Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the body’s bronchial (airway) tissues. People with asthma experience shortness of breath, chest tightness, coughing and wheezing.  More than 20 million Americans suffer from asthma, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

People with asthma experience intensified symptoms during an asthma attack, which occurs when exposure to allergens or other stimuli further inflame the airways, leading to an inability to expel trapped air from the lungs.

There is no cure for asthma. People with asthma have a chronic and variable, but controllable, condition. Patients can combine education, lung function measurement, avoidance techniques, lifestyle changes and appropriate medications to reduce the likelihood of experiencing symptoms. Such a comprehensive approach is known as asthma management.

The key goals in an asthma management plan include achieving the following:

• Minimal or nonexistent chronic symptoms
• Minimal or nonexistent flare-ups
• No restrictions on physical activity
• No missed work or school days due to asthma
• No emergency room visits or hospital room stays
• Minimal need to use short-acting inhaled beta-agonists
• Minimal or nonexistent side effects due to medications

Once an individual has been diagnosed with asthma, a physician will develop a specific asthma action plan to help the patient monitor the condition.