What is Asthma?
Asthma is a common lung disease in the United States, affecting more than 22 million adults, nearly 4.5 million children, and costing the U.S. economy more that $80 billion annually in medical expenses, missed work and school days, and deaths. The exact causes of asthma are unknown and still being explored by researchers. Many factors contribute to someone developing asthma, including genetics, environmental factors, infections during infancy and exposure to substances that trigger allergies.
Asthma symptoms can vary from mild to severe. They may be an occasional inconvenience or have a life-threatening impact that interferes with daily activities. Asthma can be well-managed with trigger avoidance and proper medication use.
How Does Asthma Affect People?
Asthma is a chronic lung disease affecting your airways, the tubes that carry air to and from your lungs. Asthma makes breathing difficult in one or both of the following ways:
Bronchoconstriction (or squeezing) of the airways:
During bronchoconstriction, muscles outside the airways tighten, causing less air to pass through and making it difficult to breathe.
Inflammation (or swelling) of the airways:
When the lining of the airways becomes swollen or inflamed, mucus forms, blocking airways and making it hard to breathe. Because swelling can occur every day and mucus can build up gradually over time, you do not always feel symptoms from inflammation. Sometimes, increased mucus production can also obstruct the airways.
What Are Common Asthma Symptoms?
Common asthma symptoms include wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and chest tightness. These and other symptoms vary from person to person. If you have any of these symptoms, it’s important to consult with your health care provider.
Asthma flare-ups are sometimes called asthma episodes or asthma attacks. Asthma flare-ups may prevent a person from being able to do what he or she normally does each day, like go to work or school. Asthma is the leading cause of school absences due to chronic illness, accounting for an estimated 13.8 million missed school days each year.
Diagnosing Asthma
An asthma diagnosis often requires a thorough medical history and breathing tests. Spirometry is a breathing test that measures how much oxygen you inhale, how much you exhale and how quickly you exhale.
Is There a Cure for Asthma?
Scientific discoveries have led to improved treatments, but there is currently no cure for this lifelong disease. Fortunately, most asthma can be managed and controlled with proper medication and education.
