How Does Asthma Affect the Lungs?

The lungs are made up of many tiny tubes. These tubes are called bronchioles. The bronchioles carry air in and out of the lungs. In a normal airway, air moves freely through the bronchioles and breathing is easy.

When asthma is not under good control, there are 3 changes in the airways that make it hard to breathe. All of these make the airways smaller. When the airways get smaller it is hard to get air in and out. This can cause wheezing, coughing and trouble breathing.

Listed Below Are the 3 Ways the Airways Change When Asthma Is Not Under Good Control:

1. Muscles tighten around the airway. Your airways have muscles around them that are usually loose. When you have asthma, these muscles can tighten.
2. Inflammation (swelling) inside the airways. The walls thicken and make the space in the airways smaller.
3. Mucus plugs up the airway. Mucus is a thick liquid. Mucus normally protects the nose, throat, and airways. This mucus can plug the airways.

Signs and Symptoms of Asthma:

When asthma is not well-controlled, symptoms may include:

Cough

• An asthma cough is usually dry and hard to stop. The cough is not just from a cold.
• Asthma coughs often happen at night or after running or playing hard. The cough does not go away.

Wheezing

• Wheezing is a high-pitched sound.
• It is caused when your body needs to push hard to get the air out of the lungs.

Trouble being active

• Regular daily activities like exercising, playing, sports or even walking upstairs can be hard to do.
• Children will often have to stop playing because it is hard to breathe.
• Decreased activity is caused by not being able to breathe easily.

Chest tightness

• People with asthma often feel like their chest is tight or heavy when their asthma is not under good control.
• People feel that they can’t get a good breath in because their chest is too tight.
• This may feel like an elephant is standing on your chest.
  

When these symptoms are happening, call the provider. This means the asthma is not under good control. Medicine doses may need to be changed, or new medicine added.

To Learn More, Watch These Videos:

What is Asthma?

Symptoms of Asthma

This education was created to help you. It does not take the place of medical care. Talk with the healthcare provider for diagnosis, treatment, and follow up.

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