Asthma Facts

• Asthma is a chronic disease of the airways.  
  
• Asthma is not contagious.
• Asthma can be controlled with proper management.
• Symptoms can be reduced from severe to moderate, and from moderate to mild.
• Identifying and avoiding triggers, such as cockroaches, house dust, furry animals, and smoke can help control asthma symptoms and prevent asthma attacks.
• Some asthma medications are taken to relieve symptoms when they occur (quick relief medicines).
• Some asthma medications need to be taken regularly to control asthma (long-term control medications). These medications reduce inflammation of the airway and are taken every day even when you have no symptoms.
  

Asthma Management Tools

These tools can help you control your asthma.

Peak flow meter measures how well your asthma is controlled each day.

Spacer or holding chamber helps medicine get deep in your airways where it is needed. Without one, the medicine ends up in the back your throat.

Asthma Action Plan is a plan that you and your health team develop to help you prevent and handle an asthma episode. Every person with asthma should have their own Asthma Action Plan.

Severe Asthma