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Asthma: The basics

What is asthma?

Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the lung. This inflammatory process can occur along the entire airway from the nose to the lung. Once the airway becomes swollen and inflamed, it becomes narrower, and less air gets through to the lung tissue. This causes symptoms like wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and trouble breathing.

During an asthma attack, the muscles around the airways tighten up and the asthma symptoms become even worse than usual.