Asthma: What Patients Should Know

Here are some commonly asked questions about asthma.
• What causes asthma?
While we know that asthma tends to run in families, no one really knows why certain people get it. We do know that many different things can cause an asthma attack. These are called "triggers." You can prevent episodes of breathing difficulties if you understand your personal triggers and learn how to avoid them. Some of the common ones are: infections, allergies, exercise, chemicals and tobacco smoke, emotions, reactions from medications, weather and air pollution and gastro-esophageal reflux.
• How is asthma treated?
Usually asthma medications quickly improve asthma attacks. Medicines for treating asthma come in many different form, but the most common is the inhaler.
• What should you expect from your asthma treatment?
No symptoms or minor symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and chest tightness.
– Sleeping through the night without asthma symptoms.
– No time off from school or work due to asthma.
– Full participation in physical activities.
– No emergency room visits or stays in the hospital.
– Little or no side effects from asthma medicine.