Asthma Stephanie McAdams

Outline Background Causes Symptoms Treatments Conclusion Work Cited

Background Asthma is a condition in which your airways are always narrow or inflamed and become even more inflamed and produce extra mucus when something triggers the symptoms. This can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Main types: Exercise-induced asthma, which may be worse when the air is cold and dry Allergy-induced asthma, triggered by particular allergens, such as pet fur, or pollen

Causes It isn't clear why some people get asthma and others don't, but it's probably due to a combination of environmental and genetic (inherited) factors. Asthma triggers Airborne allergens, such as pollen, animal dander, mold, dust mites Respiratory infections, such as the common cold Physical activity (exercise-induced asthma) Cold air Air pollutants and irritants, such as smoke

Symptoms Shortness of breath Chest tightness or pain Trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing A whistling or wheezing sound when exhaling (wheezing is a common sign of asthma in children) Coughing or wheezing attacks that are worsened by a respiratory virus, such as a cold or the flu

Treatments Asthma can't be cured, but its symptoms can be controlled by: Long term Inhaled corticosteroids: These anti-inflammatory drugs, helps the inflammation in the bronchial tubes Quick relief inhalers Used as needed for rapid, short-term symptom relief during an asthma attack Short-acting beta agonists: These inhaled, quick-relief bronchodilators act within minutes to rapidly ease symptoms during an asthma attack. They include albuterol

Conclusion 2 main kinds: Exercise induced or Allergy induced Caused by inflamed bronchial tubes in the lungs Cannot be fixed, but can be helped with long term inhalers or short term, rescue inhalers

Work Cited Beasley, R., & of Asthma, T. I. S. (1998). Worldwide variation in prevalence of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and atopic eczema: ISAAC. The Lancet, 351(9111), Childhood Asthma Management Program Research Group. (2000). Long-term effects of budesonide or nedocromil in children with asthma. N Engl j Med, 343(15), Wallace, L. A., Mitchell, H., T O'Connor, G., Neas, L., Lippmann, M., Kattan, M.,... & Walter, M. (2003). Particle concentrations in inner-city homes of children with asthma: the effect of smoking, cooking, and outdoor pollution.Environmental health perspectives, 111(9), 1265.