Asthma and your airways
More than 2 million Australians are affected by asthma, a condition that causes the airways in your lungs to narrow intermittently. This airway narrowing, which makes breathing difficult by reducing the amount of air that can travel in and out of the lungs, is due to:
- inflammation and swelling of the airways;
- excessive production of thick mucus in the airways; and
- tightening of the bands of smooth muscle around the airways (known as bronchoconstriction).
Asthma symptoms
Typical symptoms associated with asthma include feeling short of breath, wheezing, chest tightness and cough. Because the airway narrowing in asthma is reversible, many people with asthma only occasionally experience symptoms. Once an episode of airway narrowing resolves (either on its own or with treatment) the airflow into and out of the lungs returns to normal, and symptoms improve.
Asthma triggers
Many people with asthma find that certain factors seem to ‘trigger’ their symptoms. In fact, because the airways are mildly inflamed, they are extra-sensitive to a range of triggers, including:
- respiratory infections;
- allergens (substances that cause allergies) — for example, pollens, dust mites, mould;
- cigarette smoke;
- vigorous exercise;
- certain medications, such as aspirin, beta-blockers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs);
- anxiety or stress; and
- cold air.
Triggers vary from person to person — while allergens may cause wheezing in one person, exercise may be the main trigger for someone else.
How to help prevent asthma attacks
By avoiding or treating the triggers that set off your asthma, monitoring your asthma symptoms and taking your asthma medicines, you can help prevent asthma attacks. Ask your doctor to arrange an individual asthma management plan to help you achieve good asthma control.
Last Reviewed: 02 September 2009
- 1. Australian Bureau of Statistics. National Health Survey: summary of results, 2007-2008 (Reissue). Canberra: ABS; 2009.
2. Barnes Peter J. Asthma. Ch 248. In: Fauci AS, Braunwald E, Kasper DL, et al, eds. Harrison's principles of internal medicine. 17e. New York: McGraw Hill. Available from: http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=4 (accessed Nov 2009).
