FAQ About Asthma

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 22 million people in the United States suffer from asthma. More than 6 million of those sufferers are children. Asthma can be debilitating and life-threatening to those who don't know how to properly manage the condition.

What is Asthma?

Asthma is an allergy-related disease that tightens and irritates the air passages to the lungs.

What Causes Asthma?

Asthma is believed to be caused by unidentified hereditary and environmental factors. Irritants such as dust, pollen, mold, animal dander and noxious fumes can produce asthma attacks.

What are the Symptoms of Asthma?

The most common symptoms of asthma are coughing, chest pain, thick mucous production and shortness of breath. Asthma sufferers sometimes feel like they are being choked or smothered.

What are the Treatments for Asthma?

The most common treatments for asthma are pills, nebulizers or inhalers containing corticosteroids and bronchodilator drugs. For more severe cases of asthma, oxygen may be prescribed as a supplement to other treatments.

Is Asthma Curable?

Asthma is not curable. However, it can be controlled by reducing or removing cigarette smoke, pollutants, dusty carpeting and bedding, or any other elements from your environment that may trigger an asthma attack.

References

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Lung Disease Focus
• National Lung Health Education Program