The Healthy Temple

Asthma affects a person’s bronchial (pronounced: brahn-kee-ul) tubes, also known as airways. When a person breathes normally, air is taken in through the nose or mouth and then goes into the trachea (windpipe), passing through the bronchial tubes, into the lungs, and finally back out again. But people with asthma have airways that are inflamed. This means that they swell and produce lots of thick mucus. They are also overly sensitive, or hyperactive, to certain things, like exercise, dust, or cigarette smoke. This hyperctivity causes the smooth muscle that surrounds the airways to tighten up. The combination of airway inflammation and muscle tightening narrows the airways and makes it difficult for air to move through.
Asthma attacks are not all the same—some are worse than others. In a severe asthma attack, the airways can close so much that not enough oxygen gets to vital organs. This condition is a medical emergency. People can die from severe asthma attacks.
Air pollution indoors and out: some research shows that people who live near major highways and other polluted places are more likely to get asthma. Also, kids who grow up in a home with mould or dust may be more likely to get asthma.
Work-related asthma (occupational exposure): People who work in certain types of jobs can get asthma from things they work with. For example:
• Laboratory workers can get asthma from lab animals: rats, mice, guinea-pigs
• Spray painters can get asthma from isocyanates
• Grain handlers can get asthma from grain dust
• Crab processors can get asthma from crab dust