Asthma Information

Asthma: The Basics

Asthma is a lung or breathing condition that causes, coughing, wheezing, trouble catching your breath, and a constricting feeling in the chest.  Chest pains, dizziness and a constant need to clear the throat are possibly other symptoms of asthma and should be checked by a physician.

Those who have asthma will find that things like cold or dry air, dust, pollen, pollution, cigarette smoke, or stress can all be "triggers", which cause the body to overproduce chemicals that cause the airways to shrink.  This in turn stops the air from getting to the lungs and causes an asthma attack.  An Asthma attack can make the sufferer feel like he is trying to suck in and push out air through a straw.

Physical activity can also cause asthma attacks.  While experts aren't certain why physical activity can trigger an attack, a likely explanation is that fast breathing through the mouth can irritate the airways.  Dr. Asthma advises, "When smog levels are high, it's always a good idea to participate in the morning instead of in the afternoon - smog levels rise later in the day."

Asthma is a huge problem in children today.  "About five million young people in our country have asthma," says Dr. Redd, "When your parents were young (about 30 years ago), asthma was an uncommon disease seen in only about 3% of people.  Now, it's up to at least 7% and rising.  As young kids, more boys have asthma.  But some people 'grow out' of asthma (their lungs get bigger and they no longer have symptoms) and the tables turn.  So, as teenagers, slightly more girls have the disease."

How can kids help their friends who suffer from this disease?  If the condition is controlled, those with asthma can do the same things that those without the disease are able to do.  Be certain that friends know it is ok that they use their inhalers and take their medication.  Also, don't worry about catching asthma because it is not contagious. 

If a friend or relative is having and asthma attack it can be scary to see.  But according to Dr. Redd, the first thing to do is stay calm.  Encourage the person to use an inhaler (if available) and get help.

No one knows what causes asthma for sure;  but people's genes help decide whether they develop asthma.  Some researchers think that since today's young people are exposed to germs that are different than the ones seen 20 or 30 years ago, their immune systems do not develop in the same way, leading to more asthma and allergies.  Obesity could also possibly relate to increased asthma cases.  (This does not mean that you should lose weight if you have asthma, though those who are overweight may find it helpful.  Speak to a parent or a doctor to find out.)  It is possible that asthma is caused by something in the environment.