Asthma is a disease of the human respiratory system in which the airways narrow, often in response to a “trigger” such as exposure to an allergen, cold air, exercise, or emotional stress. This narrowing causes symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing, which are the hallmarks of asthma. Between episodes, most patients feel fine. The disorder is a chronic inflammatory condition in which the airways develop increased responsiveness to various stimuli, characterized by bronchial hyper-respon ...

Including:

• Asthma - History
• Asthma - Signs and symptoms
• Asthma - Diagnosis
• Asthma - Differential diagnosis
• Asthma - Pathophysiology
• Asthma - Bronchoconstriction
• Asthma - Bronchial inflammation
• Asthma - The immune response
• Asthma - Pathogenesis
• Asthma - Treatment
• Asthma - Relief medication
• Asthma - Prevention medication
• Asthma - Long-acting β₂-agonists
• Asthma - Emergency treatment
• Asthma - Alternative medicine
• Asthma - Prognosis
• Asthma - Epidemiology
• Asthma - US Socioeconomic Factors
• Asthma - Asthma and athletics

Read more here: » Asthma: Encyclopedia - Asthma

In most cases, a physician can diagnose asthma on the basis of typical findings in a patient's clinical history and examination. Asthma is strongly suspected if a patient suffers from eczema or other allergic conditions—suggesting a general atopic constitution—or has a family history of asthma. While measurement of airway function is possible for adults, most new cases are diagnosed in children who are unable to perform such tests. Diagnosis in children is based on a careful compilation and analysis of the patient's medical history and s ...

See also:

Asthma, Asthma - History, Asthma - Signs and symptoms, Asthma - Diagnosis, Asthma - Differential diagnosis, Asthma - Pathophysiology, Asthma - Bronchoconstriction, Asthma - Bronchial inflammation, Asthma - The immune response, Asthma - Pathogenesis, Asthma - Treatment, Asthma - Relief medication, Asthma - Prevention medication, Asthma - Long-acting β₂-agonists, Asthma - Emergency treatment, Asthma - Alternative medicine, Asthma - Prognosis, Asthma - Epidemiology, Asthma - Socioeconomic factors, Asthma - Asthma and athletics

Read more here: » Asthma: Encyclopedia II - Asthma - Diagnosis

In most cases, a physician can diagnose asthma on the basis of typical findings in a patient's clinical history and examination. Asthma is strongly suspected if a patient suffers from eczema or other allergic conditions—suggesting a general atopic constitution—or has a family history of asthma. While measurement of airway function is possible for adults, most new cases are diagnosed in children who are unable to perform such tests. Diagnosis in children is based on a careful compilation and analysis of the patient's medical history and s ...

See also:

Asthma, Asthma - History, Asthma - Signs and symptoms, Asthma - Diagnosis, Asthma - Differential diagnosis, Asthma - Pathophysiology, Asthma - Bronchoconstriction, Asthma - Bronchial inflammation, Asthma - The immune response, Asthma - Pathogenesis, Asthma - Treatment, Asthma - Relief medication, Asthma - Prevention medication, Asthma - Long-acting β₂-agonists, Asthma - Emergency treatment, Asthma - Alternative medicine, Asthma - Prognosis, Asthma - Epidemiology, Asthma - US Socioeconomic Factors, Asthma - Asthma and athletics

Read more here: » Asthma: Encyclopedia II - Asthma - Diagnosis

The most effective treatment for asthma is identifying triggers, such as pets or aspirin, and limiting or eliminating exposure to them. Desensitization is commonly attempted, but has not been shown to be effective. As is common with respiratory disease, smoking adversely affects asthmatics in several ways, including an increased severity of symptoms, a more rapid decline of lung function, and decreased response to preventive medications.[9] Asthmatics wh ...

See also:

Asthma, Asthma - History, Asthma - Signs and symptoms, Asthma - Diagnosis, Asthma - Differential diagnosis, Asthma - Pathophysiology, Asthma - Bronchoconstriction, Asthma - Bronchial inflammation, Asthma - The immune response, Asthma - Pathogenesis, Asthma - Treatment, Asthma - Relief medication, Asthma - Prevention medication, Asthma - Long-acting β₂-agonists, Asthma - Emergency treatment, Asthma - Alternative medicine, Asthma - Prognosis, Asthma - Epidemiology, Asthma - Socioeconomic factors, Asthma - Asthma and athletics

Read more here: » Asthma: Encyclopedia II - Asthma - Treatment

The most effective treatment for asthma is identifying triggers, such as pets or aspirin, and limiting or eliminating exposure to them. Desensitization is commonly attempted, but has not been shown to be effective. As is common with respiratory disease, smoking adversely affects asthmatics in several ways, including an increased severity of symptoms, a more rapid decline of lung function, and decreased response to preventive medications.[9] Asthmatics wh ...

See also:

Asthma, Asthma - History, Asthma - Signs and symptoms, Asthma - Diagnosis, Asthma - Differential diagnosis, Asthma - Pathophysiology, Asthma - Bronchoconstriction, Asthma - Bronchial inflammation, Asthma - The immune response, Asthma - Pathogenesis, Asthma - Treatment, Asthma - Relief medication, Asthma - Prevention medication, Asthma - Long-acting β₂-agonists, Asthma - Emergency treatment, Asthma - Alternative medicine, Asthma - Prognosis, Asthma - Epidemiology, Asthma - US Socioeconomic Factors, Asthma - Asthma and athletics

Read more here: » Asthma: Encyclopedia II - Asthma - Treatment

Asthma - Bronchoconstriction. In essence, asthma is the result of an abnormal immune response in the bronchial airways.[5] The airways of asthmatics are “hypersensitive” to certain triggers, also known as stimuli (see below). In response to exposure to these triggers, the bronchi (large airways) contract into spasm (an “asthma attack”). Inflammation soon follows, leading to a further narrowing of the airways and excessive mucus production, which leads to ...

See also:

Asthma, Asthma - History, Asthma - Signs and symptoms, Asthma - Diagnosis, Asthma - Differential diagnosis, Asthma - Pathophysiology, Asthma - Bronchoconstriction, Asthma - Bronchial inflammation, Asthma - The immune response, Asthma - Pathogenesis, Asthma - Treatment, Asthma - Relief medication, Asthma - Prevention medication, Asthma - Long-acting β₂-agonists, Asthma - Emergency treatment, Asthma - Alternative medicine, Asthma - Prognosis, Asthma - Epidemiology, Asthma - Socioeconomic factors, Asthma - Asthma and athletics

Read more here: » Asthma: Encyclopedia II - Asthma - Pathophysiology

Asthma is usually diagnosed in childhood. The risk factors for asthma include: a personal or family history of asthma or atopy; triggers (see Pathophysiology above); premature birth or low birth weight; viral respiratory infection in early childhood; maternal smoking; being male, for asthma in prepubertal children; and being female, for persi ...

See also:

Asthma, Asthma - History, Asthma - Signs and symptoms, Asthma - Diagnosis, Asthma - Differential diagnosis, Asthma - Pathophysiology, Asthma - Bronchoconstriction, Asthma - Bronchial inflammation, Asthma - The immune response, Asthma - Pathogenesis, Asthma - Treatment, Asthma - Relief medication, Asthma - Prevention medication, Asthma - Long-acting β₂-agonists, Asthma - Emergency treatment, Asthma - Alternative medicine, Asthma - Prognosis, Asthma - Epidemiology, Asthma - Socioeconomic factors, Asthma - Asthma and athletics

Read more here: » Asthma: Encyclopedia II - Asthma - Epidemiology

An acute exacerbation of asthma is referred to colloquially as an asthma attack. The clinical hallmarks of an attack are shortness of breath (dyspnea) and wheezing, the latter “often being regarded as the sine qua non.”[4] A cough—sometimes producing clear sputum—may also be present. The onset is often sudden; there is a “sense of constriction” in the chest, breathing becomes difficult, and wheezing o ...

See also:

Asthma, Asthma - History, Asthma - Signs and symptoms, Asthma - Diagnosis, Asthma - Differential diagnosis, Asthma - Pathophysiology, Asthma - Bronchoconstriction, Asthma - Bronchial inflammation, Asthma - The immune response, Asthma - Pathogenesis, Asthma - Treatment, Asthma - Relief medication, Asthma - Prevention medication, Asthma - Long-acting β₂-agonists, Asthma - Emergency treatment, Asthma - Alternative medicine, Asthma - Prognosis, Asthma - Epidemiology, Asthma - US Socioeconomic Factors, Asthma - Asthma and athletics

Read more here: » Asthma: Encyclopedia II - Asthma - Signs and symptoms

Asthma - Bronchoconstriction. In essence, asthma is the result of an abnormal immune response in the bronchial airways.[5] The airways of asthmatics are “hypersensitive” to certain triggers, also known as stimuli (see below). In response to exposure to these triggers, the bronchi (large airways) contract into spasm (an “asthma attack”). Inflammation soon follows, leading to a further narrowing of the airways and excessive mucus production, which leads to ...

See also:

Asthma, Asthma - History, Asthma - Signs and symptoms, Asthma - Diagnosis, Asthma - Differential diagnosis, Asthma - Pathophysiology, Asthma - Bronchoconstriction, Asthma - Bronchial inflammation, Asthma - The immune response, Asthma - Pathogenesis, Asthma - Treatment, Asthma - Relief medication, Asthma - Prevention medication, Asthma - Long-acting β₂-agonists, Asthma - Emergency treatment, Asthma - Alternative medicine, Asthma - Prognosis, Asthma - Epidemiology, Asthma - US Socioeconomic Factors, Asthma - Asthma and athletics

Read more here: » Asthma: Encyclopedia II - Asthma - Pathophysiology

Asthma is usually diagnosed in childhood. The risk factors for asthma include: a personal or family history of asthma or atopy; triggers (see Pathophysiology above); premature birth or low birth weight; viral respiratory infection in early childhood; maternal smoking; being male, for asthma in prepubertal children; and being female, for persi ...

See also:

Asthma, Asthma - History, Asthma - Signs and symptoms, Asthma - Diagnosis, Asthma - Differential diagnosis, Asthma - Pathophysiology, Asthma - Bronchoconstriction, Asthma - Bronchial inflammation, Asthma - The immune response, Asthma - Pathogenesis, Asthma - Treatment, Asthma - Relief medication, Asthma - Prevention medication, Asthma - Long-acting β₂-agonists, Asthma - Emergency treatment, Asthma - Alternative medicine, Asthma - Prognosis, Asthma - Epidemiology, Asthma - US Socioeconomic Factors, Asthma - Asthma and athletics

Read more here: » Asthma: Encyclopedia II - Asthma - Epidemiology

An acute exacerbation of asthma is referred to colloquially as an asthma attack. The clinical hallmarks of an attack are shortness of breath (dyspnea) and wheezing, the latter “often being regarded as the sine qua non.”[4] A cough—sometimes producing clear sputum—may also be present. The onset is often sudden; there is a “sense of constriction” in the chest, breathing becomes difficult, and wheezing occurs (primarily upon expira ...

See also:

Asthma, Asthma - History, Asthma - Signs and symptoms, Asthma - Diagnosis, Asthma - Differential diagnosis, Asthma - Pathophysiology, Asthma - Bronchoconstriction, Asthma - Bronchial inflammation, Asthma - The immune response, Asthma - Pathogenesis, Asthma - Treatment, Asthma - Relief medication, Asthma - Prevention medication, Asthma - Long-acting β₂-agonists, Asthma - Emergency treatment, Asthma - Alternative medicine, Asthma - Prognosis, Asthma - Epidemiology, Asthma - Socioeconomic factors, Asthma - Asthma and athletics

Read more here: » Asthma: Encyclopedia II - Asthma - Signs and symptoms