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Asthma

(Science: chest medicine) a disease process that is characterised by paradoxical narrowing of the bronchi (lung passageways) making breathing difficult.

treatment includes bronchodilators which are given orally or delivered as an aerosol (inhaled). Corticosteroids are reserved for more difficult cases.

symptoms include wheezing, difficulty breathing (particularly exhaling air) and tightness in the chest. Factors which can exacerbate asthma include rapid changes in temperature or humidity, allergies, upper respiratory infections, exercise, stress or smoke (cigarette).

See: status asthmaticus. Respiratory disorder characterized by wheezing; usually of allergic origin.A respiratory condition that is aggravated by small particles entering the lungs. The effects that an asthmatic sufferer feels is due to the narrowing of tubes in their respiratory system which make breathing harder, though this effect can be relaxed with particular drugs that relax the muscles involved.