Bronchoconstriction from hyperresponsive airways is reversible with treatment. Mucus is produced as part of the body's response to allergens and irritants. The mucus helps dilute and wash away the substance. However, mucus provides the ideal environment for microbe growth. If the mucus is not kept cleared from the lungs the chance of infection is increased.
Inflammation causes swelling of the airways.
This swelling causes the airway passages to become narrowed. While both bronchoconstriction and inflammation causes the airways to narrow, the mechanisms by which they occur are different. Inflammation does not respond as quickly, is more difficult to treat, and is generally seen as a more serious condition. Inflammation is usually not as immediate and may take hours to become apparent. Asthma can be triggered by allergic and irritant factors.