what is asthma
Asthma What is Asthma? Asthma is a disease of the respiratory system. ... Asthma causes the muscles around the airways tighten, or "spasm" and the lining inside the airways swell and thicken, and get clogged with lots of thick mucus. This makes the airways much thinner than usual so it is harder to move air in and out of the lungs causing an asthma attack and making it hard to breathe. Because asthma causes resistance to exhale air, it is called an obstructive lung disease. ... The causes and triggers of asthma: Some things that can lead to, or trigger asthma are: · Pollution · Allergies · Infections · Exercise · Weather · Smoke · Bacteria · Dust Mites Asthma in Australia Over two million Australians have asthma: one in four primary school children, one in seven teenagers, and one in ten adults.