What is Asthma?

Asthma is a lung disease characterized by diffuse and cough, shortness of breath and wheezing (whistling sound from chest).

It is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways within the lungs. The defining characteristic of asthma is inflammation of the bronchi, leading to become thicker and stronger light, to produce more mucus and muscle fibers to contract more easily.

The bronchi are inflamed excessively irritable and very sensitive to contact with various substances and inhalants in certain situations, stimuli which together are called agents triggers. The consequence of inflammation of the bronchi and the decline of his caliber is that the passage of current or flow of air through it is more difficult, and this ultimately causes the symptoms of the disease. In asthma, the narrowing of the bronchi can be changed in a short period of time, so the symptoms are very variable, worsen or alleviation as more or less intense obstacle to the passage of air.

It is estimated that in Puerto Rico for 15 percent of the adult population and as much as 30 percent of children and adolescents have symptoms associated with asthma. Killing some 250 people annually in Puerto Rico because of asthma.

Asthma symptoms:
Cough: usually accesses and prevalence of night and morning, or in connection with the emotions (to laugh or mourn) or physical exercise.

Wheezing or whistles: noise in the form of horns or whistles to breathe.

Chest tightness, many times expressed as sensation of weight or tension in the chest.

Dyspnea or fatigue: difficulty breathing that the child may manifest as breath or wheezing. In severe cases, fatigue forced to remain the child to sit and can affect your ability to speak or even to eat (especially in children small).