Chronic respiratory illness, also known as asthma, can damage the airways, causing inflammation and shrinking. The condition causes shortness of breath, wheezing, tightness in the chest, and coughing. It is a common disease that affects everyone of all ages, and even though there is no cure, effective treatment strategies can allow individuals to lead active and normal life.
The interaction of environmental and genetic factors is thought to be the main causes of asthma. Individuals with a family allergy or asthma history are more likely to suffer from the disease. Furthermore, exposure to certain environmental triggers, like dust mites, pollen and pet dander, smoke or respiratory infections, pollution from the air and cold air, can worsen asthma symptoms.
The symptoms of asthma vary in intensity and frequency. The most common signs are wheezing, high-pitched whistling noises when breathing, breathlessness, trouble breathing and chest tightness or pain, or coughing at night or in the early morning. These signs can be mild or severe and often follow a pattern of increasing severity and improvement.