Dec 22, 2011
— read in fullGuide to asthma
Illness is never fun but when it keeps you away from playing sports and games with your friends, it can really make you feel left out. Anyone suffering from the potentially life-threatening breathing illness asthma knows just how this feels. Discover more about the condition below.
What is asthma?
Asthma is a common condition that causes the airways to the lungs to become inflamed and swollen.
What is an asthma attack?
When the airways to the lungs become irritated, they become narrow and the muscles around them tighten, increasing the production of sticky mucus or phlegm. This makes it difficult for sufferers to breathe and causes wheezing and coughing. It can also make a person’s chest feel tight.
For some people with chronic asthma, the inflammation may lead to an irreversible blockage of the airways. A severe onset is known as an asthma attack, which can be life-threatening and may require hospital treatment.
Who is affected?
According to official medical reports one child in every 11 is diagnosed with asthma and a third of all sufferers have such severe cases they do not take part in sports.
If a child is suffering an asthma attack, they may need hospital treatment.
With children being admitted to hospital with asthma-related symptoms every 16 minutes, it is a common illness, which can kill sufferers if not treated.
What causes asthma?
Doctors do not fully understand the causes of asthma but they believe it can be both passed down through a family genetically and the result of pollution and other environmental factors.
Asthma can be made worse by exposure to dust mites, animal fur, pollen, tobacco, smoke, cold air and chest infections.
How can it be treated?
The narrowing of the airways is usually reversible, either naturally or by prescribing medicines.
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