Asthma is a chronic condition involving the respiratory system in which the airway occasionally constricts, becomes inflamed, and is lined with excessive amounts of mucus, often in response to one or more triggers.
In some individuals asthma is characterized by chronic respiratory impairment.
In other people asthma is an intermittent illness marked by episodic symptoms that may result from a number of triggering events, including upper respiratory infection, stress, airborne allergens, air pollutants (such as smoke or traffic fumes), or exercise.
Asthma is caused by a complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors that researchers do not fully understand yet. These factors can also influence how severe a person’s asthma is and how well they respond to medication.
In children, the most common triggers are viral illnesses such as those that cause the common cold. This airway narrowing causes symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing.
It is recognized with increasing frequency, that patients who have both obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and bronchial asthma, often improve tremendously when the sleep apnea is diagnosed and treated.
If you have asthma, you’re in good company. Famous People with Asthma:
John F. Kennedy - John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917–November 22, 1963), was the thirty-fifth President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas. Lee Harvey Oswald was charged with the crime, but was murdered two days later by Jack Ruby before he could be put on trial. Although he suffered from various illnesses, including asthma, Kennedy always appeared strong and rugged in public and enjoyed working out and playing sports with his family.
Ludwig von Beethoven - (1770-1827) - baptized December 17, 1770, died March 26, 1827 was a German composer and pianist. Born in Bonn, Germany, he moved to Vienna, Austria, in his early twenties and settled there, studying with Joseph Haydn and quickly gaining a reputation as a virtuoso pianist. Around 1796, Beethoven began to lose his hearing. He suffered a severe form of tinnitus, a "ringing" in his ears that made it hard for him to perceive and appreciate music; he also avoided conversation. When Beethoven was not sick, or suffering from asthma, he would often take a sketchbook with him and take long strolls in the country.
Alice Cooper (1948) - (born February 4, 1948), birthname Vincent Furnier, is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans five decades. In 1974 Furnier legally changed his name to Alice Cooper and launched a solo career. He was a sickly child, and after a series of childhood illnesses, Vincent Furnier and his family moved to Phoenix, Arizona. After Washington Elementary School, Vincent attended Cortez High School in northern Phoenix. Cooper was a member of the Order of DeMolay.
Calvin Coolidge - John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. (July 4, 1872 – January 5, 1933), more commonly known as Calvin Coolidge, was the thirtieth President of the United States (1923–1929). Coolidge's grandfather, Calvin Coolidge, held some local government offices in Plymouth and was best remembered as a man with "a fondness for practical jokes". His grandmother, Sarah Brewer, was also of New England. It is through this ancestor that Coolidge claimed to be descended in part from American Indians. Calvin Coolidge suffered from asthma and because he distrusted physicians, he treated himself with patent medicines and breathed chlorine released into the air of a closed room in futile attempts to alleviate his asthma.
Liza Minelli - Liza May Minnelli (born March 12, 1946 in Los Angeles, California) is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of legendary actress and singer Judy Garland and her second husband, film director Vincente Minnelli. Her well-publicized struggles with substance abuse have made inevitable parallels and comparisons to her mother's personal and career challenges. Minnelli has been in rehab for her substance abuse numerous times. She entered rehab shortly before her marriage to David Gest.
Elizabeth Taylor (born 27 February 1932) She is a two time Academy Award winning English American actress and has been known as one of the greatest actresses of Hollywood's golden years. She was both talented and beautiful in all of her appearances and was one of the first to really live the Hollywood lifestyle. Having married 8 times to 7 different husbands. Elizabeth did not waste time in making sure her love affairs were frequent and pleasing. Her name is still known by many today and will always remain one of Hollywood's youngest movie stars.
Theodore Roosevelt 26th President of the U.S. (October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919) Rooseveltwas a soldier , historian, explorer, naturalist, author, and Governor of New York later becoming the President of the United States at the age of 42 years old. He was well known for having a vast range of objectives and achievements, all with an energetic determination and a hard ''cowboy'' persona. He was subject to epileptic seizures, his eyesight was bad, and he also suffered from asthma, but was still a man of courage and strength appreciated by many.
Woodrow Wilson - 28th President of the U.S. (December 28, 1856–February 3, 1924) Woodrow Wilson had political power during the World War I era. Wilson was elected President as a democrat in 1912 after being the governer of New Jersey in 1910. He centered his attention on World War 1 and imposed income tax, raised billions in liberty loans and set up the war industries board. Wilson was asthmatic as an adult.
Charles Dickens - (7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) Charles Dickens was one of the best English novelists of the Victorian era. Writing serialised novels which basically was the usual format for fiction at the time. His writing style was fluid and poetic, and the names of the characters he has created are some of the most memorable in English history. Including Mrs Gamp, Ebenezer Scrooge, Fagin, Oliver Twist, Micawber, Abel Magwitch, Samuel Pickwick and Charles Darnay along with many more.
Bob Hope - actor, comedian (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003) Bob Hope was born an entertainer, he would work doing odd jobs for a local board walk. When he was not working he would dance and do comedy patter to make some extra money. He eventually made his first films in New York playing a role in a short comedy called '' Going Spanish ''. Soon after he became one of Paramount`s best movie actors and was well known for the exaggerated eye rolling he would do in some of his movies, after a director told him acting was all in the eyes.
Judy Collins - Judith Marjorie Collins (born May 1, 1939 in Seattle, Washington) is an American folk and standards singer and songwriter, known for the stunning purity of her soprano and for her eclectic tastes in the material she records which has included folk, showtunes, pop, and rock and roll. She is a representative for UNICEF and campaigns on behalf of the abolition of landmines. Following the 1992 death of her son, Clark Taylor, at age 33, after a long bout with depression and substance abuse, she has also become a strong advocate of suicide prevention.
Morgan Fairchild - (born February 3, 1950) in Dallas Texas. Morgan eventually moved to New York where she took part in a on-screen Soap Opera called "Search for Tomorrow" from 1973 to 1977. She became known as one of Hollywood's bad girls due to a nude scene that cemented her in the industry. Morgan Freechild has made many on-screen appearences and will always be remembered for her prowess in martial arts and her taking part in the movie "The Seduction".
Ambrose Bierce - (1842 - 1914) - journalist and author
Amy VanDyken - (1973) - Olympic swimmer
Antonio Vivaldi - (1678 - 1741) - composer, conductor
Arnold Schoenburg - (1874 - 1951) - composer
Art Monk - (1958) - football player
Baruj Benacerraf - (1920) - Nobel Prize Winner in medicine
Benjamin Disraeli - (1804 - 1881) - British statesman, author
Bill Koch - (1956) - Olympic medallist - cross-country skiing
Bruce Davidson - (1949) - Olympic equestrian
Che Guevara - (1928 - 1967) - South American revolutionary leader
Daniel Webster - (1782 - 1852) - lawyer, statesman
NOTE: Disabled World has assembled this list from both online and offline resources. If you know of a discrepancy in this article please contact us so we can ammend the entry.
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