Many people think asthma and wheezing are the same thing.
Actually, wheezing is only once sign of asthma, and many other things besides asthma can cause wheezing. The inflammation in turn causes excess mucus production, and tightening of airway muscles that wind around the bronchial tubes like laces. The combination of swelling, mucus, and muscle tightening all cause narrowing of the airways. Click on the figure to see what happens in an asthma attack. Asthma can develop at any time, but is more common in young children.