Is this topic for you?This topic provides information about asthma in teens and adults. If you are looking for information about asthma in children age 12 and younger, see the topic Asthma in Children. What is asthma?Asthma makes it difficult for you to breath

Health tools help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health. Decision Points focus on key medical care decisions that are important to many health problems. Should I take allergy shots (immunotherapy) for allergic rhinitis and allerg

What is asthma? What causes asthma? Can I prevent asthma or asthma episodes? What are the symptoms of asthma? What happens in asthma? What increases my risk of asthma? How is the severity of asthma classified? What is occupational asthma?

The cause of asthma is not known. Health experts believe that inherited, environmental, and immune system factors combine to cause inflammation of the bronchial tubes, which carry air to the lungs. This can lead to asthma and asthma attacks.

Symptoms of asthma can be mild or severe. You may have no symptoms; severe, daily symptoms; or something in between. How often you have symptoms can also change. Symptoms of asthma may include:Wheezing, which is a whistling noise of varying loudness that occur

Asthma often begins during childhood or the teen years and may last throughout your life. It can increase your risk for complications from lung and airway infections, such as bronchitis and pneumonia. At times, the inflammation from asthma causes a narrowing o

Many factors may increase your risk of developing asthma. Some of these are not within your control; others you can control. The major risk factors for developing asthma as an adult are ongoing (chronic) wheezing when you were a child and cigarette smoking.

If you have been diagnosed with asthma and have an asthma action plan, do the following. Callor other emergency services immediately if you are having severe asthma symptoms (in the red zone of your asthma action plan) and you have followed the plan, but:You a

A diagnosis of asthma is based on your medical history, a physical exam, and lung function tests. If you developed asthma in adulthood, your health professional will ask about your job to determine whether you have occupational asthma.

Although asthma cannot be cured, you can manage the symptoms with medications, especially inhaled corticosteroids and beta2 - agonists. You usually work with your health professional to develop a management plan consisting of a daily treatment plan and an asth

Although there is no certain way to prevent asthma, you can take steps to reduce airway inflammation and the likelihood of asthma attacks.The evidence concerning breast - feeding and the risk of a child developing asthma is conflicting.

You can control the impact asthma has on your life by following your asthma plans consistently. A management plan can reduce inflammation to prevent long - term damage to your lungs and decrease the severity, frequency, and duration of asthma attacks.

Medication does not cure asthma. However, it is an important part of managing the condition. Medications for asthma treatment are used to:Prevent and control the underlying airway inflammation, to minimize long - term lung damage.

Allergy shots (immunotherapy) are used for people who have asthma symptoms when they are around substances to which they are allergic (allergens). Allergy shots have been shown to reduce asthma symptoms and the need for medications in some people.

OrganizationsAmerican Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology555 East Wells StreetSuite 1100Milwaukee, WI 53202 - 3823Phone: (414) 272 - 60711 - 800 - 822 - 2762E - mail: info@aaaai.org (For general questions only. The AAAAI cannot answer individual questio

Allergic RhinitisAsthma in ChildrenAtopic DermatitisChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) ...

CitationsBush RK (2002). Environmental controls on the management of allergic asthma. Medical Clinics of North America, 86(3): 973¨C989.McGeady SJ (2004). Immunocompetence and allergy. Pediatrics, 113(4): 1107¨C1113.Jarjour NN, Kelly EAB (2002). Pathogenesis of

AuthorMerrill HaydenEditorKathleen M. Ariss, MSAssociate EditorTerrina VailPrimary Medical ReviewerCaroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal MedicineSpecialist Medical ReviewerHarold S. Nelson, MD - Allergy and ImmunologyLast UpdatedApril 4, 2006 ...