Asthma
Asthma is a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease which constricts the airway and generates an abnormal amount of mucus. Asthmas is typically associated episodic "attacks" which can be triggered by various factors. Common factors include physical exertion, environmental pollution, airborne allergens (pet dander, pollens, etc.), or stress.
Typically, an attack is accompanied by the constriction of the airways, causing a wheezing sound while breathing and increased heart rate. The attack may also cause a dry cough or a cough in which white sputum is produced. Chest tightness and shortness of breath are common symptoms of an oncoming asthma attack. Asthma can range greatly in severity, with some patients rarely experiencing symptoms while others may be in a near constant state of near asthmatic attack.
The easiest way to treat asthma is to identify triggers and avoid potential situations where triggers may induce attacks. However, there are pharmaceuticals which can quell an attack allow asthmatics to operate freely within potential trigger situations. The most common treatments are called bronchodilators and are more commonly referred to as simply "inhalers." These gas-based medicines reduce the attack symptoms and relax the respiratory system so that asthmatics airways free up and circulation returns to normal levels. For mild to moderately severe asthmatics, there is typically no other medication necessary. These inhalers are typically fit with a regulator so that exact dosage can be administered and mixed with inhaled air correctly.
Asthmas is diagnosed in approximately 6% of children in the United States, an incidence that has risen almost 75% in recent decades. Incidence is often higher in urban areas, likely due to increased air and environmental pollution.