What is Asthma?

Asthma is a condition that makes it difficult for a person to breathe. People who have asthma have inflamed airways. The inflammation makes the airways swollen and sensitive. When the airways react to substances we breathe in the air, the muscles around the airways tighten which narrows the airways and causes less air to flow into the lungs. Asthma causes wheezing (a whistling sound when you breathe), chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing.

Of the 25 million people suffering from Asthma in the U.S., about 7 million are children. Each year, more than 3 million new cases of asthma are diagnosed in America.

Sometimes asthma symptoms are mild and go away on their own or after minimal treatment with asthma medicine. Other times, symptoms continue to get worse.

Treating asthma symptoms when you first notice them is important. The Pulmonary and Sleep Center of the Valley has treatments that may keep the symptoms from worsening and causing a severe asthma attack.

Although there is no cure for asthma, most people who have asthma are able to manage the disease drawing from a variety of modern and effective treatment options. If you have asthma, or think you may have asthma, the Pulmonary and Sleep Center of the Valley will help you take an active role in managing the disease. Treated effectively, asthma patients can live normal and active lives, and sleep through the night without interruption from asthmatic episodes.