Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the bronchi or the airways to the lungs, which results in narrowing of the airways. This leads to tightening of the chest, coughing and difficulty in breathing.

There are primarily two ways to get relief from Asthma, long term medication and quick relief medicines. Long term medication includes oral medication and inhaled cortico-steroids, whereas quick relief medicines include inhaled beta2-agonists, oral medications and nebulizers.

Bronchial asthma is caused by inflammation of the airways connecting to the lungs, which are also called bronchi. Bronchial asthma is an alternative name for asthma.

Galen, a Greco-Roman doctor, was the first to discover that the cause for asthma was bronchial obstruction but the disease was originally described and named by Hippocrates, a Greek physician.

Although smoking is a primary cause or trigger for asthma attacks and in many cases regular smokers develop symptoms of asthma, it is usually not possible for any doctor to confirm whether the patient is a smoker.

The best way to prevent asthma is to keep the patients away from the triggers which cause the asthma attacks. The most common triggers which cause asthma attacks are dust, pollution, airborne allergens and extreme climatic conditions.

Kenny G, a famous musician who plays the saxophone and trumpet and has sold millions of records worldwide has achieved all this inspite of being an asthma patient. Similarly, Ludwig van Beethoven, the musical genius led a normal life despite his asthma. Another such inspiring name is Jackie-Joyner Kersee, who won many Olympic gold medals as an athlete inspite of being an asthma patient.

There is no evidence available presently to confirm that bartonella can lead to allergies and consequently cause asthmatic symptoms.

Asthma is not a curable disease and all available treatments help in controlling the symptoms and recurrence of attacks. The best way to control or manage the disease is by taking the necessary precautions so as to continue leading a normal life without the fear of asthma attacks.

Research and data in various countries seem to indicate a correlation between increase in asthma along with an increase in obesity. In the US, the reported cases of asthma have gone up with the sharp increase in cases of obesity. Similarly, in Taiwan, research has confirmed the correlation between an increase in body mass index and that of asthmatic symptoms.

Asthma caused from allergies can be treated without the need for medical intervention if the asthmatic can avoid or remove the source of allergens and by maintaining better hygiene. This is very useful in case of allergies caused by dust mites, chemicals and other pollutants.

The medical treatment of asthma usually involves short-acting and long-acting treatment, depending upon the frequency and severity of the disease and its symptoms. The short-acting medications usually involve bronchodilators or inhalers and nebulizers, along with selective bet2 agonists, such as salbutamol. The long-acting medications usually involve inhaled cortico-steroids and oral glucocorticoids for severe cases.

Galen, a Greco-Roman doctor, discovered the symptoms of asthma and also the cause of asthma as bronchial obstruction in ancient Greece during the period 201 – 300 BC.

Hippocrates first recognized this condition as a disease and called it ‘Asthma’. Till the beginning of the last century, asthma used to be treated as a psychological disorder and the treatment included that of depression.

The best way to prevent or treat asthma in case of cold weather and high altitudes is to take necessary precautions such as avoiding exposure to extreme temperatures, avoiding any strenuous activity which can lead to breathing problems in asthmatics and ensuring that asthma patients do not catch cold or flu.

The places ideally suited for people suffering from asthma should have a mild climate, low levels of smoke and pollution and low pollen levels. Some of the cities in the US which qualify under these criteria as good places to live for asthma patients, are Orange County, San Jose and San Diego in California and Honolulu in Hawaii.

Allergies, or allergens causing these allergies, activate a response in the immune system of asthma patients, whereby the bronchi or airways get inflamed and mucus is formed. This inflammation of the airways, coupled with the formation of more mucus, results in narrowing of the airways which reduces the intake of air and leads to breathing difficulties and tightening of the chest.

If a person experiences regular coughing at night, feels out of breath after some mild exercise or has a persistent cough along with phlegm stuck in the throat, then there is a high probability of the person suffering from mild asthma.

Carpets are best avoided in homes where there are asthma patients as they can be a source of different types of allergens which can trigger attacks in asthmatics. Many carpets contain chemicals which can result in allergies, it is also a source for allergies caused by dust mites and pet hair.

Research done to find out genetic predisposition to contracting asthma have confirmed, in some studies, that there are over 100 genes that can be connected to asthma. These genes when inherited affect the person’s immune system and its response to stimuli causing asthma.