Asthma and Airway Centre

Managing Asthma

Your Asthma Fact Sheet

Oxygen
Our bodies depend on oxygen to function. Oxygen enters our lungs from the air we breathe. As we breathe in through our mouth or nose, air passes down the trachea (windpipe) then to the lungs. Here the airways or bronchial tubes divide in smaller branches as they get deeper into the lungs, ending in small air sacs called alveoli. The alveoli are surrounded by a network of tiny blood vessels called capillaries. Here, oxygen is transferred from the alveoli to our blood. At the same time, carbon dioxide from our blood is passed to the alveoli and is forced out when we breathe out.

Obstruction
With asthma, airway changes block the free flow of air in and out of the lungs. These changes may produce one or more of the symptoms of asthma such as breathlessness, wheeze, chest discomfort, cough or sputum (phlegm) production.

Attack

During an asthma attack, the following changes in the airways may be seen:

Inflamed airways are swollen with fluid and inflammatory cells, filled with mucus, and have damage to their lining cells. The combination of bronchospasm (muscles around airways tighten) and inflammation (swelling within the airways) causes the airways to be narrow. It is now well recognized that inflammation is perhaps the most important feature of asthma and is what leads to the irritability or "twitchiness" of the muscle surrounding the airways.

The muscles surrounding the bronchial tubes contract excessively (bronchospasm), causing the airways to narrow.
The lining is red and swollen (inflamed) causing further narrowing.
Sticky mucus secretions block the airways.

Triggers
There may be many factors or "triggers" which set off an asthma attack and they can be different for each person with asthma. People with asthma frequently have a history of allergies and may have family members with asthma or allergies.

Treatment
At the present time, we have no cure for asthma. However, researchers are working on developing new medications and research toward finding a cure. In the meantime, the goal of treatment is to keep you feeling well with few, if any, attacks of breathlessness and wheezing with the best possible lung function.

Principles of Management

Avoidance of triggers where possible (except exercise)
Prompt treatment of acute attacks
Prevention of asthma attacks and symptoms

The Asthma Education Handbook outlines these principles. You should discuss your treatment of asthma with your doctor.

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