Skip Navigation
 

Asthma


Description

Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the lung. This inflammatory process can occur along the entire airway from the nose to the lung. Once the airway becomes swollen and inflamed it becomes narrower, allowing less air through to the lung tissue and causing symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and trouble breathing. Once considered a minor ailment affecting only a small portion of the population, asthma is now the most common chronic disorder of childhood, and affects an estimated 6.2 million children under the age of 18. The fact that asthma runs in families suggests that genetic factors play an important role in the development of the disease, however, environmental factors also contribute to the disease process. Asthma can be triggered by a wide range of substances called allergens.

 

Download Media Player:

Use Inhalers - Video tutorial on model differences and proper usage 

 

Health Studies & Clinical Trials

 

What NIEHS is Doing on Asthma

 

General Information

woman giving young girl an asthma treatment

 

For Educators

 

Related Topics

Back to Top