More than 4 million kids in the U.S. under the age of eighteen have asthma. What is asthma and what can it do? Do I have asthma?

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a condition that causes your airways to get swollen. This swelling causes the airways to become overreactive, thus producing increased mucus, swelling and muscle contraction.

What are some of symptoms of an asthma attack?

Kids that have asthma have trouble breathing. They may cough a lot and feel their chest tightening . Not everyone that has asthma has all these symptoms. There are thirty-four other possible causes for wheezing. However,

How do your lungs act when you have an asthma attack?

The lungs respond by developing a spasm of the airways and some mucus secretions. It is believed that this occurs because there is a swelling on the sides of the airways. This is what makes someone cough and wheeze and be short of breath.

What is the goal for asthma?

Controlling asthma is the primary goal. It can be controlled by breathing in medicine through a device called an inhaler. Most asthma experts believe if treatment is started early and at the appropriate doses, growth and puberty might not be permanently or significantly affected.

The long-term effects of daily inhaled steroid medicine on growth and puberty is being studied but we know that undertreatment or poorly treated asthma itself may suppress growth. The goal of asthma therapy is to have patients be on the lowest possible dose of the least number of medications.

Is there a cure for asthma?

There is no cure for asthma. However, with the proper diagnosis and treatment, asthma sufferers can lead normal, active lives with little disturbance to their qualities of life. Some kids have asthma symptoms that clear during adolescence while others worsen. Unfortunately, there is no way to predict a kid's future status.

There is no cure for asthma but if you can take care of your body or help someone that does has asthma, you can feel better about your own health or someone else's health.

 

 Inhaler graphic on this page created by the
"Kids Making Healthy Choices" ThinkQuest team.