About Asthma

What is Asthma?

• Asthma is a serious chronic (on-going) disease in
  which the airways of the lungs become swollen
  or inflamed
• This causes symptoms like wheezing, coughing,
  chest tightness or trouble breathing
• Asthma can’t be cured but it can be controlled

Key Signs and Symptoms of Asthma

If you often experience any of the following,
talk to your health care provider:

1. Cough – may be worse at night
2. Wheezing – high pitched whistling sounds when
   breathing, especially in children
3. Difficulty breathing
4. Chest tightness

If symptoms occur or get worse in the following situations, talk to your health care provider:

1. Exercise
2. Viral infection (example – flu, colds, sinus infections)
   
3. Exposure to animals, dust mites, mold, or pollen
   
4. Exposure to tobacco smoke or wood smoke, airborne chemicals (example hair spray, cleaning products, room deodorizers and perfumes)
   
5. Changes in weather
   
6. Strong physical expression of emotion (laughing or crying hard)
   
7. Stress
   
8. Menstrual periods

Asthma can be controlled, expect nothing less!

Your asthma is under control when:

• You no longer have these symptoms: cough, wheeze, chest tightness, shortness of breath
• You are able to do regular activities without symptoms such as attend work and school, play, exercise, sleep through the night without symptoms
• You use your quick relief medication no more than two times a week (except for exercise)
• Your asthma treatment plan is working

For more information about the things that can make your asthma worse click here.