Asthma is a chronic health condition characterised by inflammation of the airways of the lungs. This inflammation makes the airways highly sensitive.

The characteristic symptoms of asthma include breathlessness; wheezing (a whistling sound in the chest); chest tightness; and cough. Decreasing or variable peak flow meter readings, which measure the maximum rate of air flow from the lungs.

Because people with asthma have sensitive airways, when they are exposed to certain trigger factors (such as some medications or things to which they are allergic), their over-sensitive airways narrow, reducing the airflow through them, resulting in noticeable asthma symptoms. The reduced airflow is due to inflammation of the lining of the airway, extra production of mucus in the airway and the tightening of the smooth muscles around the airways. This tightening is called bronchoconstriction.

If asthma is untreated, the chronic inflammation of the airways may eventually lead to permanent damage of the airways.

Lots of factors contribute to the development of asthma, for example, a family history of the condition, and there are lots of things that can trigger asthma symptoms if a susceptible person is exposed to them. for example dust mites, Pollens, moulds Even exercise.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a long-term chronic condition that obstructs the airways in the lungs. Often the term COPD is used to describe chronic bronchitis and emphysema. COPD causes increasing shortness of breath, leading to impairment in the activities of daily living and a gradual loss of quality of life. Chronic bronchitis is, as its name suggests, a chronic inflammation of the airways (bronchi) in the lungs. Bronchitis results in the lungs producing too much of the mucus they make to keep the bronchi moist. This causes coughing and narrowing of the airways, making it more difficult for air to flow freely. As a result people become breathless. This makes it extremely difficult to breathe in and out.

Long-term smoking causes the vast majority of cases of emphysema and chronic bronchitis. In some cases COPD can also result from occupational exposure to dust or chemical fumes. Air pollution can aggravate the symptoms of COPD.

COPD may be more likely to occur in children who develop respiratory symptoms due to viral or bacterial infections.