What is inflammation of the airways

Inflammation is a reaction to infections and other triggers in the lining of the airways and the underlying tissue. The inflammation makes the airways become red, swollen, narrower and extra-sensitive.

How does inflammation of the airways affect my asthma?

Inflammation of the airways causes asthma symptoms (wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness and coughing) by restricting or limiting the airflow to and from the lungs. It does this by causing:

• swelling of the airways, which makes them narrower
• tightening of the muscles that surround the airways (also called bronchoconstriction), which makes them even narrower
• the production of too much mucus, which can plug up or block the airways
• longer-term damage to the walls of the airways, which prevents them from opening as widely as a normal airway.

When the airways have been inflamed for a long time, they become extra-sensitive. This means that they react faster and more strongly to various triggers, such as allergens, viruses, dust, smoke and stress.

GINA - Global Initiative for Asthma, www.ginasthma.org