What is asthma?

I was at my mum's friend's house today, i took their dog out for a run so as a result i was coughing a lot when i got back and obviously took my inhaler.. She asked me ""What is asthma?"" and despite me having had asthma nearly all my life i wasn't sure how to answer.

Mine presents mainly as coughing but obviously there are other presentations of asthma, we got talking and i think i explained the different ways but it got me thinking about it - such a simple question but no simple answer

[yaf_user681_30355]

I always explain it as over sensitive airways that narrow and/or produce mucous when near triggers that then make it difficult to breath. It can cause wheeze and/or cough and shortness of breath.