Bronchial asthma is a chronic (long term) disease affecting the bronchial tubes (breathing tubes) of the lungs. Asthmatic symptoms are the result of constriction or narrowing of irritable or hyper-reactive bronchial tubes. Constriction of these airways is caused by bronchial tube muscle spasms, mucosal inflammation, and mucus accumulation. Narrowing of the airway causes resistance to the movement of air during breathing and results in shortness of breath, chest tightness, wheezing and coughing.
