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Asthma is characterized by the narrowing of the airway due to swelling and mucus production, which leads to difficulty in breathing. This condition results from a hyper-reactive airway that reacts to various triggers such as allergens, pollutants, or physical activity, leading to inflammation. The inflammation causes the airway muscles to constrict and the surrounding tissues to swell, further narrowing the passage. This process can also lead to the production of excess mucus, contributing to the blockage of airflow.

Understanding asthma’s pathophysiology is crucial for effective management during an asthma attack, which may involve using bronchodilators to relax the airway muscles and reducing inflammation with corticosteroids. Differentiating asthma from other respiratory conditions highlights its unique aspects; for instance, chronic bronchitis involves long-term inflammation and mucus production but is primarily caused by chronic irritants and does not encompass the acute bronchoconstriction typical of asthma. Emphysema is primarily a condition of lung structure rather than airway inflammation, and pneumonia is mainly an infection of the lung tissue rather than a primary issue of airway constriction. Thus, the defining feature of asthma is its characteristic airway tightening due to inflammatory processes and mucus accumulation.