Asthma Definition, Symptoms, and Management

Meaning 1：chronic respiratory condition (asthma)

asthma 🔊

/ˈæzmə/

A long-term health condition where your airways become narrow and swollen, making it hard to breathe, often causing wheezing and coughing.

Asthma illustration: child using an inhaler with parent's support in a bedroom

chronic respiratory condition 🔊

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/ˈkrɒnɪk rɪˈspɪrətəri kənˈdɪʃən/

A long-term medical disorder where airways become inflamed and narrow, leading to recurrent episodes of wheezing, coughing, and breathlessness.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Greek 'asthma' (panting), derived from 'aazein' (to breathe hard).

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'asthma' as 'as-th-ma' – similar to 'gasp for air', reminding you of breathing difficulty.

📖 Example

Carrying his inhaler is essential because asthma can flare up unexpectedly after he goes for a run in the park. 🔊 It is vital for him to carry his inhaler since asthma symptoms can suddenly worsen after running in the park.

🔗 Collocations

asthma attack – a sudden worsening of asthma symptoms

bronchial asthma – asthma that primarily affects the bronchial tubes

manage asthma – to control asthma through medication and lifestyle

🔄 Synonyms

bronchospasm (n.) – a sudden constriction of the muscles in the bronchioles, causing breathing difficulty

wheezing (n.) – a high-pitched whistling sound during breathing, often associated with asthma

dyspnea (n.) – difficult or labored breathing, a common symptom of asthma

🌱 Derivatives

asthmatic (adj./n.) – relating to or a person suffering from asthma

asthmatically (adv.) – in a manner related to asthma

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'asthma' originates from ancient Greek, meaning 'shortness of breath'. It was used in Hippocratic texts to describe respiratory distress, evolving into modern medical terminology.