Asthma

- "Asthma is a long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs."

- "Symptoms include episodes of wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath."

- "These may occur a few times a day or a few times per week."

- "Environmental factors include exposure to air pollution and allergens."

- "Other potential triggers include medications such as aspirin and beta blockers."

- "Diagnosis is usually based on the pattern of symptoms, response to therapy over time, and spirometry lung function testing."

- "Asthma is classified according to the frequency of symptoms, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and peak expiratory flow rate."

- "It may also be classified as atopic or non-atopic, where atopy refers to a predisposition toward developing a type 1 hypersensitivity reaction."

- "There is no known cure for asthma, but it can be controlled."

- "Symptoms can be prevented by avoiding triggers, such as allergens and respiratory irritants."

- "Suppressed with the use of inhaled corticosteroids."

- "Long-acting beta agonists (LABA) or antileukotriene agents may be used in addition to inhaled corticosteroids."

- "Treatment of rapidly worsening symptoms is usually with an inhaled short-acting beta-2 agonist such as salbutamol and corticosteroids taken by mouth."

- "In very severe cases, intravenous corticosteroids, magnesium sulfate, and hospitalization may be required."

- "In 2019 asthma affected approximately 262 million people."

- "Most of the deaths occurred in the developing world."

- "Asthma often begins in childhood."

- "The rates have increased significantly since the 1960s."

- "Asthma was recognized as early as Ancient Egypt."

- "The word 'asthma' is from the Greek ἆσθμα, âsthma, which means 'panting'."