The respiratory system is responsible of supplying oxygen to the body. Blood replenishes the oxygen it has distributed to the cells in the lungs. When we breathe, we inhale air through the mouth and nose, into the trachea, through the airways, and into the lungs. The lungs have terminals called the bronchi where the blood is replenished with fresh oxygen. When we exhale we liberate into the atmosphere carbon dioxide that has been taken from the blood in exchange for the oxygen in the lungs. This is basically the breathing process which keeps us alive. A continuous supply of air is absolutely necessary for our body to work properly and for all organs to perform their functions.
Asthma is a disease that narrows and sometimes, in severe cases, closes the airways. Asthma is a chronic disease; this means it is a long-term disease. It usually starts at an early age but due to specific circumstances can also develop in adults. The airways are delicate, extremely sensitive tubes which allow air in and out of the lungs, when they are irritated by foreign matters the muscles surrounding them press together and try to block the airway to avoid these foreign matters to get into the lungs. As the muscles press together and the airway narrows, mucus is produced inside of them to trap the foreign substance so it will not reach the lungs.
When a person has asthma, his airways are always swollen. They never have the opening and space that a non-asthmatic persons airways have. The airways of an asthmatic person react strongly and aggressively against certain foreign substances found in the air. Sometimes the irritation and reaction is mild and it will go away alone. Other times medication is required to open up the airways. In extreme cases, or asthma attacks the airways can be blocked completely and the person can experience respiratory failure which may lead to death.
The initial symptoms of an attack are shortness of breath, agitated chest movement, tightness of breath, and the person feels that he needs more air but can’t get it. When these symptoms start the person starts coughing and wheezing, you can hear a sort of whistling sound coming from his chest as the air tries to squeeze through the blocked passage. The cough is the body’s reaction to expelling the mucus liberated to trap the foreign object blocking the airway. The cough is also the lungs reaction to the lack of air and the need to open the airways to allow oxygen in and carbon dioxide out.
Most asthma attacks begin during the night or during the early morning hours. This is also the time when the cough gets worst. It is highly recommended that a person suffering an asthma attack does not lie down completely to sleep. He must remain in an almost sitting position that will not put pressure from the rest of the body, on the lungs and blocked airways. This is specially recommended for overweight asthmatics because in certain positions their belly can push up on the lungs and make breathing even harder.