Asthma is a serious, lifelong, and sometimes frightening pulmonary disease, but it is also a fascinating one. This incurable but highly treatable lung condition involves hypersensitivity, just like allergies and eczema do. A hyper-reactive immune response occurs when, for reasons largely unknown, a normally harmless substance prompts an excessive reaction in part of the body. Asthmatics have lungs that stay inflamed as a hyper-reactive response to conditions or irritants that don�t bother other people.

Understanding how the lungs usually work is key to understanding asthma. In a person with normal lung function, the right and left bronchial tubes that connect the windpipe to the lungs stay clear and open all the time. When the person breathes in, the air travels down the windpipe and through the bronchial tubes and smaller bronchioles into the lungs. Mucus lines the walls of the bronchial tubes, filtering out irritants, impurities, and bacteria.

Asthmatics� bronchial tubes are inflamed, and the swelling narrows the airways. The inflammation also makes airways extraordinarily sensitive to triggers like allergies, viruses, exercise, and cold air. When the inflamed, hyperactive bronchial tubes encounter these triggers, two critical things happen: they produce excess amounts of mucus and they contract into bronchospasms. The mucus clogs the airways, and the spasms and swelling further restrict them.

Basically, asthmatics cannot move air in and out of their lungs as efficiently as they should. A common misconception is that an asthma flare involves a person�s inability to breathe in air. In fact, the opposite is true. During flares, asthmatics cannot get adequate amounts of air out. This dead air sits trapped in the bottom of the lungs, forcing asthmatics to breathe shallowly with just the top of the lungs. They cannot take deep breaths, and during a severe flare they can wheeze and gasp for air.

Wheezing, however, is not the number one symptom of asthma; coughing is. Many asthmatics never wheeze at all, but they frequently exhibit the hallmark dry, tight asthma cough that is a symptom of the lungs trying to force the airways open.

Fortunately the airway obstruction is usually reversible, but a particularly severe case of asthma or under-treatment of a moderate case can cause permanent scar tissue to build up in the lungs. Over time, the scar tissue can result in reduced respiratory function.

Attaining good control of triggers and symptoms and developing a maintenance health plan is key to living well with asthma. Asthmatics who maintain good lung function and try to prevent flares can lead full, active, and healthy lives.