Asthma: Over the Counter Treatment »
What is asthma?
The cause of asthma is unknown. More is known about the abnormal conditions
that occur in asthma. These conditions include (1) hyper-responsiveness
(contraction) of the muscles of the breathing airways in response to many
stimuli such as exercise or allergies (for example, drugs, food additives, dust mites,
animal fur, and mold), (2) inflammation of the airways, (3) shedding of the
tissue lining the airways, (4) increased secretion of mucus in the airways, and
(5) swelling of the walls of the airways with fluid. All of these conditions
narrow the airways and make breathing difficult. Symptoms of asthma include
wheezing (the hallmark of asthma), coughing, difficulty breathing, and
tightness of the chest. Asthma is diagnosed by the presence of wheezing, but
it can be confirmed by breathing tests (spirometry) that evaluate the movement of air into
and out of the lungs.
What medications are used to treat asthma?
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