The body's natural immune system overreacts to persistent inflammation of the airways, causing bloating and shortness of breath.
Asthma is a lung disease that causes coughing and sneezing. What sets asthma apart from chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases is that it can be completely or partially affected by airway obstruction, either naturally or with medication.
Asthma is caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, occupational and social factors. Drugs used to treat asthma are mainly drugs that control the biological processes that cause bronchitis and the overreaction of the immune system.
