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:
- Cough – may be worse at night
- Wheezing – high pitched whistling sounds when breathing, especially in children
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest tightness
If symptoms occur or get worse in the following situations, talk to your health care provider:
- Exercise
- Viral infection (example – flu, colds, sinus infections)
- Exposure to animals, dust mites, mold, or pollen
- Exposure to tobacco smoke or wood smoke, airborne chemicals (example hair spray, cleaning products, room deodorizers and perfumes)
- Changes in weather
- Strong physical expression of emotion (laughing or crying hard)
- Stress
- Menstrual periods
Asthma can be controlled, expect nothing less!
Download the Asthma Brochure here
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.