Bronchial asthma is the precise term for the most common form of asthma.  In layman's terms, bronchial asthma differs from cardiac asthma because the latter results from heart failure.  However, both bronchial asthma and cardiac asthma have similar symptoms, including wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing.

        For the majority of people suffering from bronchial asthma, periods of normal breathing are interspersed with periodic wheezing attacks.  Still, it is true that some bronchial asthma patients experience chronic shortness of breath. 

        You are at greater risk of developing bronchial asthma if you have a genetic predisposition; you are exposed early in life to allergens such as dust mites and cockroaches; and you have a family history of the illness.

        A number of factors can trigger a bronchial asthma attack:  cold weather, exercise, cigarette smoke and other pollutants, stress, and respiratory tract infections.  You can even develop bronchial asthma as a result of intolerance to aspirin or an allergic reaction to chemicals in the workplace.

        Some of the symptoms of bronchial asthma include trouble breathing, wheezing, nighttime coughing, and a feeling of tightness in the chest.  while there is no cure for bronchial asthma, it can be controlled through an effective asthma management plan.  In most cases, bronchial asthma will not interfere with physical activities.

        Generally speaking, bronchial asthma can be divided into two categories:  non-allergic or intrinsic asthma and allergic or extrinsic asthma.  Both kinds of bronchial asthma involve hypersensitivity of the bronchial system. 

        Non-allergic bronchial asthma is based on a genetic predisposition.  However, a number of stimuli, including cigarette smoke, medications, family problems, and infections can trigger attacks for those suffering from this kind of bronchial asthma.  A bronchial asthma attack can last anywhere from a few minutes to hours.

        Allergic bronchial asthma involves reactions to such allergens as pollen or dust mites.  With this type of bronchial asthma, the allergen induces a massive production of antibodies, which bind to cells in the bronchial mucous membrane and affect the release of histamine.

         If bronchial asthma is not adequately treated, pulmonary emphysema can result.  Because the breathing in such bronchial asthma patients becomes labored, they develop a rigid, barrel-shaped thorax and a definite hunchback. 

       A bronchial asthma attack can be characterized by sweating, sneezing, a tickling sensation in the throat, and agitation.  If an individual is experiencing allergic bronchial asthma, he or she may also experience itching around the eyes, a feeling of constriction, and headaches.

       For those younger than ten, the male-to-female ratio for bronchial asthma patients is two to one.  However, between the ages of 18 and 54 years, women are twice as likely as men to suffer from bronchial asthma.  Also, women visit hospital emergency rooms and are hospitalized for acute bronchial asthma twice as often as men.

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