1 00:00:00,690 --> 00:00:04,910 Asthma is a long-term condition that can be managed but not cured. 2 00:00:06,370 --> 00:00:13,169 It starts with a go or a whiz. Soon your chest feels tight, your breathing speeds up. 3 00:00:14,429 --> 00:00:17,129 These are common symptoms of an asthma attack. 4 00:00:17,609 --> 00:00:24,690 Around the world, more than 300 million people suffer from asthma and 250,000 people die from it each year. 5 00:00:24,690 --> 00:00:31,690 But why people get asthma and how can this disease be deadly? 6 00:00:31,690 --> 00:00:38,689 Asthma affects the respiratory system, particularly the smaller airways, such as the bronchi and the bronchioli. 7 00:00:38,689 --> 00:00:45,689 These airways have an inner lining called the mucosa that's surrounded by a layer of a small muscle. 8 00:00:45,689 --> 00:00:53,689 In people with asthma, the airways are chronically inflamed, which can make them hyper-responsible to certain triggers. 9 00:00:53,689 --> 00:01:02,890 Some of many asthma triggers include tobacco smoke, pollen, dust, fragrances, exercise, 10 00:01:02,890 --> 00:01:06,750 cool weather, stress and even the common cold. 11 00:01:06,750 --> 00:01:12,829 When people with asthma are exposed to these triggers, an asthma attack or exacerbation 12 00:01:12,829 --> 00:01:14,769 can occur. 13 00:01:14,769 --> 00:01:19,609 But how exactly do such everyday factors lead to an asthma attack? 14 00:01:19,609 --> 00:01:24,349 If an asthmatic is exposed to trigger, the smooth rings of muscle that circulate the 15 00:01:24,349 --> 00:01:28,170 small airways in the lungs contract and become narrow. 16 00:01:28,170 --> 00:01:33,329 Simultaneously, the trigger worsens inflammation, causing the mucosal lining to become more 17 00:01:33,329 --> 00:01:35,790 swollen and secrete more mucus. 18 00:01:35,790 --> 00:01:41,030 Under normal conditions, the body uses the mucus to trap and clear particles, like pollen 19 00:01:41,030 --> 00:01:46,769 or dust, but during an asthma attack, it blocks the narrowed airways, making it even harder 20 00:01:46,769 --> 00:01:47,769 to breathe. 21 00:01:47,769 --> 00:01:53,769 this effect lead to symptoms of asthma smooth muscle constriction results in the feeling of 22 00:01:53,769 --> 00:02:00,489 chest tightness excess mucus and increase of inflammation can cause cough and the wheezing 23 00:02:00,489 --> 00:02:07,209 noise that happens because the airway constricts air whistles and passes through the narrowed space 24 00:02:08,250 --> 00:02:13,610 these symptoms may make a person feel like they are running out of air during an asthma attack 25 00:02:13,610 --> 00:02:19,930 the inflammation can make it harder to exhale and inhale. Over time, this leads to an excess of air 26 00:02:19,930 --> 00:02:26,090 in lungs. A phenomenon known as hyperinflation, the dropping of air inside the lungs forces the 27 00:02:26,090 --> 00:02:32,810 body to work harder to move air in and out of them. Over time, this can lead to reduced oxygen 28 00:02:32,810 --> 00:02:37,770 delivery to the body's organs and tissues. Sometimes, it can lead to death from lack of 29 00:02:37,770 --> 00:02:43,370 oxygen. So how do we prevent these fatal attacks in people with asthma? One way is to reduce the 30 00:02:43,370 --> 00:02:48,729 presence of triggers unfortunately the world is at a predictable place that can't always be controlled 31 00:02:49,530 --> 00:02:55,689 this is where inhalers come in this medication helps asthmatics to prevent their asthma symptoms 32 00:02:55,689 --> 00:03:01,050 inhalers transport medication along the affected areas to treat the problem that at its source 33 00:03:01,849 --> 00:03:08,810 they come into form ones which treat symptoms immediately and contain beta agonist relaxed 34 00:03:08,810 --> 00:03:15,370 constricted muscles allowing the airways to widen so more air can travel into and out of the lung. 35 00:03:15,370 --> 00:03:21,689 The other form of inhalers which treats asthma symptoms over the long term contain corticosteroids. 36 00:03:21,689 --> 00:03:27,449 Corticosteroids reduce airway sensibility and inflammation so asthma can be kept under control. 37 00:03:27,449 --> 00:03:31,530 They are also crucial in preventing long-term damage from chronic inflammation. 38 00:03:32,090 --> 00:03:37,129 Inhalers are known to be very effective although we've come a long way improving we still don't 39 00:03:37,129 --> 00:03:43,610 know its exact cause. Currently, we believe that a combination of genetic and environmental 40 00:03:43,610 --> 00:03:49,530 factors play a role in potential action during early childhood. This may be due to exposure 41 00:03:49,530 --> 00:03:55,289 to additional pollutants and environmental irritants. As our understanding of asthma improves, 42 00:03:55,289 --> 00:03:59,689 we can continue to find better ways to keep people's airways happy and healthy.