Asthma is a disease characterized by difficulty breathing, coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. It causes the airways in your lungs to become hypersensitive via an inflammatory process. They swell up, constrict, and get clogged with thick sticky mucus in response to triggers such as exercise, allergen exposure (house dust, pollens, molds, dogs, cats and sometimes foods), upper respiratory infections, and weather changes. Asthma symptoms may be continuous or intermittent, and if acute, can be fatal if untreated.

Asthma treatment begins with a detailed evaluation of medical history, physical examination, allergen exposures, pulmonary function tests, and if necessary, X-rays or CT scans to establish the diagnosis and severity of your asthma. Appropriate controller and rescue inhalers are prescribed if indicated. Allergy evaluation and management is recommended if your asthma is allergic in nature.

Ongoing management and control of asthma along with early self management of exacerbations under supervision of an Asthma Specialist is the best way to keep the disease in check.