Asthma is a lung disease that makes it harder to move air in and out of your lungs.  There are three things that you should know about asthma:

1. Asthma is chronic. In other words, you live with it every day.
2. It can be serious – even life threatening. 
3. There is no cure for asthma, but it can be managed so you live a normal, healthy life.

What is Asthma?

When you breathe, air passes through your nose and down your throat into your lungs. Inside your lungs are branching tubes called airways.  With asthma, the airways are often swollen and red (or inflamed).  This makes them extra sensitive to things that you are exposed to in the environment every day or asthma "triggers".  A trigger could be a cold, the weather, or things in the environment, such as dust, chemicals, smoke and pet dander.

When someone with asthma breathes in a trigger, the insides of the airways make extra mucus and swell even more.  This narrows the space for the air to move in and out of the lungs. The muscles that wrap around your airways can also tighten, making breathing even harder. When that happens, it's called an asthma flare-up, asthma episode or asthma "attack".

Asthma can start at any age.  Sometimes, people have asthma when they are very young and as their lungs develop, the symptoms go away. But, there is a possibility that it will come back later in life.  Sometimes, people get asthma for the first time when they are older.

What Causes Asthma?

The exact cause of asthma is not known.  Asthma tends to run in families and may be inherited, but environmental factors may also play a key role.  Scientists continue to explore what causes asthma, but we do know that these factors play an important role in the development of asthma: 

• Genetics.  Asthma tends to runs in families.  Genetics plays an important role in causing asthma.  If your mom or dad have asthma, then you are more likely to have asthma too. 
• Allergies.  Some people are more likely to develop allergies than others, especially if your mom or dad had allergies.  Certain allergies are linked to people who get asthma.
• Respiratory Infections. As the lungs develop in infancy and early childhood, certain respiratory infections have been shown to cause inflammation and damage the lung tissue.  The damage that is caused in infancy or early childhood can impact lung function long-term.
• Environment. Contact with allergens, certain irritants, or exposure to viral infections as an infant or in early childhood when the immune system in developing have been linked to developing asthma.  Irritants and air pollution may also play a significant role in adult-onset asthma.

What Causes Asthma Symptoms?

For people with asthma, respiratory infections, allergens, chemicals, odors, physical activity, emotions, seasonal changes and smoking can irritate the lungs.  We call these triggers because they cause (trigger) changes in the airways.  Understanding the things that trigger your asthma will help you manage your disease.  The most common asthma triggers include:

• Respiratory Infections.  Respiratory infections, such as a cold, flu, or sinus infection, are the most common cause of asthma symptoms leading to an asthma flare-up. 
• Allergens.  Allergens, such as pollen, mold, dust, dust mites, cockroaches, animal droppings, and dander from animals with fur or feathers, can irritate your airways causing an allergic reaction.
• Irritants.  Irritants can bother most people's airways, but if you have asthma, they can trigger a flare-up.  Common sources of irritants include perfumes, cleaning fluids, cigarette smoke, air pollution, wood smoke and kerosene heaters. 
• Exercise.  Breathing fast during physical activity can cause the lungs to more sensitive.  They may produce more mucus leading to asthma symptoms. 
• Emotions.  Crying, yelling or even laughing may cause asthma symptoms.  Stress, both personal and work-related, can be a major trigger.
• Chemicals.  Certain chemicals cause severe asthma symptoms in people with asthma.  Common chemicals include sulfur dioxide and sulfites (used to preserve foods and beverages), the off-gassing of new products or furniture, and aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Seasonal/Time Triggers.  Some people with asthma experience more problems with symptoms at certain times of the day (during sleeping time when airways tend to close to close some), certain times of the month (hormonal changes in women during pregnancy or menstruation), or certain times of the year (when pollen levels are high such as in the fall and the spring). 
• Smoking.  Tobacco smoke irritates the airways.  If you smoke, you must quit to help control your asthma symptoms. If you don't, but live with someone who does, encourage them to quit.  The American Lung Association offers many ways to help smokers quit. Contact the American Lung Association Lung HelpLine to speak with a smoking cessation counselor.  [link to smoking cessation portion of the website]
• Identifying your asthma triggers are an important step to understanding your asthma.  Work with your healthcare provider to help find the things that cause asthma symptoms.  Once you have identified the things that cause your asthma, work on ways to avoid the trigger entirely or limit your exposure to it.

Is Asthma Serious?

Yes. Asthma is a serious health problem.  The good news is that it can be successfully treated.  People with asthma can live normal, productive lives.  It's important to find a health care provider that you trust and feel comfortable visiting on a regular basis.  Your health care provider will work with you to help you manage your disease.  Without proper treatment, asthma can be extremely dangerous, even fatal.

Asthma Flare-Ups

After an asthma flare-up, you will probably feel tired.  For several days after an episode, you are at increased risk of having another flare-up. For the next several days after a flare-up, be sure to:

• Avoid your asthma triggers
• Monitor your symptoms or check you airways using a peak flow meter 

Poor asthma management can lead to airway remodeling.  Airway remodeling is a serious condition that happens when asthma is untreated or poorly managed.  The lungs become scarred, asthma medicines do not work as well, and less air is able to move through the airways.  Airway remodeling does not have to happen. Stick to an asthma action plan.  Keep your asthma under control!

 
>> Learn more about the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of asthma