Health Information
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Understanding This Symptom
Medical Definition
Subject Matter Expert Verified
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung disease characterized by bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) and reversible airway obstruction.
It causes recurring episodes of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing due to airway inflammation, bronchoconstriction, and excess mucus production.
These symptoms are triggered by various stimuli including allergens, exercise, cold air, and respiratory infections.
Quick Facts
What Optimal Health Looks Like
Understanding how your body functions when healthy helps identify dysfunction
In healthy individuals, the bronchial airways maintain a patent lumen with normal smooth muscle tone, allowing unrestricted airflow during respiration.
The airway epithelium functions as an intact barrier with efficient mucociliary clearance that traps and removes inhaled particles and pathogens.
Bronchial smooth muscle exhibits normal responsiveness to bronchoconstricting and bronchodilating stimuli without exaggerated reactions.
Peak expiratory flow (PEF) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) values exceed 80% predicted, with FEV1/FVC ratio remaining above 70-75%.
Healthy Function
Your body is designed to maintain balance and self-regulate
How This Develops
Type
inflammatory response - Allergen exposure triggers Th
Eosinophilic infiltration - IL-
IgE-mediated mast cell activation - Cross-linking of surface IgE by allergens triggers mast cell degranulation, releasing histamine, cysteinyl leukotrienes (LTB
Airway hyperresponsiveness - Heightened sensitivity of bronchial smooth muscle to various stimuli (allergens, cold air, exercise, viral infections, irritants) results in exaggerated bronchospasm beyond normal physiological response; (
Smooth muscle hyperplasia - Chronic inflammation induces hypertrophy and hyperplasia of bronchial smooth muscle cells, increasing contractile force and airway wall thickness; (
Mucus hypersecretion - IL-
Bronchial remodeling - Long-term inflammation leads to structural changes including subepithelial fibrosis, angiogenesis, and extracellular matrix deposition, causing permanent airway narrowing and reduced reversibility
Understanding the mechanism helps us target the root cause rather than just treating symptoms.
What Happens If Left Untreated
Understanding the consequences helps you make informed decisions about your health
Short-Term Consequences
Days to weeks
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Time Matters
Don't wait for symptoms to worsen. Early intervention leads to better outcomes.