What is Asthma?
A chronic condition that affects how easily air moves in and out of your lungs.
Asthma is a chronic disease that affects the airways, making it harder to breathe at times. During an asthma episode, the airways become narrow, which can reduce normal airflow (inhaling and exhaling normally).
Main Asthma Symptoms
The three signs that something is going on with your airways.
- Coughing
- Wheezing (a whistling sound when breathing)
- Shortness of breath
How Airways Become Narrow
Two things can happen in your airways during an asthma attack, often at the same time.
💧Inflammation
- Caused by an infection, allergen, or other triggers.
- The airways swell and produce thick, sticky mucus, making breathing more difficult.
💪Bronchospasm
- The muscles around the airways tighten, usually in response to an irritant like smoke, cold air, or allergens.
- This sudden tightening of the airways is called bronchospasm.
- Airways in people with asthma are generally hyperresponsive, which means they overreact to triggers that would not bother most people.
People with asthma experience recurrent asthma attacks, which are short periods when symptoms get worse.
- Can be mild or life-threatening.
- Can develop slowly or very quickly.
- Can be triggered by many different factors (cold, exercise, allergies, infections, and more).
Patterns of Asthma
Asthma is grouped into 3 common patterns, based on what sets off attacks. Other, less common patterns include cough-variant asthma (where a lasting cough is the main sign), asthma that starts in adulthood, and asthma linked to obesity.
Allergic Asthma
Attacks are triggered by allergens, like:
- Pollen (seasonal allergies)
- Fragrances (perfumes or cleaning products)
- Dust
- Mold
- Allergens from mice or cockroaches
- Pets
Non-Allergic Asthma
Attacks happen due to triggers that are not allergens, such as:
- Exercise
- Occupational or work-related irritants (e.g., chemicals, fumes)
- Tobacco smoke or air pollutants
- Cold air and sudden weather changes
- Respiratory infections (e.g., flu, COVID-19, RSV)
- Acid reflux
- Strong emotions (e.g., anxiety, or stress)
- Posture-related issues (e.g., reflux, sinus problems)
- Nighttime asthma (when symptoms worsen due to changes in lung function and inflammatory mediator release during sleep)
Mix of Allergic and Non-Allergic Asthma
People with this type experience attacks triggered by both, allergens and non-allergic factors.
Differences by Age
Asthma can look a little different depending on when it shows up.
- Children are more likely to have asthma attacks triggered by infections.
- Teens and adults often experience asthma due to allergens or other non-infectious triggers like exercise, air pollution, or emotions.
- More boys than girls have asthma in childhood, but during puberty asthma becomes more common in girls than in boys.
How Asthma Can Affect Your Health
Everyone’s experience is different. Here is what asthma can look like over time.
- is a chronic disease, which means it can last for a long time or even a lifetime.
- may be well managed, and many people with asthma live a normal and active life.
- if well managed, comes with only occasional and brief interruptions due to asthma attacks or asthma-related symptoms.
- might change over the years, and some may experience fewer or no asthma attacks as they grow older.
- if poorly managed, increases the risk of permanent lung damage and serious health complications.
Regardless of the type of asthma or when it starts, good asthma management is essential.
Why It Can Become Serious
Asthma is one of the most common causes of hospitalization among children and adolescents under 15. With consistent care, attacks can usually be prevented or stopped early. Without it, attacks can become more frequent, more severe, and harder to control.
The key to staying safe is education and preparedness:
- Severe attacks can happen even when your asthma usually feels mild.
- Recognize symptoms and respond quickly.
- Follow your asthma action plan.
- Use medications as prescribed.
- Call emergency help (911 in the US, or your local emergency number if you are elsewhere) when needed.
For most teens, asthma is something you live with, not something to fear. With the right routine and support from your medical team, you can keep doing the things you love.
Other Health Conditions to Be Aware Of
Many people with asthma remain healthy apart from their asthma, but some experience other health conditions that are connected to asthma in different ways. The list below is possible, not expected.
🌬️Conditions Often Linked to Asthma Attacks
- Rhinitis (nasal allergies)
- Sinusitis (sinus problems like inflammation)
- Gastroesophageal reflux (reflux that can irritate the airways)
😴Conditions That Can Result from Asthma
- Sleep issues (due to asthma attacks at night)
- Mental health concerns (mainly anxiety or depression linked to the stress of living with asthma)
- Side effects from asthma medications
⚠️Problems Caused by Poorly Managed Asthma
- Severe asthma attacks
- Increased need for higher doses and daily medications
- More school absences and hospitalizations
- Permanent damage to lungs