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Asthma is a disease that affects the lungs and the airways that deliver air to the lungs. It causes periodic attacks of wheezing and difficult breathing. An asthma attack occurs when the airways become inflamed in response to a trigger, such as dust, mold, pets, exercise, or cold weather. However, some attacks start for no apparent reason. Triggers may inflame the airways to the lungs, allowing disease-fighting cells to accumulate and causing swelling in the lungs. In addition, the airways may become blocked or obstructed when the muscles surrounding the lungs tighten or go into spasm. This keeps air from circulating freely in the lungs. Or, mucus may clog and narrow the airways in the lungs, making breathing even more difficult.

The symptoms of asthma can vary among people. Usually there is scratchy throat, or tightness in the chest, followed by a cough, wheezing, or shortness of breath.

It's time to get help if....

Your symptoms do not get better with medicine Your breathing continues to get worse after treatment
Your fingernails or lips turn grayish or blue
It is difficult to walk or talk, or you have extreme difficulty breathing
It feels like your neck, chest, or ribs are pulled in with each breath you take
Your nostrils flare when you breathe

Source: American Academy of Family Physicians

Although the specific things that trigger an asthma attack can vary from person to person, some common triggers are well known. These include the following:

Allergens (substances that people are allergic to): Common allergens include pollen, mold, animal hair or fur, household dust/dust mites, cockroaches, and certain foods.
Infections: Both bacterial and viral infections can irritate the airways, triggering asthma attacks.
Sinusitis (inflammation of the nose and nasal airways): During a sinus infection, mucus draining into the nose, throat, and lungs can cause asthma symptoms.
Irritants.: Examples of irritants to the airways include strong odors and sprays (perfumes, household cleaners, paints, and varnishes); certain chemicals like coal, chalk dust, and talcum powder; air pollutants; tobacco smoke; changing weather conditions (for example, cold weather).
Smoke: Inhaling smoke from cigarettes or fires harms the airways and is especially hard on the airways of people with asthma. In fact, cigarette smoking is responsible for more than half of the cases of asthma in people over 40 years of age.
Exercise: Although exercise is good for people with asthma, it can trigger an asthma attack. People with asthma need to work with their doctors to prevent asthma attacks due to exercise (certain drugs can help prevent asthma symptoms from occurring after exercise).
Exposure to irritants on the job: Many cases of asthma are worsened or even caused by exposure to vapors, dust, gases, or fumes in the workplace. This type of asthma usually improves when the person takes a few days off from work, such as on weekends and vacations.
Sensitivity to medications and sulfites: About 5% to 20% of adults with asthma have attacks triggered by sensitivities or allergies to sulfites and to medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, indomethacin, and naproxen. People with asthma should consult their physicians before taking any new medication, including those available without a prescription. Sulfites are often used to preserve foods and beverages, including tuna, foods available at salad bars, dried apples and raisins, lemon juice, grape juice, and wine.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: In March, 1997, the United States Food and Drug Administration issued a warning that people with asthma or allergies as to sulfites should not eat canned white (albacore) tuna or light tuna because most canned tuna contains sulfites, even though they are not listed on the label. If you want more information about the sulfite content of specific tuna products, please call 800-283-1112, a special number set up by the tuna industry.
Emotional anxiety: Strong emotions and nervous stress can trigger asthma in some people. This may be due, in part, to the ability of emotions and stress to weaken the body's defenses.

Allergy is the leading cause of asthma, and about 90% of children under the age of 10 with asthma have allergies. About 70% of people under 30 with asthma and 50% of those over 30 with asthma also have allergies. Allergy is likely to be a contributing factor to asthma if:

Source: National Health Interview Survey, National Center for Health Statistics, 1989.

Most people with asthma can live a full and active life when they are treated and are careful to avoid things they know can trigger their asthma. Your doctor can help you decide whether there are times when taking medicine may help prevent an asthma attack - for example, before exercising, on cold days, or on days when the pollution is bad or the pollen count is high.

If you feel that your asthma is getting worse, it is important to talk to your doctor right away. Your therapy may need to be changed (that is, you may need to change the amount of medicine, the type of medicine, or the way you take your medicine).

Use this list to check how well your treatment is meeting these goals. All of these goals can be met with currently available treatments for asthma, and you should talk to your doctor about ways that you can achieve these goals.

Yes. Often, an asthma attack can be stopped in the early stages by taking medicine. First, it is important to learn what triggers your asthma. That way you can make an effort to avoid them or control them. You can also identify what happens right before an asthma attack, so that you can respond quickly if these warning signs occur. You should work with your doctor to develop two treatment plans: one for day-to-day control of asthma symptoms and one that helps you and your loved ones cope with emergencies due to asthma.

Some people outgrow asthma as they get older and no longer have attacks. Other people are able to avoid the things that trigger an asthma attack. For many people, however, asthma is a chronic disease that always requires care and treatment to prevent or minimize breathing problems.

About 50% of children who develop asthma between 2 and 10 years of age will naturally outgrow the attacks. But asthma may recur when they reach their 30s or 40s. Asthma is a serious disease, and requires treatment. It can reduce your child’s ability to exercise and may harm his or her self-image. Since there are safe and effective ways to treat asthma, there is no reason to allow a child to suffer its symptoms.