Asthma
What is asthma?
Asthma is a chronic lung condition that causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways, leading to symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.
Asthma symptoms can be triggered by allergens, respiratory infections, exercise, smoke, strong odors, weather changes, and other environmental irritants. Symptoms may range from mild to severe and can interfere with sleep, exercise, school, work, and daily activities.
What causes asthma?
Asthma symptoms occur when the airways become inflamed, swollen, and overly sensitive to certain triggers. Even when symptoms are not present, underlying airway inflammation may still exist.
Identifying asthma triggers is an important part of managing symptoms and preventing flare-ups. Asthma is commonly categorized based on the triggers that cause symptoms.
Common types of asthma include:
Allergic Asthma
Allergic asthma is triggered by allergens such as pollen, dust mites, mold, pet dander, or other environmental allergens.
Non-Allergic Asthma
Non-allergic asthma may be triggered by respiratory infections, cold air, smoke, stress, strong odors, weather changes, or other irritants.
Exercise-Induced Bronchospasm
Exercise-induced bronchospasm occurs when physical activity triggers narrowing of the airways, leading to coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath during or after exercise.
More than 25 million Americans have asthma.
More than 25 million Americans are living with asthma. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 in 13 people in the United States has asthma.
What are the three common asthma triggers?
Asthma symptoms can be triggered by a variety of allergens, irritants, and activities that cause inflammation and narrowing of the airways. Understanding your specific triggers is an important part of controlling asthma symptoms and preventing flare-ups.
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Allergic Asthma
Allergic asthma is triggered by exposure to allergens such as: pet dander, dust mites, mold, tree pollen, grass pollen, weed pollen.
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Non-allergic Asthma
Non-allergic asthma is triggered by environmental irritants and other non-allergy factors, including: tobacco smoke, wood smoke, strong odors or perfumes, cleaning products or air fresheners, weather changes, and respiratory infections.
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Exercise-induced Bronchospasm
Exercise-induced bronchospasm occurs when physical activity causes narrowing of the airways, leading to symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath during or after exercise.
What are the most common asthma symptoms?
Asthma symptoms occur when the airways become inflamed, swollen, and narrowed, making it more difficult to breathe. Increased mucus production can also contribute to coughing, congestion, and breathing problems.
Common asthma symptoms may include:
• Frequent coughing, especially during or after exercise
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing or whistling sounds while breathing
• Chest tightness or pressure
• Coughing that worsens at night
• Difficulty exercising or keeping up with physical activity
Asthma symptoms can range from mild to severe and may worsen during allergy seasons, respiratory infections, exercise, or exposure to irritants such as smoke or strong odors.
How is asthma diagnosed?
Diagnosing asthma involves reviewing your symptoms, medical history, breathing patterns, and possible asthma triggers. Your allergist will perform a physical examination and may recommend additional testing to confirm the diagnosis and evaluate how well your lungs are functioning.
Depending on your symptoms, testing may include lung function testing, allergy testing, or imaging studies such as a chest or sinus X-ray.
Physical Examination
A thorough physical exam can help identify or rule out other medical conditions that may be contributing to breathing problems, coughing, or wheezing.
Medical & Family History
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms, medications, lifestyle, family history, and possible environmental or allergy triggers. Information about coughing, wheezing, exercise intolerance, nighttime symptoms, and respiratory infections can help guide diagnosis and treatment.
Lung Function Testing
Lung function tests, also called pulmonary function tests or spirometry, help measure how well your lungs and airways are working. These tests are often performed before and after using a bronchodilator medication, which helps open the airways and improve breathing.
Lung function testing can help confirm asthma and determine the severity of airway inflammation or obstruction.
How is asthma treated?
Asthma treatment focuses on preventing symptoms, reducing airway inflammation, and controlling asthma flare-ups before they become severe. Successful asthma management often includes identifying triggers, avoiding irritants, monitoring symptoms, and using medications as prescribed.
Treatment plans are personalized based on the severity of symptoms, asthma triggers, and overall lung function.
Long-Term Asthma Control Medications
Long-term control medications help reduce inflammation and prevent ongoing asthma symptoms. These may include:
• Inhaled corticosteroids
• Leukotriene modifiers
• Combination inhalers
• Theophylline
Quick-Relief (Rescue) Medications
Rescue medications are used to quickly open the airways during asthma symptoms or flare-ups. These may include:
• Short-acting bronchodilators (rescue inhalers)
• Anticholinergic medications
• Oral or intravenous corticosteroids
Biologic Therapies for Asthma
Biologic medications are advanced treatments designed to target specific parts of the immune system involved in asthma inflammation. These therapies may be recommended for patients with moderate to severe asthma that is not well controlled with standard medications.
Biologics work by targeting antibodies, inflammatory molecules, or immune system receptors that contribute to asthma symptoms and flare-ups.
Additional Asthma Information
The 4 Levels of Asthma
Asthma is commonly classified into four levels based on symptom frequency, severity, nighttime symptoms, and lung function. Understanding the severity of asthma helps your doctor recommend the most effective treatment plan.
To determine your asthma level, your allergist may ask questions about:
• How often you experience asthma symptoms
• How frequently symptoms wake you at night
• How often you use a rescue inhaler
• Whether asthma interferes with exercise, school, work, or daily activities
• Results from lung function or spirometry testing
The four levels of asthma include:
Intermittent Asthma
Symptoms occur occasionally and are usually mild, with normal breathing between flare-ups.
Mild Persistent Asthma
Symptoms occur more regularly but are typically manageable with long-term control treatment.
Moderate Persistent Asthma
Symptoms occur daily or more frequently and may interfere with sleep, exercise, or daily activities.
Severe Persistent Asthma
Symptoms are frequent, more difficult to control, and may significantly affect breathing and quality of life.
Proper diagnosis and treatment can help patients at every asthma level better control symptoms and reduce asthma flare-ups.
Asthma Diagnosis in Children
Diagnosing asthma in young children can be different than diagnosing asthma in older children or adults. Children under age 5 are often unable to perform standard lung function or spirometry testing, so diagnosis is usually based on symptoms, medical history, physical examination, and response to treatment.
Your child’s allergist may ask about:
• Frequent coughing or wheezing
• Breathing problems during exercise or play
• Nighttime coughing
• Recurring respiratory infections
• Family history of allergies or asthma
In some cases, a bronchodilator or other asthma medication may be prescribed to see whether symptoms improve. Improvement with treatment can help support a diagnosis of asthma.
Early diagnosis and treatment can help children better control symptoms, improve sleep and activity levels, and reduce asthma flare-ups over time.
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