Asthma, is a common condition that affects the airways and it can start at any age, but it most commonly starts in childhood. It is caused by narrowing of the airways (tubes) in the lungs. This narrowing is partially or completely reversible The typical symptoms are cough, wheeze, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Symptoms can range from mild to severe. Asthma can usually be treated successfully. This requires being well educated about the disease and being an active player in managing it.
Treatment is aimed both at relieving and preventing symptoms. Inhalers are the most common form of treatment.

What is asthma and whom does it affect?
Asthma is a condition that affects the smaller airways (bronchioles) of the lungs. From time to time the airways constrict (narrow) in people who have asthma. This causes the typical symptoms.

What are the symptoms of asthma?
The common symptoms are cough and wheeze. You may also become breathless and develop a feeling of chest tightness. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and their duration varies from person to person.
Symptoms of severe asthma include: failure to complete sentences due to air hunger, bluish discoloration of the tongue, rapid breathing, and altered consciousness or coma

What causes asthma?
Asthma is caused by inflammation in the airways. The inflammation irritates the muscles around the airways and causes them to squeeze (constrict). This causes narrowing of the airways. It is then more difficult for air to get in and out of the lungs. This leads to wheezing and breathlessness. The inflammation also causes the lining of the airways to produce extra mucus which causes cough and further obstruction to airflow.

Asthma triggers
The factors that set off and worsen asthma symptoms are called "triggers." Identifying and avoiding asthma triggers is an essential step in preventing asthma flare-ups. Common asthma triggers generally fall into

Several categories:
• Allergens (including dust, pollen, house dust mite and furred animals)
• Respiratory infections (such as common cold)
• Irritants (such as tobacco smoke, perfumes or chemicals)
• Physical activity(exercise)
• Emotional stress
• Menstrual cycle in some women

How is asthma diagnosed?
Most times symptoms are typical, and the diagnosis is easily made by a doctor. If there is doubt then some simple tests may be arranged. A peak flow meter is the commonly used test. Dramatic response to reliever medication may strongly suggest the presence of asthma.
What are the treatments for asthma?
For most people with asthma, the symptoms can be prevented most of the time with treatment. So, you are able to get on with normal life, school, work, sport, etc.

There are two broad categories of asthma treatment medication:

1. Reliever medication is taken as required to ease symptoms, these relax the muscles in the airways. This makes the airways open wider and symptoms usually quickly ease. These drugs are also called bronchodilators as they dilate (widen) the bronchi and bronchioles (airways). They are available as tablets, inhalers, vapourised (nebulised), syrups, tablets and powder.
2. Controller medication is taken every day to prevent symptoms from developing; one is started on controller medication if they start to need the reliever medication more than 3 times a week. The drugs commonly used as controllers are steroids and long-acting bronchodilators. Steroids work by reducing the inflammation in the airways while the long-acting bronchodilators act by maintaining the airways open for a prolonged period. When the inflammation has gone, the airways are much less likely to constrict and cause symptoms. It takes 7-14 days for the steroid in a controller inhaler to build up its effect. Therefore, it will not give any immediate relief of symptoms.

Inhalers
Most people with asthma are treated with inhalers. Inhalers deliver a small dose of drug directly to the airways. The dose is enough to treat the airways. However, the amount of drug that gets into the rest of your body is small so side-effects are unlikely, or minor. That is why inhalers are preferred to other formulations.

Spacer devices
These are used with some types of inhaler. They are commonly used by children, but many adults also use them. A spacer is like a small plastic chamber that attaches to the inhaler. It holds the drug like a reservoir when the inhaler is pressed. A valve at the mouth end ensures that the drug is kept within the spacer until you breathe in. When you breathe out, the valve closes. So, you don't need to have good co-ordination to inhale the drug if you use a spacer device. A face mask can be fitted on to some types of spacers, instead of a mouthpiece. This is sometimes done for young children and babies who can then use the inhaler simply by breathing in and out normally through the mask.

What is an asthma action plan
An asthma action plan is a plan agreed upon by the doctor and the asthma patient. The plan enables one to make adjustments to the dose of your inhalers, depending on your symptoms and/or peak flow readings. The plan is tailored to individual circumstances because no two patients are the same. The plan should be written down for future reference.

Does asthma go away?
There is no once-and-for-all cure. However, about half of the children who develop asthma will stop having symptoms as they grow into adulthood, there has not been a good explanation for this observation.

Some other general points about asthma
• It is vital that you learn how to use your inhalers correctly. In some people, symptoms persist simply because they do not use their inhaler properly, and the drug from the inhaler does not get into the airways properly. See your doctor if you are not sure if you are using your inhaler properly.
• See a doctor or nurse if symptoms are not fully controlled, or if they are getting worse. For example, if:

1. A night-time cough or wheeze is troublesome.
2. Sport is being affected by symptoms.
3. You need a reliever inhaler more often than usual.

An adjustment in inhaler timings or doses may control these symptoms.
• See a doctor urgently if you develop severe symptoms that are not eased by a reliever inhaler. In particular, if you have difficulty talking due to shortness of breath. You may need emergency treatment with high-dose reliever drugs and other treatments. A severe asthma attack can be life-threatening.