Breathe Easy, Asthma Facts and Resources

What is asthma?
Asthma is a chronic disease that is usually diagnosed in childhood and remains with a person throughout adulthood. Asthma affects the air passages or the tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. With asthma, the air passages become inflamed, much like sunburn inflames the skin. This inflammation makes a air ways sensitive to irritation. When the airways are irritated they tighten, making it difficult to breathe. Asthma cannot be cured, but most people with asthma can control it so that they have few and infrequent symptoms and can live active lives.

What happens during an asthma attack?
An asthma attack or asthma episode happens when the air passages narrow after becoming irritated by a trigger such as mold or smoke. When the lungs are irritated, the lining of the air passages swells and fills with mucus. Additionally, the muscles around the air passages tighten. During an asthma episode, one or more of the symptoms listed below may be present. Asthma episodes, which can occur suddenly or over several days, may be severe, moderate, or mild depending on the trigger and the person’s sensitivity.

What are the signs and symptoms of asthma?

• Regular coughing or coughs that happen only at night
• Wheezing – difficult breathing that sounds like whistling
• Illnesses that change breathing such as flu, pneumonia, or bronchitis
• Not being able to relax when trying to sleep
• Chest tightness of shortness of breath

If you have any of the signs or symptoms, talk to your doctor because you may have asthma.

What are common triggers?

• Pets
• Strong odors or fumes
• Cockroaches
• Dust mites
• Smoke
• Hot or cold air
• Indoor mold

Health Fact: Asthma accounts for 14 million missed school days each year.

(National Health Interview Survey (2004). National Center for Health Statistics, United States Department of Health and Human Services.)

For more information and access to a variety of resources, visit the new website for the Ohio Asthma Coalition

Material on this page was adapted from:
American Lung Association
Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA)