Asthma causes the airways of the lungs (the bronchi) to become inflamed and swollen. The bronchi are small tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. If you have asthma, the bronchi are more sensitive than normal and certain substances or triggers can irritate them. Common triggers include house dust mites, animal fur, pollen, tobacco smoke, cold air and chest infections. When the bronchi are irritated, they become narrow and the muscles around them tighten which can increase the production of sticky mucus or phlegm. This makes it difficult to breathe and causes wheezing and coughing and it may make your chest feel tight. The severity of the symptoms of asthma differs from person to person, from mild to severe. The narrowing of the airways is usually reversible – occurring naturally, or through the use of medicines. However, for some people with chronic (long-lasting) asthma, the inflammation may lead to an irreversible obstruction of the airways. A severe onset of symptoms is known as an asthma attack or ‘acute asthma exacerbation’. Asthma attacks can be life-threatening and may require hospital treatment.

Triggers…

In 2005 in the UK, 1318 deaths were caused by asthma. Over 5m people in the UK have asthma. Asthma in adults is more common amongst women than men. The cause of asthma is not fully understood but it is thought to be a combination of genetic (inherited) and environmental factors. Asthma often runs in families and you can inherit the susceptibility to asthma which is then triggered by certain factors in the environment. Factors include exposure to air pollutants such as cigarette smoke or certain substances that can cause allergic reactions (allergens) such as pollen or animal fur.

How Yoga can help a child with Asthma and Bronchitis…

By regular exercise of Yoga postures and breathing, the constriction of the bronchial tubes gets very much reduced. Slowly the capacity of bronchial tubes increases to a great extent. By this type of performance once can control the attack of asthma to a great extent. Chest opening postures can also help to clear the lungs of mucus lining the airways.