In Recognition of National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month - May 2005

Understanding Asthma Could Help You Breathe Easier

What is asthma and what are its symptoms?
Asthma is a disease of the lungs affecting nearly 20 million Americans. If you have asthma, the inside walls of your airways are inflamed (swollen). This makes the airways very sensitive, and they tend to react strongly to things to which you are allergic or find irritating. When the airways react, they get narrower and less air flows through to your lung tissues. This causes symptoms like wheezing (a whistling sound when you breathe), coughing, chest tightness, and trouble breathing. Although the effects are usually temporary, they can cause shortness of breath, breathing trouble, and other symptoms. Asthma should be taken seriously, as severe asthma episodes, or “attacks,” can require emergency treatment to restore normal breathing.

Who gets asthma?
Although asthma affects people of all ages, it often starts in childhood and is more common in children than adults. More boys have asthma than girls, but in adulthood, more women have asthma than men.  Most, but not all, people with asthma have allergies. Children with a family history of allergy and asthma are more likely to have asthma. 

What causes asthma?
It is not clear exactly what makes the airways of people with asthma inflamed in the first place. Your inflamed airways may be due to a combination of things. We know that if other people in your family have asthma, you are more likely to develop it. New research suggests exposures early in your life (like tobacco smoke, infections, and some allergens) may be important.

What causes asthma attacks?
There are things that can make asthma symptoms worse and lead to asthma attacks. Some of the more common things that can worsen your asthma symptoms are exercise, allergens (such as animal dander, dust mites, pollen from trees and grass, mold); irritants (such as cigarette smoke, air pollution, cold air, strong odors), viral infections, and certain types of medications. It is important for you to learn which of these are problems for you. Your doctor can help you identify which things affect your asthma and ways to avoid them.

Managing asthma
If you think you may be experiencing asthma symptoms, speak with your doctor, as there are a variety of diagnostic tests to help determine if you have the disease. Asthma cannot be cured, but for most patients it can be controlled so that you have only minimal and infrequent symptoms. So, if you have asthma, taking care of it is an important part of your life. Controlling your asthma means staying away from things that bother your airways and taking medicines as directed by your doctor. By controlling your asthma every day, you can prevent serious symptoms and take part in normal activities.

For more information about allergies and asthma, please contact your medical provider. He/she will develop an action plan with you to help control your asthma.

You may also visit the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease at: www.niaid.nih.gov