Asthma is a chronic lung disease occurring when the airways become narrowed and inflamed. The sensitive airways then react strongly to whatever substance is being inhaled, causing the cells in the airway to produce more mucus than usual and less air flow. Asthma usually starts during childhood, but it affects people of all ages. In the United States alone, 28% of the 25 million people with asthma are children (National Institutes of Health, 2014). On the international side of things, the exact prevalence of asthma is not known, but studies have shown the disparity of asthma is narrowing because of a rising prevalence in low/middle income countries due to Westernization and a "plateauing" in high income countries. Because asthma is such a broad disease, severity varies widely with each case, but asthma typically ranges from mild intermittent (low risk) to severe persistent (high risk).
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[Healthguru]. (2007, November 28). Understanding Asthma (Asthma #1). [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82gn_rDRpHk
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[NHS Choices]. (2010, February 24). Asthma: an animation. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EDo9pUYvPE
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Pollard, S. (2017). Asthma Classifications. Retrieved from http://www.familyallergy.com/asthma/asthma-classification.html
Lavine, S. (2014 August 4). What is Asthma? Retrieved from https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/asthma
[NHS Choices]. (2010, February 24). Asthma: an animation. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EDo9pUYvPE
Pawankar, R., et al. (2011). White Book on Allergy. Retrieved from http://www.worldallergy.org/UserFiles/file/WAO-White-Book-on-Allergy_web.pdf
Pollard, S. (2017). Asthma Classifications. Retrieved from http://www.familyallergy.com/asthma/asthma-classification.html