What is Asthma?

Asthma is a serious, sometimes life-threatening respiratory disease that affects the quality of life for millions of Americans. Although there is no cure for asthma yet, asthma can be controlled through medical asthma treatment and management of environmental triggers.

Asthma Facts

• Asthma leads to 2 million emergency room visits and 5,000 deaths per year in the U.S.
• Asthma accounted for more than 14 million missed school days in 2000.
• Asthma costs (health care costs and lost productivity) totaled $14 billion in 2002.

Cause of Asthma

Find out what you can do to eliminate asthma triggers in your home. Learn more about factors found in the indoor and outdoor environment that can cause, trigger, or exacerbate asthma symptoms and what you can do to reduce their impact. You might be surprised by the list of common causes of asthma and how simple it can be to eliminate them from your environment.

Asthma in Children - Preventing Asthma Attacks

Step 1 - Talk to a doctor

Talk to a doctor about your child’s asthma. If your child has asthma or if you think your child may have asthma, take your child to a doctor. Your doctor will work with you to keep your child from having asthma attacks.

• Learn what triggers your child’s asthma attacks.
• Identify asthma triggers in your home.
• Talk about ways to get rid of triggers in your home.
• Find out what medicine your child should take.

Step 2 - Make a Plan

Ask your doctor to help you create your child’s Asthma Action Plan. Work with your doctor to create an Asthma Action Plan that will help you learn to prevent your child’s asthma attacks. An Asthma Action Plan will help you control your child's asthma on a regular basis.

Step 3 - Asthma-Proof Your Home

Triggers are a part of everyday life. Asthma attacks can be triggered by things like mold growing on your shower curtain or tiny dust mites that live in blankets, pillow, or your child's stuffed animals.