Doctors are not entirely certain what causes asthma. However, they do know that it stems from the lungs over-reacting to every day airborne substances. Asthma attacks can stem from a cold, or from an intolerance to dust, cigarette smoke, feathers and pollen. The fur of pets can be a trigger, as can medications such as aspirin. Even emotional responses like laughing and crying can play a role. Knowing these basic facts about asthma can help a lot.

Three changes take place in the lungs during an asthma attack. The air tubes become clogged with thick mucus, as a result of overproduction of mucus in the cells. The air tubes swell and the muscles in the air tubes become tight. This all results in breathing difficulties. Breathing difficulties are one of the most prominent facts about asthma.

One of the facts about asthma attacks is that it may happen suddenly, or take longer to develop, sometimes even days. Signs of an attack include coughing, wheezing, tightness in the chest, feelings of restlessness and fatigue. A peak-flow meter, which is a small device that the patient blows into, can herald an attack even before you experience symptoms.

A severe attack will leave you feeling breathless and you might find it hard to talk. Your extremities, such as your fingertips, may develop a bluish or greyish tinge. Your score on a peak-flow metre will be less than 50% of your normal score.

In a moderate attack, you may cough up mucus and you may make a wheezing or whistling sound when you breathe. You may also feel more restless than usual. After an attack, seek medical help if your peak flow doesn’t return to normal with medication and if the person still has trouble breathing.

Aside from attacks, there are other facts about asthma to look out for which indicate asthma. They include coughing, wheezing and whistling sounds in the chest, difficulty exhaling trapped air, a heavy, tight feeling on the chest, fatigue and being winded easily.

It can be difficult to spot asthma in very young children. Instead, you may notice that they breathe noisily, that they cough a lot, that exercise tires them more than other children and that they may stop exercising to prevent the onset of symptoms.

Another fact about asthma are the inhalers. Inhalers are the first line of defence for treatment. They deliver small amounts of medicine to the affected areas. They are classed in three groups.

1. Reliever inhalers relax the muscles in the airways during an attack.
   
   
2. Preventer inhalers are taken every day to guard against attacks. They are based on steroids.
   
   
3. A bronchodilator inhaler may be used on a long term basis in tandem with a steroid inhaler if symptoms cannot be controlled with a steroid inhaler alone.

For long-term relief of symptoms, patients may take a short course of steroids such as prednisolone. In the most severe cases, an amalzumab injection has been shown to be effective.

Fortunately, asthma can be controlled. If you learn the facts about asthma, what triggers asthma and consult with your doctor regularly, you should be able to live a normal life.

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