Asthma causes inflammation and constriction of the airways. Asthma is considered to be due to an oversensitive immune system similar to the way that an hypersensitive immune system can cause allergies.
With asthma, the immune system targets a harmless substance as if that substance pose danger to the individual. The immune system releases histamine which causes the airway constriction and inflammation.
Atopy is an inherited trait of having a hypersensitive immune system. Many families have family histories of asthma, allergies, and eczema which are three conditions that can because by atopy.
An episode of asthma symptoms is commonly referred to as an asthma attack. Asthma attacks can be triggered by the inhalation of cold air or an allergen.
Tightness in the chest, coughing, wheezing, chest pain, shortness of breath are common signs of asthma. Inflammation and constriction caused the asthma can be reduced with the use of that an asthma inhaler or other asthma medication.
There are several different types of asthma. Once at the asthma that can interfere with sleep is referred to as nocturnal or nighttime asthma. Nocturnal asthma often causes coughing during the night which interferes with a person’s ability to sleep.
Many people have asthma that is triggered by allergies. This type of asthma is sometimes referred to as allergic asthma. Allergies cause histamine to be released which triggers asthma symptoms.
Cough-variant asthma is a type of asthma that can cause a severe cough. The person with cough-variant asthma may not experience other symptoms of asthma besides a persistent cough.
One of the most common types of asthma is exercise-induced asthma. Exercise can cause the narrowing of the airway which triggers and wheezing and other asthma symptoms. People who have exercise-induced asthma may be prescribed an inhaler to use immediately before exercising.
Asthma patients often experience more severe symptoms at night time and when they have a cold or allergies. If the person has a cold or allergies, the physician may prescribe medication to use specifically at those times to prevent a worsening of asthma symptoms.
One type of asthma medication is taken daily to prevent asthma attacks. The other type of asthma medication is typically sold in inhaler form and is used during an asthma attack to stop the symptoms.