THE BEECHMONT CREST MEDICAL ZONE
Asthma
What is asthma?
- Asthma is a condition in which the airways constrict, causing shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing.
- Asthma is a chronic, incurable condition. However, asthma can be controlled with treatment; and acute asthma attacks can be relieved with the proper medicines. With access to anti-asthmatic drugs, most asthmatics are able to live normal lives.
Asthma trends:
Asthma and demographics
- About 17 to 18 million people in the United States are afflicted by asthma. Asthma cases are on the rise. In the 1980s, there was 40% increase in the number of Americans that asthma affects. Asthma cases have risen notably among urban Hispanics and African-Americans
Childhood asthma on the rise
- There also has been a notable increase in asthma among children in recent decades.
- This trend may be attributable to immunological changes brought about by the widespread use of vaccines and antibiotics. According to this theory, the vaccinations and antibiotics that prevent and treat various diseases have obviated the need for some lymphocytes to perform their infection-fighting functions. Instead of fighting infection, these lymphocytes generate chemical substances that trigger allergic reactions in the body.
- Another theory is that children have become less immune in recent years because they typically spend more time in insulated environments where they cannot develop normal resistance to allergens.
