Asthma
Asthma is when the pipes in your lungs (bronchi) become inflamed and tighten. This causes wheeze, cough and often shortness of breath. It may be only when you are exercising, or it may be severe and wake you from your sleep. It can be diagnosed based on your history and breathing tests.
In some people, the asthma is triggered by infections, others by something at work and others still by common allergens such as house dust mite. It is possible to determine if the allergens are a major cause by performing skin testing. No matter what the cause, it is essential that it is well controlled with medications in the first instance. New research has shown that in those patients with allergens as a major contributor, desensitisation can be very effective.
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