Asthma Scientific Facts Overview

Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory lung disease. The air passages within the lungs are constantly swollen, restricting the amount of air allowed to pass through the trachea. Asthmatics have recurrent breathing problems and a tendency to cough and wheeze.

According to the American Lung association, about 20 million Americans have asthma, which causes about 5,000 deaths each year.

Asthma is incurable, but many medications and changes in behavior may help manage the condition.

Allergic asthma occurs when allergens cause the airway to become inflamed.

When the airway becomes constricted during vigorous physical activity, the condition is known as exercise-induced asthma.

Cough-variant asthma is a chronic, persistent cough without shortness of breath.

Occupational asthma occurs as a result of a particular environment. Once the patient is out of the environment, symptoms gradually disappear.

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