Asthma
By Colton Lewis
Definition, Cause and Symptoms
Definition?
A respiratory condition marked by spasms in the bronchi of the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing. It usually results from an allergic reaction or other forms of hypersensitivity.What Causes it?
Asthma is a genetic origin and you are born with it. It gets passed down from generation. Us people with asthma have super sensitive airways, so when people do a thing like running, it triggers us and we usually have to take a break or use our safety inhalers.
Symptoms?
- Coughing, a lot at night
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness, pains, or pressure
"Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America - Information About Asthma, Allergies, Food Allergies and More!" Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America - Information About Asthma, Allergies, Food Allergies and More! N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2013. <http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=8>.
"Symptoms of Asthma: Shortness of Breath, Chest Tightness, and More." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2013. <http://www.webmd.com/asthma/guide/asthma-symptoms>.
Stats Diagnose, testing and Prevention
• More than half (53%) of people with asthma had an asthma attack in 2008. More children (57%) than adults (51%) had an attack. 185 children and 3,262 adults died from asthma in 2007.2
• About 1 in 10 children (10%) had asthma and 1 in 12 adults (8%) had asthma in 2009. Women were more likely than men and boys more likely than girls to have asthma.
Diagnosing
Knowing the symptoms you are having and going to see your doctor is the major way to figure out if you have asthma.
"Lung Function Tests for Asthma." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2013. <http://www.webmd.com/asthma/guide/lung-function-tests-asthma>.
Testing
A simple breathing test is usually done and the usually will ask about your past and your ancestors.
Prevention
You cannot prevent asthma, but there are steps that you must take to keep it under control if you have it.
"How Can Asthma Be Prevented?" - NHLBI, NIH. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013. <http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/asthma/prevention.html>.
Picture Citation
"Kennebec Pharmacy & Home Care." Nebulizer Supplies. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013. <http://kennebecpharmacy.com/nebulizers>.
"GPS- and WiFi-Enabled Asthma Inhaler Sends Epidemiology Data As It Helps You Breathe." Popular Science. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013. <http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-04/gps-and-wifi-enabled-inhaler-pumps-out-air-quality-and-epidemiology-data>.
"What Is Asthma?" - NHLBI, NIH. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013. <http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/asthma/>.
"Turning Discovery Into Health – Asthma | NIH MedlinePlus the Magazine." U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013. <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/issues/fall11/articles/fall11pg4.html>.
"Asthma Library - Biblioteca De Asma." Asthma Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013. <http://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/library/asthma-library.aspx>.