Asthma is a chronic condition that affects the passageways that carry air to and from the lungs. Someone who has asthma, an asthmatic, has swollen or inflamed airways, making them susceptible to allergic reactions. When the airways are inflamed, there is a restricted amount of air that goes in and out of the lungs. This causes the person to become wheezy or have shortness of breath.
Asthma affects about 24 million people in the US, and that includes over 6 million children with the condition. Asthma causes 3 in ever 5 people with the condition to miss school, work, or limit physical activity, and people usually start noticing these limitations during childhood. The goal of World Asthma Day is to raise awareness about the condition and to support those who are affected by it.
There are many free resources for those with asthma. People can learn how to exercise or cope with the condition. There are even resources that help people naturally improve the health of their airways and lungs. Dherbs even has a cleanse that is designed to naturally cleanse your lungs and respiratory system. This can be beneficial for those with asthma, allergies, or bronchial troubles.
What Causes Asthma?
Asthma occurs when the airways are inflamed and inhibits proper airflow to and from the lungs. One of the most common causes of asthma is being allergic to certain substances. When the allergen is inhaled it can trigger an asthma attack because it irritates the already inflamed airways. Since asthma usually begins during childhood, children who are exposed to tobacco smoke or highly polluted environments can easily develop asthma. Additionally, the way a child is born can give him/her asthma. Babies born via Caesarean Section are 20% more likely to get asthma than babies born via vaginal birth because it is thought that Caesarean Section babies are exposed to immune system-modifying infections from bacteria during the procedure.
- Tobacco Smoke
- Allergies
- Pregnancy
- Stress
- Obesity
- Genetics
- Airway Hyperactivity
- Environmental Factors
