Bronchoconstriction
Say: brong-ko-kun-strik-shun
Doesn't this sound like a cross between a dinosaur and a snake? Actually, bronchoconstriction
affects the airways in a person's lungs.
You can think of airways like straws or tubes. They let air flow in and out so you
can breathe. These airways have muscles, but not the kind you flex! When bronchoconstriction
occurs, the muscles surrounding the airways contract, or tighten. This narrows the
airways so there's less space inside for air to get through. Bronchoconstriction happens
to people who have asthma, but asthma
medicines can help relax the muscles in the airways and make breathing easier.
