What is asthma?
Asthma is a chronic disease of the respiratory system characterized by the tightening of the muscles around the airways in the lungs and the swelling of the bronchial tubes, resulting in difficulty breathing.
Twenty million Americans currently have asthma. An estimated 9 million or 12.5% of children under the age of 18 in the United States have had asthma diagnosed at some time in their lives. As age increases, the proportion of children who have ever been diagnosed with asthma increases. Asthma disproportionably impacts women, children, and the poor.
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What causes asthma?
While the causes of asthma and a cure are unknown, it is known that asthma patients generally have inflammation of the airways. Inflamed airways may be due to a combination of things. In addition, family history contributes to the susceptibility to asthma.
For many people with asthma, exposure to specific allergens, irritants, viral infections, or activities that cause rapid breathing (such as aerobic activity) cause the muscles around the airways to contract and symptoms to begin. Some people only have asthma when they exercise or have a viral infection.
Some common allergens are:
· Dust mites
· Animal dander from warm-blooded, feathery and /or furry pets (example: cats or dogs)
· Mold (indoor and outdoor)
· Cockroach droppings
· Pollen from trees and grass
Some common irritants include:
· Cold air or changes in weather
· Strong emotional expressions (such as stress, anxiety, anger, laughing or crying hard)
· Air pollution
· Tobacco smoke and secondhand smoke
· Strong odors from painting or cooking
· Scented products
Other things that can cause asthma symptoms:
· Medicines such as aspirin and beta-blockers
· Sulfites in food or beverages
· Irritants or allergens you might be exposed to at work, such as special chemicals or dusts
· Viral respiratory Infections (colds)
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What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of an asthma episode or attack include:
· Wheezing or breaths that sound high pitched when exhaling
· Coughing, especially at night
· Shortness of, or gasping for breath
· Tightness or pain in the chest
· Excessive fatigue
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Can asthma be prevented?
Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in the United States, and while we don’t yet know how to prevent it and it cannot be cured, it can be controlled through self-management and adequate access to medical care and medications[iii]. Most people with asthma can control it so that they have few and infrequent symptoms and can live normal, active lives.
To prevent asthma symptoms:
- Learn about your asthma and how to control it.
- Use medicines as directed by your doctor to prevent or stop attacks.
- Avoid things that make your asthma worse as much as possible.
- Get regular checkups from your doctor.
- Follow your asthma self-management plan (asthma action plan) [iii].
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For more information
For more information about the prevention and management of asthma, visit:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Asthma Control Program: Information, data, legislation and policy, and links to asthma resources. Asthma data and surveillance information can be found at: http://www.cdc.gov/asthma/asthmadata.htm
American Lung Association: Contains information, resources, and links to your local ALA chapter.
Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA): GINA works with health care professionals and public health officials around the world to reduce asthma prevalence, morbidity, and mortality.
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Asthma Main Page: Provides publications and fact sheets on asthma.
Minnesota Department of Health Asthma Program: Provides resources, data, training materials, and links to other resources.
Minnesota
