Final answer:
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the respiratory system, causing symptoms such as difficulty breathing, wheezing, and chest tightness due to the narrowing of the airways and mucus production. It can be managed with medications and by avoiding environmental triggers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Asthma: A Chronic Respiratory Disease
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the respiratory system, characterized by episodic inflammation of the airways. This inflammation leads to swelling, narrowing of the airways, and often excessive mucus production. During an asthma attack, these conditions can obstruct the airways and make breathing difficult, manifesting in symptoms like difficulty breathing, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. The obstruction in asthma could be due to several factors including edema, smooth muscle spasms, mucus secretion, and damage to epithelial cells of the airways.
Environmental triggers can initiate the inflammatory response, which in turn may lead to bronchospasms, an acute constriction of the bronchioles that severely restricts the flow of air. Managing asthma generally involves taking medications to control the inflammation and to relax the airway muscles, as well as avoiding known triggers that could exacerbate the condition.