Asthma Disease and Causes
Asthma is a serious global health problem effecting people of all ages in all countries are affected by this chronic airway disorder that can be severe and sometimes fatal. The prevalence of asthma is increasing everywhere, especially among children. Asthma is a significant burden, not only in terms of health care costs but also of lost productivity and reduced participation in family life.

Based on the functional consequences of airway inflammation, an operational description of asthma is that:
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways in which many cells and cellular elements play a role. The chronic inflammation causes an associated increase in airway hyperresponsiveness that leads to recurrent episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing, particularly at night or in the early morning. These episodes are usually associated with widespread but variable airflow obstruction that is often reversible either spontaneously or with treatment.

Asthma in children and adults is frequently found in association with atopy, which is the production of abnormal amounts of immunoglobulin E (IgE) directed to epitopes expressed on common environmental allergens such as dust mites, animal proteins, pollens, and fungi. As a consequence the mast cell is sensitized and, when appropriately activated, initiates the inflammatory response. However, when expressed in the lower airways, atopy is one of the strongest risk factors for asthma.

There are 2 types of asthma, the classification of which is based on causes of asthma on the patient.

Allergic or extrinsic asthma (symptoms triggered by an allergic reaction): Characterized by airway obstruction and inflammation that is at least partially reversible with medication and is always associated with allergy. Allergic asthma is the most common form of asthma. Many of the symptoms of allergic and non-allergic asthma are the same (coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath or rapid breathing, and chest tightness). However, allergic asthma is triggered by inhaling allergens such as dust mites, pet dander, pollens, mold, etc. Through a complex reaction, these allergens cause the passages in the airways of the lungs to become inflamed and swollen. This results in coughing, wheezing and other asthma symptoms.

Non-Allergic or intrinsic asthma (symptoms triggered by factors not related to allergies): Characterized by airway obstruction and inflammation which is partially reversible with medication. Non-allergic asthma is triggered by other factors such as anxiety, stress, exercise, cold air, dry air, hyperventilation, smoke viruses or other irritants. In non-allergic asthma, the immune system is not involved in the reaction, as with allergic reaction.

With allergic and non-allergic asthma, it is primarily a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways. This causes two secondary symptoms:
(1) The bronchi, the airway branches leading to the lungs, become overly reactive and more sensitive to all kinds of asthma triggers such as allergens, cold and dry air, smoke and viruses.
(2) the lungs have difficulty moving air in and out, which is called airflow obstruction. Together, these symptoms cause the tertiary symptoms the coughing, wheezing, tight chest and worse.

Prevention.
If you ever had an allergic asthma keep out of allergy causing situations /conditions. Do not use cold water do not overexpose yourself to moisture and cold climate, keep away from dust, smoke, pollutents and pollens, Do not over excercise which you are not familiar. these seem to be helpfull in preventing asthma. But you can guess there is no guarentee you will not get asthma again.

Cure There is no gaurenteed cure for asthma,it can be controlled with medication.Controllers are medications taken daily on a long-term basis that are useful in getting and keeping persistent asthma under control. Controllers have been variably labeled as prophylactic, preventive, or maintenance medications and include anti-inflammatory agents and long-acting bronchodilators. Of all single medications, inhaled glucocorticosteroids are at present the most effective controllers. The so-called “antiallergic” agents may also be controllers, although there are insufficient data about their efficacy in the long-term management of asthma.Relievers include rapid-acting bronchodilators that act to relieve bronchoconstriction and its accompanying acute symptoms such as wheezing, chest tightness, and cough. Relievers have been variably labeled as quick-relief medicine or rescue medicine.

Controller Medications
Controller medications–medications used daily on a long- term basis to achieve and maintain control of persistent asthma–include inhaled glucocorticosteroids, systemic glu- cocorticosteroids, sodium cromoglycate (cromolyn sodium), nedocromil sodium, sustained-release theophylline, long-acting inhaled B2-agonists, long-acting oral B2-agonists, leukotriene modifiers, and systemic steroid-sparing therapies. Inhaled glucocorticosteroids are at present the most effective controller medications.

Inhaled glucocorticosteroids - Mode of administration–Inhaled. Mechanisms of action–Several studies have demonstrated that treatment with inhaled glucocorticosteroids for 1 month or more significantly reduces the pathological signs of airway inflammation in asthma. Airway hyperresponsiveness continues to improve with prolonged treatment.

Systemic glucocorticosteroids - Mode of administration–Oral (ingested) or parenteral. Mechanisms of action–The proposed mechanisms of action are the same as for inhaled glucocorticosteroids However, systemic glucocorticosteroids may reach different target cells than inhaled glucocorticosteroids.