Definition Of Asthma

More on asthma ...
Why is Asthma on the Rise?
Although several theories exist about why asthma rates have risen during the last two decades, there probably is no simple answer, says Calman Prussin, M.D., head of the clinical allergy and immunology unit at NIAID.

One theory is that people today, especially in developed countries, are spending more time indoors, Dr. Prussin says. We are therefore exposed to more indoor allergens, such as dust mite allergen, that cause asthma. 'Our houses are now hermetically sealed to save heating and cooling energy,' he notes, 'and unfortunately this causes more indoor allergen exposure.'

Another reason may be that people today live in cleaner, more sanitary conditions than they did before the industrial revolution, relatively free of disease-causing viruses and bacteria, he says. This clean living affects our immune system. The immune system's defensive white blood cells, called T cells, have two basic 'settings,' he explains. Th1 cells fight infectious viruses and bacteria. Th2 cells fight parasites but are also involved in allergic reactions.

'We are exposed to fewer viruses and bacteria than people were 100 years ago, so perhaps our immune systems have not learned to make Th1 cells as well,' Dr. Prussin says. 'That means we have a greater proportion of Th2 cells in our bodies, which might lead to more allergies and asthma.'

Other theories point to increased levels of air pollutants, a decline in the amount of exercise people get, or rising obesity as factors in the increase of asthma. - NIAID

Top Resource Searches For:

Definition Of Asthma

Definition
... Asthma. Definition. Asthma is defined by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA's consensus ... predisposing factor for the development of asthma. Most childhood asthma is allergic ...

Definition
... Definition, diagnosis and early intervention. DEFINITION. Asthma is a chronic airway disease characterized by ... higher (3), implying a doubling of asthma prevalence in 20 years time ...

Definition Asthma
... allergisches Asthma: Wenn der Heuschnupfen nicht auf die oberen Atemwege beschränkt bleibt, sondern sich vom ... führt dies zum Pollenasthma, welches sich in einem für "normalen ...

ASTHMA DEFINITION
Asthma Definition, ASTHMA DEFINITION, asthma,definition, asthmadefinition ... diagnosis for epidemiological studies An objective measure of asthma can be obtained in younger age ... recent study reports. Dr asthma definition asthma definition S Lewis, from City ...

Virtual Hospital: Asthma Education: Interactive Guidelines: Pathogenesis and Definition
... perspectives into an acceptable definition of asthma has begun to occur and ... knowledge, a working definition of asthma is: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways ...

Definition of Asthma
... Definition of asthma. Asthma is a chronic condition in your lungs that has ... When you have asthma, two things happen inside your lungs --- constriction, the tightening of the muscles ...

Asthma - Definition - Symptome - Erklärung - Prognose
Asthma bronchiale ist eine entzündliche Atemwegserkrankung, die mit einer gesteigerten Empfindlichkeit der Atemwege auf zahlreiche Reize und einer spontan oder medikamentös reversiblen ... ist der Vorläufer des manifesten Asthma bronchiale und sollte deshalb möglichst ...

asthma definition
Asthma: Definition and General Discussion. Asthma is a chronic lung disease. It cannot be cured only controlled. Airways are inflamed. That is, airway linings are swollen and red. Airways narrow and breathing becomes hard. ... For some, coughing may be the only symptom of asthma. Coughing often occurs during the night or after ...

MerckMedicus Modules: Asthma - Definition
... print page. Definition. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory pulmonary disorder that is characterized by ... worldwide increase in the prevalence of asthma in both children and adults ...

CSTE ANNUAL MEETING CSTE POSITION STATEMENT 1998
... Disease Committees. TITLE: Asthma Surveillance and Case Definition. ISSUE: National surveillance data ... consensus on a clinical definition of asthma, although standards of care have ...

ASTHMA DEFINITION
Information about asthma definition, symptoms, dog, cat, asthma definition ... were the strategies patients used to control asthma. asthma definition Antibiotic allergy ... don't think asthma is a serious condition. asthma definition Asthma medicines. Many have ...

WORKSHOP REPORT - CHAPTER 1 DEFINITION
KEY POINTS: Asthma - whatever the severity - is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. Airway inflammation is associated with airway hyperresponsiveness, airflow limitation, and respiratory symptoms. ... response in asthma leads to a more complete definition of asthma. This chapter provides the ... for a new definition of asthma based on the underlying pathology of airway inflammation ...

Chronic Pain Treatment | Definition Of Asthma