What is asthma?
Asthma is a condition that affects the airways – the small tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. When a person with asthma comes into contact with an asthma trigger, the muscle around the walls of the airways tightens so that the airway becomes narrower. The lining of the airways becomes inflamed and starts to swell. Often sticky mucus or phlegm is produced. All these reactions cause the airways to become narrower and irritated – leading to the symptoms of asthma.
What does it feel like?
The usual symptoms of someone with asthma are:
- Coughing
- Wheezing or a whistling noise in the chest
- Getting short of breath
- A tight feeling in the chest
Not everybody will get all these symptoms. Some people experience them from time to time; a few people may experience these symptoms all the time.
