Asthma is an inflammatory lung disease marked by periodic breathing problems; it is a chronic condition. Acute episodes can occur in people with asthma where air passages in their lungs become constricted, making breathing more difficult. Oversensitivity of the lungs and airways can become a problem when overreactions to specific triggers encourage these areas to become inflamed and clogged.
The underlying cause of asthma is not yet known. Scientists have established that the disease is a particular kind of inflammation of the airways that impacts muscle contraction, mucus production, and swelling. The airways in lungs with asthma become quick to react to environmental changes, resulting in wheezing and coughing.