Walgreens-OptionCare > Respiratory > Common breathing problems > Asthma

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Asthma is a long-lasting respiratory condition that causes the lungs' airways to become inflamed, swollen, and narrowed, making breathing difficult. The airways are the tubes leading into the lungs and throughout the lungs. Approximately 18 million people in the U.S. suffer from asthma.

There are many myths about asthma: that it isn't serious, that it is all in your head, that you have to "slow down," or that you can't play sports. None of these are true.

The most common symptoms of asthma include:

• shortness of breath
• wheezing
• tightness in the chest
• a dry cough lasting more than a week

How often asthma symptoms occur and how severe they are vary from person to person. For example, not every person with asthma wheezes; some experience coughing at night or have an asthma attack after exercise. Also, asthma can affect people of any age.

While there is no cure for asthma, controlling and preventing asthma episodes are key to effective management. Today, the focus is on preventing and treating asthma attacks. This is accomplished in two ways:

1. Identifying and avoiding triggers
2. Reducing swelling in the airways, usually with prescribed medications.

Recognizing and learning to avoid triggers or reducing their impact are critical to managing asthma. Not everyone has the same triggers. Asthma attacks may be triggered by any of the following:

• Air pollution
• Animal dander
• Cockroaches
• Dust mites
• Emotions
• Exercise
• Foods and preservatives
• Hormonal changes
• House dust
• Medicine
• Mold
• Odors
• Pollen
• Reflux disease/heartburn
• Sinusitis
• Smoke
• Viruses
• Weather

Prescription medications now are recognized as critical for long-term control. Depending on the severity of your asthma, your doctor may prescribe long-acting mediations that are taken orally and/or inhaled through an inhalation device (metered-dose inhaler or MDI) or nebulizer machine on a daily basis. Other quick-relief medicines are formulated to use during an acute asthma episode.

If you have asthma, see your physician regularly to review your asthma medication and the proper method of administration. We provide nebulizer medications, compressors, and supplies. Get more details about nebulizer medications.