Our Health Library information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Please be advised that this information is made available to assist our patients to learn more about their health. Our providers may not see and/or treat all topics found herein. Asthma is a lifelong condition that can make it hard to breathe. It causes the airways that lead to the lungs to swell and get inflamed. Some people have a hard time breathing only at certain times. This may be during allergy season, when they get a cold, or when they exercise. Others have breathing problems a lot of the time. When asthma symptoms suddenly get worse (or flare up), the airways tighten and become narrower. This makes it hard to breathe, and you may wheeze or cough. These flare-ups are also called asthma attacks or exacerbations (say "ig-ZAS-ur-BAY-shuns"). Even though asthma is a lifelong condition, treatment can help you feel and breathe better and help keep your lungs healthy. Experts don't know exactly what causes asthma. But we do know that asthma runs in families. And it's much more common in people who have allergies. When you have asthma, you may wheeze or cough a lot. You may also feel tightness in your chest or feel short of breath. To find out if you have asthma, your doctor will do a physical exam and ask you questions about your health. He or she may also have you do breathing tests to find out how well your lungs work. Asthma is treated with medicine to help you breathe easier. Controller medicines are used to prevent asthma attacks. Quick-relief medicines are used when symptoms need to be treated fast. Treatment also includes things you can do to control your symptoms, like avoiding your triggers and following your asthma action plan. There's no certain way to prevent asthma. But you can reduce your risk of asthma attacks by avoiding things that cause them. For example, don't smoke. Try not to exercise outside when it's cold and dry. And stay inside when pollution levels are high. Using your asthma controller medicine helps prevent asthma attacks. Health Tools help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health. You may be more likely to have asthma if: Other things that may put you at risk for asthma include: When you have asthma, you may: Symptoms may start soon after you're around things (triggers) that cause your asthma attacks. This is an early phase response. Or they may start several hours after exposure (late phase response). A late phase response can make it harder to figure out what triggers your symptoms. Symptoms can be mild or severe. You may have symptoms daily or just now and then. Or you may have something in between. Some people have symptoms that get worse at night, such as a cough and shortness of breath. Asthma often starts when you're a child or teen, or you may get it as an adult. It usually lasts throughout your life. At times, the inflammation from asthma causes your airways to narrow and mucus to increase. This causes asthma symptoms such as shortness of breath. You may have symptoms every day or just now and then, or you may have something in between. Sometimes your symptoms may suddenly get worse (or flare up) and cause an asthma attack. Over time, your breathing problems may get more severe, or you may have symptoms more often. You may have a hard time breathing only at certain times, like during allergy season, or when you get a cold, or when you exercise. Or you may have breathing problems a lot of the time. The things that make your asthma or breathing worse are called triggers. Even mild asthma may cause long-term changes to your airways and lungs. It may speed up and make worse the natural decrease in lung function that occurs as we age. Asthma can make lung and airway infections like bronchitis and pneumonia worse. Asthma may raise your risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Asthma can occur for the first time during pregnancy, or it may change during pregnancy. When asthma is well controlled, there are little or no increased risks to the pregnancy. Call 911 or other emergency services right away if: Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if: Call your doctor if: If you have not been diagnosed with asthma but have mild asthma symptoms, call your doctor and make an appointment to be checked. Watchful waiting is a "wait and see" approach. It may be okay as long as you follow your asthma action plan and stay within the green zone. Watch your symptoms, and continue to avoid your asthma triggers. To find out if you have asthma, your doctor will do a physical exam and ask you questions about your health. Your doctor may also have you do breathing (lung function) tests to find out how well your lungs work. Your doctor may also do other tests to make sure your symptoms aren't caused by another lung or health problem. Lung function tests can help your doctor diagnose asthma, see how bad it is, and check for problems. These tests may include: Asthma can be hard to diagnose because the symptoms vary widely. And asthma-like symptoms can also be caused by other conditions, such as a viral lung infection (like pneumonia), a vocal cord problem, or a problem with another organ, like your heart. So your doctor may want to do other tests. If your doctor thinks your symptoms may be caused by allergies, your doctor may order allergy tests. Asthma is treated with medicine to help you breathe easier, along with self-care. It's important to treat asthma, because even mild asthma can damage your airways. By following your treatment plan, you can meet your goals to: Most medicines for asthma are inhaled. These types of medicines go straight to your airways, where the problem is. The main medicines used to treat asthma include: These medicines prevent asthma attacks, stop problems before they happen, and reduce inflammation in your lungs. These things help you control your asthma. If you have symptoms often, you will likely need to take your controller medicine daily. Inhaled corticosteroids are the preferred controller medicines. Your controller inhaler may also include a long-acting medicine that relaxes the airways to help you breathe. These medicines are used when you can't prevent symptoms and need to treat them fast. These help relax the airways and allow you to breathe easier. Albuterol is a quick-relief medicine that is often used. In some cases, a certain type of controller inhaler is used as a quick-relief medicine. Ask your doctor what to use for quick relief. These medicines may be used to treat asthma attacks. Other medicines may be given in some cases. There are things you can do to help manage your asthma. You can follow your asthma action plan and try to avoid things that trigger your symptoms. If you have asthma symptoms that are triggered by allergens, your doctor may recommend immunotherapy. For this treatment, you get allergy shots that have a small amount of certain allergens in them. Your body "gets used to" the allergen, so you react less to it over time. This kind of treatment may help prevent or reduce some allergy symptoms. For some people, allergy shots reduce asthma symptoms and the need for medicines. But allergy shots don't work equally well for all allergens. Allergy shots should not be given when asthma is not well-controlled. There are things you can do to control your asthma. Common triggers include colds, smoke, air pollution, dust or dust mites, pollen, mold, pet dander, cockroaches, stress, and cold dry air. Here are some ways to avoid triggers: An asthma action plan is a written plan that will help you control your asthma every day and know what to do during an asthma attack. If you don't have an action plan, work with your doctor to make one. An asthma action plan usually includes: Teens who have asthma may see the illness as cutting into their freedom. They may feel that it sets them apart from their friends. But there are ways you can help your teen manage their asthma care. Medicine helps you breathe easier and control your asthma. It doesn't cure asthma. But it's an important part of managing it. Medicines for asthma treatment are used to: Most medicines for asthma are inhaled. They allow a specific dose to be given directly to the airways. The main medicines used to treat asthma include: If you have symptoms often, you will likely need to take your controller medicine daily. Inhaled corticosteroids are the preferred controller medicines. They include budesonide, fluticasone and mometasone. Your controller medicine may also include a long-acting medicine that relaxes the airways to help you breathe. These medicines are used when you can't prevent symptoms and need to treat them fast. Quick-relief medicines, such as beta2-agonists, help relax the airways and allow you to breathe easier. Albuterol is a quick-relief medicine that is often used. In some cases, a certain type of controller inhaler is used as a quick-relief medicine. Ask your doctor what to use for quick relief. These medicines may be used to treat asthma attacks. The oral form is used much more than the injected form. They include methylprednisolone and prednisone. There are other long-term medicines that are sometimes used alone or with other medicines. They include: Other medicines may be given in some cases. Medicine treatment for asthma depends on your age and type of asthma. It also depends on how well the treatment controls your asthma symptoms. Your doctor may use a different approach for your situation. The goal is to use the least amount of medicine you can to control asthma symptoms. You may also be started at the lowest dose that helps you. Complementary medicine is a term used for a wide range of health care practices that may be used along with standard medical treatment. Some people have found that mind and body practices such as acupuncture, breathing exercises, and yoga have been helpful for their asthma. But there is not evidence to say if these practices help. Talk with your doctor if you are using complementary health practices or would like to. Your doctor can help you manage your health better if he or she knows all the treatments you use. Current as of: August 6, 2023 Author: Healthwise Staff Current as of: August 6, 2023 Author: Healthwise Staff Clinical Review Board This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise.org. © 1995-2024 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.Asthma in Teens and Adults
Condition Basics
What is asthma?
What causes it?
What are the symptoms?
How is it diagnosed?
How is asthma treated?
How can you prevent asthma attacks?
Health Tools
What Increases Your Risk
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Symptoms
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What Happens
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When to Call a Doctor
Watchful waiting
Exams and Tests
Breathing (lung function) tests
Tests for other diseases
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Treatment Overview
Medicines
Self-care
Other treatments
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Self-Care
Taking medicines
Avoiding triggers
Following an asthma action plan
Help your teen manage asthma
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Medicines
Medicine choices
How your doctor prescribes asthma medicines
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Complementary Medicine
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Related Information
Credits
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
Our Health Library information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Please be advised that this information is made available to assist our patients to learn more about their health. Our providers may not see and/or treat all topics found herein. Current as of: August 6, 2023 Author: Healthwise Staff Clinical Review BoardAsthma in Teens and Adults
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.