What is asthma?

May is Allergy and Asthma Awareness Month. Asthma is a disease of your lungs that causes coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing and chest tightness. It is caused by inflammation in the airways of the lungs, which is present even if you don't feel any symptoms. You feel the symptoms when something triggers the lungs to react. We don't know what causes asthma, but it does run in families. 

Asthma triggers can include exposure to allergens (pollen, pets, dust, mold, foods), respiratory tract irritants (smoke, pollution, chemicals, exhaust, strong odors), exercise, weather changes, viral illnesses, etc. Many people have other health problems that can make asthma worse, such as nasal allergies, sinus disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, obstructive sleep apnea, stress and depression.
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