The name ‘Asthma’ was given after the Greek word for panting or gasping.

Asthma is not known to be completely cured, as per the validated research done till date and the symptoms can recur anytime if proper precautions are not taken. But by getting sufficient knowledge about asthma, its causes and treatments and by properly managing the disease, most patients can lead a normal, active life without the fear of recurring asthma attacks.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.