Asthma is a chronic, long-term condition that affects the airways and, while there is no cure, asthma is generally well controlled through treatment that focuses on relieving symptoms and preventing reoccurrence of those symptoms. Typically, asthma will develop in childhood but is also common among adults and, in fact, the condition can appear at any age. In the UK, there are 5.4 million asthma sufferers with more adult women than men affected.
Asthma can run in families and there is an increased chance of developing asthma if either parent already has the condition. However, sufferers can have asthma without any previous incidences in the family.
Inflammation in the tubes of the airways that lead to the lungs causes asthma. Known as bronchi, these tubes are more sensitive in asthma sufferers and will narrow when irritated. The irritation induces the most common symptoms, including difficulty in breathing, tightness in the chest, wheezing and coughing that produces an excess of phlegm.
The condition may often go undiagnosed, particularly if you only have very mild symptoms. Undiagnosed asthma might present as a cough or wheezing, especially if you have a cold, while often children will have a night-time cough but few other obvious symptoms. Sufferers may also wheeze or cough when they exercise or during hay fever season.
Chronic or long-lasting asthma sufferers whose condition has been identified are more likely to suffer asthma attacks with more acute symptoms, including severe breathlessness. The most severe attack can need a hospital visit but such instances are rare.
While the cause of asthma is not known, the condition is triggered by anything that can irritate the airways, causing the bronchi to become inflamed and to narrow. The triggers differ from individual to individual but the most common are cold air and chest infections, house dust mites and animal fur, pollen and tobacco smoke. Exercise is also known to trigger the symptoms of asthma.