Final answer:
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the respiratory system that causes inflammation and fibrosis of the bronchial wall. Inflammation obstructs the airways, leading to the narrowing of the airways and difficulty breathing.
Step-by-step explanation:
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the respiratory system in which the airways periodically become inflamed, causing swelling and narrowing of the airways. This inflammation and fibrosis of the bronchial wall is seen in asthma, where environmental factors trigger the inflammation and subsequent obstruction of the airways. The obstruction may be due to edema, smooth muscle spasms, increased mucus secretion, damage to the airway epithelia, or a combination of these events.