Asthma and the body

When you breathe, air travels into your lungs and through your airways. People with asthma have over-sensitive airways which react to certain triggers.

A healthy airway allows normal breathing to occur. 

• The lining is normal
• The outer muscle is relaxed
• The airway is wide open

An airway with asthma makes breathing difficult.

• The airways become over-sensitive and react to triggers
• The muscle around the outside of the airway tightens up
• The lining becomes swollen and inflamed, making more mucus