The Basics
- What is asthma?
Asthma is a chronic disease that affects your lungs, making breathing difficult. It is the most common long-term disease of children, but adults have asthma, too.
- Asthma Attacks
If you have asthma, you have it all the time, but an asthma attack only occurs when something bothers your lungs. When an attack occurs your airways become inflamed and narrow, mucus increases in the throat, and muscles tighten around the chest and throat; which causes symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, difficulty breathing, and a feeling of tightness in the chest.
- Triggers
The things which bother your lungs causing an asthma attack are called “triggers”. Different people have different asthma triggers. The following are some common asthma triggers:
- Air pollution
- Dust
- Mold
- Pollen
- Tobacco Smoke
- Pet dander
- Exercise
- Changes in temperature (e.g. cold air)
- Household chemicals
- Some foods
- How to control for triggers
Survey your surroundings for asthma triggers you can eliminate or reduce. If you smoke, call 1-888-567-TRUTH or visit www.utahquitnet.com for help to quit.
10 Steps To Making Your Home Asthma-Friendly (English)
http://www.health.utah.gov/asthma/pdf_files/Fact_Sheets/asthma-friendly_home.pdf
http://www.health.utah.gov/asthma/pdf_files/Fact_Sheets/asthma-friendly_home.pdf
