“Perhaps it’s a cold,” you think, trying not to panic. The issue goes away. However, the symptoms come back a few days later. And soon you start to observe them on a regular basis.
Certain things seem to trigger these episodes. You’ve noticed breathing issues after being around a neighbor who smokes, while holding another neighbor’s cat, again while exercising, and after being in a dusty shed.
A visit to your doctor reveals a concerning diagnosis -- asthma.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), asthma is a chronic condition that affects over 25 million Americans. Most often diagnosed in childhood, nearly seven million of those who suffer from asthma are children.
So just what is asthma?
Asthma is a condition that causes both an inflammation and constriction of the airways leading to the lungs, as well as a buildup of mucus. This makes the movement of air to and from the lungs difficult.