athma is generally regarded as an acquired chronic reactive respiratory inflammatory disease.
The incidence of which is increasing world wide particularly in kids. There are a number of factors that may reduce the accute phases (attacks).
These range from straight out education about the disease, the steroidal based inhalers such as Becotide, and various fitness programs. Swimming has always been encouraged with success in Australia. Trick is to make sure you havent any chlorine sensitivities. The last one is finding triggers, and learning to control breathing, esp during an attack.
Accute phases are controlled by first line methods such as salbutamol puffers / inhalers. Failing that, my comrades are called, and once again salbutamol is used but at much higher doses nebulised with Oxygen. If the respitory tract closes and no air exchange is taking place, noradrenaline and or other drugs are nebulised and / or injected to help the body control what is essentially a hyper-reaction to a trigger.
Asthma is a condition where the air is trapped in the lungs due to infammation and is difficult to force out. The passages swell to the point where air cannot be inhaled either. there is no question that asthma is a fatal disease, if mismanaged.
Reactions to cold are common enough but difficult to control. The respiratory tract has automatic reactions such as contricting to reduce surface area in the cold! Some say a gentle letdown into the cold is better than walking out into it or moving back to warm air. A friend of mine used to go warm the car up for me particularly if I had a bout of the flu. I hardly ever had problems after that. But I dont have asthma! So there are a number of people who develop some symptoms of asthma who dont have the disease.
The medication (salbutamol) does have side effects. Tachycardia (fast heartbeat over 100 beats per minute and if having an attack doesnt get you panicking enough!!!), opens the bronchioles so hopefully a sufficient space is created for the air to exhale.
All the mucus built up and trapped by the inflammed linings trying hard to rid its self of the triggers, now escapes leading to the other side effect... increased mucus production... well thats the basics...
What that means to a class one medical is up to the Dr conducting the medical. If he or she has any doubts, they will recommond the candidate to a respiratory specialist for further testing. The biggest part is understanding the disease itself.