QUESTION: What is asthma?

Bronchial asthma is a serious chronic respiratory disease characterized by persistent inflammation and hyper-reactivity of the airways in response to various external factors.

The main clinical symptoms of this condition include periodically recurring shortness of breath, wheezing, a feeling of chest tightness, and a nagging cough that often troubles the patient at night or early in the morning.

The onset of an attack or worsening of well-being can be triggered by a variety of triggers, among which house dust, plant pollen, animal dander, cold air, tobacco smoke, and intense physical exertion stand out.

To relieve symptoms and maintain control over the disease, patients use special inhalers that deliver medications directly into the bronchi to widen the airways and reduce inflammation.

Every person with such a diagnosis needs to develop an individualized written action plan with a pulmonologist in case of a sharp exacerbation, so they know what doses of medication to take and when to call an ambulance.