Asthma

Asthma written by Gabriel Fembres.

《哮喘》，作者：加布里埃尔·芬布雷斯

What is asthma? Asthma is a disease that makes it difficult for a person to breathe. When people breathe, air makes its way through the nose or mouth to the lungs. Air moves in and out of the lungs through special tubes.

什么是哮喘？哮喘是一种会让人呼吸困难的疾病。 人们呼吸的时候，空气会通过鼻子或者嘴巴进入肺部。 空气通过特殊的管道进出肺部。

These tubes swell and become narrow during an asthma attack. Because of this, less air moves into and out of the lungs. People with asthma might wheeze or cough. Their chest might feel tight. They may have a hard time breathing. A bad asthma attack can last for days or even cause death.

哮喘发作的时候，这些管道会肿胀变窄。 这样一来，进出肺部的空气就变少了。 哮喘患者可能会喘息或者咳嗽。 他们可能会觉得胸闷。 还可能会呼吸困难。 严重的哮喘发作可能会持续好几天，甚至危及生命。

People with asthma. About 235 million children and adults around the world have asthma. Asthma can show up in a person at any age. About one child out of every ten in the United States has asthma. About half of these children will see their asthma get better as they grow older. However, their symptoms often return when they become older adults. One adult in 12 has asthma. Each year, more people in the United States and around the world get asthma.

哮喘患者群体。 全球大约有2.35亿儿童和成人患有哮喘。 哮喘在任何年龄段都可能发病。 在美国，每10个孩子里就有1个患有哮喘。 这些孩子里大约有一半的哮喘症状会随着年龄增长好转。 不过，等他们步入老年后，症状往往又会复发。 每12个成年人里就有1个患有哮喘。 每年，美国乃至全球都有越来越多的人患上哮喘。

Doctors do not know how people get asthma. They do know that it cannot be passed from one person to another like a cold. However, the disease often runs in families. If both parents have asthma, their children are more likely to have it. People who are around cigarette smoke are also more likely to develop asthma.

医生还不清楚人们为什么会得哮喘。 但他们确定哮喘不会像感冒那样在人与人之间传染。 不过，这种疾病往往有家族遗传倾向。 如果父母双方都有哮喘，孩子得哮喘的概率就会更高。 长期接触香烟烟雾的人也更容易患上哮喘。

The Causes of Attacks Many things can cause asthma attacks. These triggers are different from person to person. Dust, animals, pollen, or mold can cause an attack for many people. Cigarette smoke, fumes from cars, and other strong smells are also common triggers. Coming down with a cold or the flu can often bring on an attack as well. Exercise can cause an asthma attack in some people.

哮喘发作的诱因 很多东西都会引发哮喘发作。 这些诱因因人而异。 对很多人来说，灰尘、动物、花粉或者霉菌都会引发哮喘发作。 香烟烟雾、汽车尾气和其他浓烈的气味也是常见的诱因。 患上感冒或者流感往往也会诱发哮喘发作。 对部分人来说，运动也会引发哮喘发作。