (cigarette) smoke, pollen or mist, might be very irritating for asthma patients. It might cause dyspnea, shortness of breath or wheezing. Cough in combination with sputum might appear as well.
The actual underlying cause, why some patients develop asthma and others do not, is still unknown. Asthma cannot be cured, though in most situations symptoms can be well controlled. You might know someone who has asthma or you may suffer from asthma yourself.
The paragraphs below provide further information regarding asthma.
What kind of symptoms are familiar in asthma disease? How can you recognize them? What can you do about it?
Most asthma symptoms can be treated well. Symptoms differ in severity and quantity. It might be inconvenient to live with, but fortunately it can be treated well with medication.
To relieve symptoms, (inhalation) medication is available. In asthma, anti-inflammatory agents and bronchodilators are most commonly used. This medication is inhaled through the mouth via an inhaler and delivered directly to the airways.
