Asthma

Asthma is a common and costly health condition. More than 30 million people in the United States have asthma. Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease marked by episodes or attacks of inflammation and narrowing of small airways in response to asthma triggers. Asthma occurs when the main air passages of your lungs, the bronchial tubes, become inflamed. This causes the muscles of the bronchial walls to tighten, and cells in the lungs produce extra mucus further narrowing your airways. This can cause minor wheezing to severe difficulty in breathing. In some cases, your breathing may be so labored that an asthma attack becomes life-threatening. If you have asthma, you should see your doctor regularly. You will need to learn what things cause your asthma symptoms and how to avoid them. Your doctor may also prescribe medicines to keep your asthma under control.