| Asthma is a chronic lung disease that inflames and | | | | condition because the symptoms of both conditions |
| narrows the airways. Asthma affects people of all | | | | can be similar. |
| ages. Not all people who have asthma have the | | | | Asthma is treated with two types of medicines: |
| symptoms of wheezing, cough, chest tightness and | | | | long-term control and quick-relief medicines. Long-term |
| shortness of breath. On the other hand, having these | | | | control medicines reduce airway inflammation and |
| symptoms doesn't always mean that you have | | | | prevent asthma symptoms. Most asthma patients |
| asthma. | | | | need to take long-term control medicines daily to |
| A number of triggers can cause or worsen asthma. | | | | prevent asthma symptoms. They don't give you quick |
| Some of the triggers are allergens found in dust, animal | | | | relief from symptoms. Inhaled corticosteroids are the |
| fur, cockroaches, mold, and pollens from trees, | | | | preferred medicines for long-term control of asthma. If |
| grasses, and flowers; medicines such as aspirin or | | | | you have severe asthma, you may have to take |
| other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; irritants such | | | | corticosteroid pills or liquid for short periods. If taken for |
| as cigarette smoke, air pollution, chemicals or dust, and | | | | long periods, these medicines raise your risk for |
| compounds in sprays; Sulfites present in foods and | | | | cataracts and osteoporosis .Other long-term control |
| drinks; Viral upper respiratory infections; and health | | | | medicines include Inhaled long-acting beta2-agonists, |
| conditions such as runny nose, sinus infections, reflux | | | | Leukotriene modifiers, Theophylline, Cromolyn and |
| disease, psychological stress, and sleep apnea. | | | | nedocromil. Long-term control medicines can have side |
| The symptoms of asthma are recurring periods of | | | | effects. Consult with your doctor about these side |
| wheezing, cough, chest tightness and shortness of | | | | effects and ways to monitor or avoid them. |
| breath. The conditions such as runny nose, sinus | | | | Quick-relief medicines relieve asthma symptoms |
| infections, reflux disease, psychological stress, and | | | | quickly. You should take your quick-relief medicine |
| sleep apnea are related health conditions that can | | | | when you first notice your asthma symptoms. Carry |
| interfere or worsen asthma management. Cough | | | | your quick-relief inhaler with you at all times in case |
| often occurs at night or early in the morning. The types | | | | you need it. Quick-relief medicines don't reduce |
| of asthma symptoms you have, how often they occur, | | | | inflammation. Asthma medicines can be taken in pill |
| and how severe they are may vary over time. Your | | | | form or as inhaler. An inhaler allows the medicine to go |
| symptoms may irritate you. They may be troublesome | | | | right to your lungs. |
| enough to limit your daily routine. Severe symptoms | | | | Asthma treatment can only control the disease. Good |
| can threaten your life. It is very important to treat | | | | asthma control will prevent symptoms such as |
| symptoms when you first notice them so that the | | | | coughing and shortness of breath, reduce the need for |
| symptoms don’t become worse. | | | | quick-relief medicines and prevent severe asthma |
| A lung function test, along with physical examination | | | | attacks. |
| and medical history is the best way to diagnose | | | | Though Asthma cannot be cured completely, most |
| asthma. Your doctor will make out e severity level of | | | | people who have asthma are able to manage the |
| your asthma—that is, whether it is intermittent, mild, | | | | disease, live normal, active lives and sleep through the |
| moderate, or severe. Your severity level will determine | | | | night without any interruption from asthma, with today's |
| the treatment you must take. You need to consult an | | | | knowledge and treatments. |
| asthma specialist if you have life-threatening asthma | | | | Kevin Moshayedi is an expert author, who is presently |
| attack, if you are in need of higher doses of medicine | | | | working on the site for |
| to control your asthma, or if you your asthma is | | | | Diseases and Conditions. He has written many articles |
| uncontrollable with any medicines. Asthma in young | | | | in various topics like Health Topics and medical |
| children can be hard to diagnose. It is also difficult to tell | | | | reference . |
| whether a child has asthma or another childhood | | | | |