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Overview for Dietary and Lifestyle or Treatment info
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This disorder affects the respiratory system, producing breathlessness,
wheezing and cough due to widespread narrowing of the breathing tubes
(bronchi) and production of mucus which can block them. An attack
can be triggered by various factors, including allergic reactions
to animal fur, house dust and dust mites, and by chemicals, stress,
physical exertion and certain drugs.
The attack occurs when one of these factors triggers the release of
a particular chemical - histamine - from specialised cells within
the lungs. This produces inflammation of the lining of the airways,
and an associated contraction of the muscle in the airways - both
which contribute to the narrowing - as well as the production of mucus
that exacerbates this occlusion. In those who have an allergic component
to their condition, they may also experience hay fever or eczema as
an accompaniment to their asthma. The onset of asthma usually occurs
in early life, but in some cases the onset may be delayed into adulthood,
middle or even old age. Many children grow out of their asthma in
their teens or suffer less as adults, but some people can develop
chronic asthma in later life.
Asthma has three main characteristics:
- A limitation to air flow in the bronchial, acting in both directions,
but more so when exhaling
- Adverse bronchial reaction to external stimuli, for example, house
dust mites (dust and pollens)
- Thirdly, the lining of the bronchi exhibit inflammatory changes.
The classic symptoms of an asthma attack are:
- Bronchial narrowing can occur, causing wheezing after exercise
("Exercise induced astma")
- Shortness of breath
- A cough worsening on exertion
Overview | Orthodox
Treatments | Dietary
and Lifestyle
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