What's an Airway Obstruction?

Airway Obstruction

Say: AIR-way ub-STRUK-shun

When something keeps the air from moving in and out of the airways in your lungs, it's called an airway obstruction. When someone has asthma, the airways may become obstructed, or blocked, because the airways are swollen, narrow, and clogged with thick mucus. Obstructed airways can cause coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.