Bronchial asthma is a disease that causes variable narrowing of the airways in response to different stimuli; asthma is not considered a psychogenic disease, but rather a non-contagious chronic inflammation that affects the bronchial walls, leading to their extreme hypersensitivity to specific stimuli. 
Provoking the sensitive bronchi causes their diameter to narrow, as the narrowing occurs as a result of the contraction of the muscles lining the bronchial wall, mucus secretion, and mural edema, and over time, an increase in the thickness and scarring of the wall components. 
Bronchial constriction affects the ventilation of the alveoli and may affect the level of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood, where the severity of shortness of breath felt by the person relates to the severity of the bronchial constriction. 
Asthma is equally common among both sexes and may appear for the first time at any age from childhood to old age, while its prevalence globally is constantly increasing; estimates issued by the World Health Organization indicate that there are currently about 300 million people worldwide suffering from asthma. 
Symptoms of Bronchial Asthma
Symptoms may vary from one individual to another and depend on environmental factors, as a person may exhibit regular symptoms of the disease or periodic symptoms; the most common signs of asthma that can help diagnose the disease are: 
•    Shortness of breath while speaking, laughing, or running. 
•    Pain or tightness in the chest. 
•    Sleep apnea (breathing stopping during sleep). 
•    Coughing or a wheezing sound from the chest while sleeping or lying down. 
•    Colds and flu due to a viral infection. 
Causes and Risk Factors of Bronchial Asthma
The following is an explanation of the most prominent causes and risk factors for developing bronchial asthma: 
1. Causes of Bronchial Asthma
They include the following: Although the root cause of bronchial asthma is not clear, it occurs to a large extent due to environmental or genetic factors. The factors that cause an asthma reaction are: 
•    Exposure to substances, such as: pollen, dust, animal fur, sand, and bacteria that cause allergies. 
•    Viral infection, such as: a cold, flu, or pneumonia. 
•    Air pollution, smoke, and fumes from vehicles, and so on. 
•    Stress and anxiety. 
•    Physical activity or exercise-induced asthma. 
•    Medications, such as: aspirin, ibuprofen, and beta-blockers. 
•    Acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). 
•    Perfumes. 
•    Extreme changes in temperature. 
•    Food additives, such as: monosodium glutamate. 
Complications of Bronchial Asthma
Asthma complications include the following: 
•    Signs and symptoms that interfere with sleep, work, and other activities. 
•    Sick leave days from work or school during asthma attacks. 
•    Permanent narrowing of the airway tubes that transport air to and from your lungs, which affects your ability to breathe. 
Diagnosis of Bronchial Asthma
Given that asthma symptoms do not always occur during a doctor's appointment, it is important for you to describe the asthma signs and symptoms you or your child are experiencing to your healthcare provider, as you may also notice when symptoms appear, such as: during exercise, when catching a cold, or after smelling smoke. 
Asthma tests may include the following: 
1. Spirometry
A pulmonary function test to measure breathing capacity and how well you breathe, where you will breathe into a device called a spirometer. 
2. Peak expiratory flow
Using a device called a peak flow meter, you can exhale forcefully into a tube to measure the force of air you can push out of your lungs, and monitoring peak flow can allow you to monitor how well your asthma condition is managed at home. 
3. Chest X-ray
Your doctor may perform a chest X-ray to rule out any other diseases that may cause similar symptoms. 
Treatment of Bronchial Asthma
Once diagnosed, your healthcare provider will recommend asthma medications which can include inhalers, asthma pills, and lifestyle changes to treat and prevent asthma attacks. 
For example, long-acting anti-inflammatory inhalers are often necessary to treat asthma-related inflammation, as inhalers provide low doses of steroid medications to the lungs with minimal side effects if used correctly, while a fast-acting bronchodilator inhaler works immediately to open the airways during an asthma attack. 
If you suffer from bronchial asthma, make sure the healthcare provider shows you how to use inhalers correctly, and ensure you keep your inhaler with you in case an asthma attack or an asthma emergency occurs. 
Although there is no cure for asthma yet, there are excellent asthma medications that can help prevent asthma symptoms. 
Signs of Asthma Control
An asthma patient who receives effective treatment for the disease can expect the following improvement: 
•    Continuous sleep at night without an awakening cough. 
•    A clear chest upon waking up. 
•    The ability to exercise and a quality of life similar to healthy individuals. 
•    A decrease and even complete cessation of the use of bronchodilator medications. 
As for the patient whose condition does not match the above, their disease is not under control. 
Prevention of Bronchial Asthma
To prevent bronchial asthma, the following can be observed: 
•    Avoid performing any vigorous exercise. 
•    Follow a healthy diet. 
•    Use the asthma inhaler prescribed by the doctor only. 
•    Avoid interacting with other patients with colds to prevent infection. 
•    Avoid sitting in polluted environments. 
•    Avoid smoking.