Information on Asthma
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In many people, asthma appears to be an allergic reaction to substances commonly
breathed in through the air, such as animal dander, pollen, or dust mite
and cockroach waste products. The catch-all name for these substances,
allergens, refers to anything that provokes an allergic reaction. Some
people have a genetic predisposition to react to certain
allergens.
When these people breathe in the allergen, the immune
system goes into high gear as if fighting off a harmful parasite. The
system produces a molecule called immunoglobulin E (IgE), one of a class
of defensive molecules termed antibodies. The IgE antibody is central to
the allergic reaction. For example, it causes mast cells, a type of
specialized defensive cell, to release chemical "weapons" into the
airways. The airways then become inflamed and constricted, leading to
coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing -- an asthma attack.
Without treatment, such as inhaled corticosteriods to reduce the
inflammation, asthma attacks can be deadly. The overall death rate for
asthma, however, is low.
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