1. Asthma Slideshow Pictures
2. Take the Asthma Quiz!
3. 10 Worst Cities for Asthma Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

George Schiffman, MD, FCCP

George Schiffman, MD, FCCP

Dr. Schiffman received his B.S. degree with High Honors in biology from Hobart College in 1976. He then moved to Chicago where he studied biochemistry at the University of Illinois, Chicago Circle. He attended Rush Medical College where he received his M.D. degree in 1982 and was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. He completed his Internal Medicine internship and residency at the University of California, Irvine.

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Medical Author:

Alan Szeftel, MD

Alan Szeftel, MD

Dr. Szeftel received his Medical Degree from the University of Cape Town Medical School in South Africa. His clinical training was at Groote Schuur Hospital. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard University. He is board certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Diseases, Critical Care and Allergy and Immunology.

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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In this Article

• Myths, facts, and statistics about asthma
• What is asthma?
• From the past to the present
• The scope of the problem
• Normal bronchial tubes
• How does asthma affect breathing?
• The importance of inflammation
• Which triggers cause an asthma attack?
• The many faces of asthma
• Types: allergic (extrinsic) and nonallergic (intrinsic) asthma
• Typical asthma symptoms and signs
• Acute asthma attack
• What medications are used in the treatment of asthma?
• Asthma At A Glance
• Asthma FAQs
• Patient Comments: Asthma - Symptoms
• Patient Comments: Asthma - Effective Treatments
• Find a local Asthma & Allergy Specialist in your town
• Asthma Index

• Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the bronchial tubes (airways) that causes swelling and narrowing (constriction) of the airways. The bronchial narrowing is usually either totally or at least partially reversible with treatments.
• Asthma is now the most common chronic illness in children, affecting one in every 15.
• Asthma involves only the bronchial tubes and usually does not affect the air sacs or the lung tissue. The narrowing that occurs in asthma is caused by three major factors: inflammation, bronchospasm, and hyperreactivity.
• Allergy can play a role in some, but not all, asthma patients.
• Many factors can precipitate asthma attacks and they are classified as either allergens or irritants.
• Symptoms of asthma include shortness of breath, wheezing, cough, and chest tightness.
• Asthma is usually diagnosed based on the presence of wheezing and confirmed with breathing tests.
• Chest X-rays are usually normal in asthma patients.
• Avoiding precipitating factors is important in the management of asthma.
• Medications can be used to reverse or prevent bronchospasm in patients with asthma.

REFERENCES:

Davies, S. Peak expiratory flow rate monitoring in asthma. In: UpToDate, Rose, BD (Ed), UpToDate, Wellesley, MA, 2005.

Kohler, C. Metered dose inhaler techniques in adults. In: UpToDate, Rose, BD (Ed), UpToDate, Wellesley, MA, 2005.

Murray, J. and J. Nadel. Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. Third edition. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company, 2000.

Peters, et al. "Tiotropium Bromide Step-Up Therapy for Adults With Uncontrolled Asthma." NEJM 363 (2010): 1715-1726.

Medically reviewed by: Ellen Reich, MD, Board Certified in Allergy and Immunology, Board Certified in Pediatrics