Only an asthmatic can understand what it means to wake up in the middle of the night with severe breathlessness. The congestion, wheezing and tightness in the chest, can make even brave hearts panic. Asthma can severely cripple our lifestyles –that is only if you fail to manage it properly. 

Thankfully Asthma can be managed. And to do so you have to understand the disease first. 

We will first start with defining what asthma actually is.

When you have asthma, the lining of the airways becomes inflamed, swollen and an increase in mucus production occurs. These changes can narrow or block the airways, obstructing the flow of air and cause wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. Inflamed airways are more sensitive and more likely to cause breathing problems. 

The flow of air is also obstructed when the muscles surrounding the airways tighten, causing them to narrow.