What Happens During an Episode of Asthma?

Asthma affects the airways in your lungs. During an episode of asthma:

• The lining of the airways becomes swollen.
• The airways produce a thick mucus.
• The muscles around the airways tighten and make the airways narrower.

These changes in the airways block the flow of air and make it hard to breathe.

You need to know the ways that asthma affects the airways so that you can understand why it takes one or more medications to treat the disease. Some medicines relax the tight airways, and others reduce or prevent swelling and mucus.

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