ABSTRACT

The asthma is a very common disease between the human beings; the prevalence is very high and tends to increase every time. There are countries with a prevalence report of 34% of its population who suffer of asthma. Asthma in general has many myths and false ideas of the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. In contrast, is probably one of the areas of the respiratory medicine in where greater scientific advance has existed in the last 30 years. Sharing a universal concept of subjects like its definition, causes, pharmacological treatment, follow up criteria, etc. between the doctors and the patients is fundamental for “speaking the same language” and making the team so that like the international guides says, the asthmatic patient at the present time can have total control of the disease with quality of life. In this paper it is tried to include the most important aspects of this condition in colloquial language, although with some medical terms that are indispensable to use. The doctor and the patient must have concepts based on scientific evidence and knowledge. Knowing that asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways and that with the proper and individualized pharmacologic treatment the disease can be under control.

KEYWORDS

Asthma, inflammation, pharmacological treatment, respiratory system, airways, disease control, quality of life.

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