Asthma is a long-term (chronic) lung disease. The airways become inflamed. The airways may be sensitive to:
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Allergens. These are things that cause allergic reactions, such as dust or pet dander.
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Irritants. These are things in the air, such as tobacco smoke or pollution.
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Other. These are things like weather changes or respiratory infections.
These things trigger changes in the airways. In asthma, airway changes include:
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Swelling of the lining
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Tightening of the muscles around the airways
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Increased production of sticky mucus
All of these things cause the airways to narrow. This makes it hard for air to go in and out of your lungs.
These changes in the airways cause asthma symptoms. Common symptoms of asthma are:
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Trouble breathing
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Chest tightness
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Wheezing or whistling sound when breathing
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Coughing
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Asthma differences
Asthma varies from person to person. It can also change over time for each person. The differences are:
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Differences |
Details |
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Triggers |
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Symptoms |
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Severity of symptoms |
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Frequency of flare-ups |
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Control of symptoms |
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Facts about asthma
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Asthma has no cure. But most of the time, symptoms can be controlled by taking medicines and staying away from triggers.
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An Asthma Action Plan is key to good asthma control. It is a personal worksheet created by you and your healthcare provider. It shows what to do if you have asthma symptoms. It also tells you when to call your provider or when to call
911 . And when to go to the emergency room. -
It affects all ages, from babies to older adults.
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It can start at any age. Some people have asthma as children but outgrow it. Some people get asthma as adults.
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Experts don't know for sure what causes asthma. They think it is caused by a mix of things. Some are inherited and some are environmental.
How daily issues affect your health
Many things in your daily life impact your health. This can include transportation, money problems, housing, access to food, and childcare. If you can’t get to medical appointments, you may not receive the care you need. When money is tight, it may be difficult to pay for medicines. And living far from a grocery store can make it hard to buy healthy food.
If you have concerns in any of these or other areas, talk with your healthcare team. They may know of local resources to assist you. Or they may have a staff person who can help.
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