Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways — causing narrowing, swelling, and excess mucus production making breathing difficult.
Asthma Mechanism:
- Chronic inflammation: Airway lining is continuously inflamed — even without symptoms.
- Bronchospasm: Muscles around airways contract — narrowing air passages.
- Mucus production: Thick mucus blocks airways — difficulty exhaling.
- Hyperresponsiveness: Airways are sensitive to triggers that don't affect normal people.
Causes in Children:
- Genetics: Strongest factor — if both parents affected, risk is 60-80%.
- Allergies: Dust, dust mites, pollen, pet dander.
- Respiratory infections: RSV in early childhood increases risk.
Causes in Adults:
- Environmental pollution: Vehicle and factory emissions.
- Smoking: Active or passive — most avoidable cause.
- Occupational: Chemicals, wood dust, paint.
- Gastric reflux: GERD causes asthma that improves with stomach treatment.
At BEIT TARIQ Center, we evaluate asthma accurately and identify triggers for each patient.