What is Asthma?

Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the air passages, making them prone to narrowing and increased mucus production. It becomes difficult to move air in and out of the lungs. Symptoms include wheeze, shortness of breath, chest tightness and cough.

Follow the links below to find information on symptoms and how to recognise asthma.

Reviewed July 2011

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19 Resources Found

Results 1 to 19 displayed.

Title:	Your lungs
Publisher:	Child and Youth Health - CYH (South Australia)
Description:	Why do we need air? Because we could not survive without the oxygen in the air that we breathe.
Date:	Apr 2011

Title:	Asthma - what is asthma?
Publisher:	Child and Youth Health - CYH (South Australia)
Description:	What is asthma? It is a disease that affects the airways in the lungs, making them go narrow for a few hours or sometimes days, so that it is harder for air to get through.
Date:	May 2010

Title:	Animation: asthma attack - myDr.com.au
Publisher:	myDr
Description:	This animation shows what happens to the airways in an asthma attack triggered by inhaling airborne allergens.
Date:	May 2010

Title:	Asthma
Publisher:	Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing
Description:	Information about what asthma is and how you can control it.
Date:	Apr 2010

Title:	Bronchial asthma and cardiac asthma - myDr.com.au
Publisher:	myDr
Description:	Find out the difference between cardiac and bronchial asthma.
Date:	Jan 2010

Title:	Asthma and older people - myDr.com.au
Publisher:	myDr
Description:	Find out about the diagnosis and management of asthma in older adults.
Date:	Nov 2009

Title:	Asthma and your airways - myDr.com.au
Publisher:	myDr
Description:	Asthma causes airway narrowing, which makes breathing difficult by reducing the amount of air that can travel in and out of the lungs.
Date:	Sep 2009

Title:	Lung function tests - myDr.com.au
Publisher:	myDr
Description:	Learn how to prepare for a lung function test, and find out why lung function tests are useful management tools for people with asthma.
Date:	Aug 2009

Title:	Spirometry resources
Publisher:	National Asthma Council Australia (NAC)
Description:	Spirometry is the lung function test of choice for both diagnosis and assessment of asthma.
Date:	Mar 2008

Title:	Spirometry: the measurement and interpretation of ventilatory function in clinical practice
Publisher:	National Asthma Council Australia (NAC)
Description:	This handbook was written as a guide for those involved in the performance and interpretation of spirometry in clinical practice, i.e. medical practitioners and assisting nursing staff, and as an introduction to the topic for scientists and technicians. Also known as: Spirometry Handbook 1995.
Date:	Mar 2008

Title:	Spirometer users' and buyers' guide
Publisher:	Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing
Description:	Spirometry is the most commonly used method for assessing lung function. It is one of the primary tools used worldwide for the diagnosis, assessment and management of many respiratory diseases including asthma and COPD.
Date:	Oct 2007

Title:	Asthma and pets - myDr.com.au
Publisher:	myDr
Description:	Many people with asthma find that animals can trigger a reaction. Find out how you can cope if you are allergic to your pet.
Date:	Aug 2007

Title:	Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among older people in Australia: deaths and hospitalisations
Publisher:	Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Description:	Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can together be described as obstructive lung disease. This report examines recent data on deaths and hospitalisations among people aged 55 years and over when asthma or COPD are recorded as one of multiple causes of death or hospital diagnoses.
Date:	Sep 2006

Title:	Asthma: symptoms
Publisher:	Raising Children Network (RCN)
Description:	A guide to recognising the symptoms of asthma in young children.
Date:	Aug 2006

Title:	Asthma and lung function tests: an information paper for health professionals
Publisher:	Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing,National Asthma Council Australia (NAC)
Description:	The aim of this paper is to provide an up-to-date evidence-based summary of the issues around lung function testing in asthma, including practical advice
Date:	Mar 2005

Title:	Asthma and allergy: a guide for health professionals
Publisher:	Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA),Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing
Description:	The aim of this paper is to provide an up-to-date,evidence-based summary of allergy and asthma management issues including practical advice on allergen avoidance.
Date:	Mar 2005

Title:	Asthma and lung function tests
Publisher:	Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing,National Asthma Council Australia (NAC)
Description:	Your doctor may ask you to have a lung function test (a breathing test) to help identify if you have asthma or work out how severe your asthma is. There are two breathing tests used for asthma - spirometry and peak flow measurement.
Date:	Mar 2005

Title:	Obesity and asthma - myDr.com.au
Publisher:	myDr
Description:	While there appears to be much evidence that being obese is a risk factor for developing asthma, there is also evidence to the contrary.
Date:	Nov 2003

Title:	Basic tests of respiratory function
Publisher:	Australian Prescriber
Description:	Respiratory function tests are part of the clinical assessment of many respiratory diseases. The tests can measure individual parts of the respiratory process and, therefore, need to be selected appropriately.
Date:	Jan 2000

Results 1 to 19 displayed.