Have you ever tried to take a breath through a coffee stirrer? Try it sometime and notice just how difficult it is to get enough air. When someone has an asthma attack, it can be like breathing through a coffee stirrer. Asthma is a chronic (long-term) lung disease that affects both children and adults.

In the United States, asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in childhood. Based on telephone surveys, it is estimated that over 85 thousand children and 150 thousand adults in Harris County have been diagnosed with asthma. In Texas, the percentage of people reporting a diagnosis of asthma varies across racial and ethnic groups, with Hispanics having a much lower percentage (7.5 percent) than non-Hispanic Blacks (12.5 percent), non-Hispanic Whites (13.4 percent) and non-Hispanic others (12.3 percent). No one knows exactly what causes asthma, but we do know how to treat and control it.

Asthma can be difficult to diagnose or to tell apart from other respiratory or lung diseases. You may not have symptoms of asthma until you have an asthma attack. An asthma attack may be triggered when something irritates your lungs. During an asthma attack you may experience wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and a tightening of your chest. You may also wake up in the middle of the night with coughing fits. Serious asthma attacks can even lead to death.

Diagnosis of asthma can only be made by a licensed physician. If you or your child has had any symptoms of asthma, you can make an appointment with your doctor to be evaluated. Your primary care physician or your child’s pediatrician may refer you to an allergist, a doctor with special training in treating allergies and asthma. During your visit, the doctor will ask you questions about coughing and other symptoms of asthma. You will also be asked about your family history of asthma and allergies.

Your doctor may measure your lung performance with a machine called a spirometer. A spirometer measures the amount of air you can exhale after taking a deep breath. Asthma cannot be cured, but it can be controlled. The best ways to control your asthma are to take your medications as prescribed and to avoid exposure to your asthma triggers. Stay tuned for a list of common asthma triggers and everyday steps you can take to reduce their effects on your asthma.

For more information you can visit the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology at http://www.aaaai.org/patients/allergic_conditions/asthma.htm or the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America at http://www.aafa.org (click on the Asthma button on the left side of the screen).

You can also speak with an Asthma Information Specialist by calling 1-800-315-8056 between 8 am and 4 pm Monday – Friday (English and Spanish).

American Lung Association. State of the Air: 2004. New York, NY, 2004. http://lungaction.org/reports/stateoftheair2004.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey Data. Atlanta, GA: United States Department of Health and Human Services, 2002. http://www.cdc.gov/asthma/brfss/02/lifetime/tableL5.htm