What Is Asthma?

You probably have asthma, or care about someone with asthma, and are hoping to get it under control. As you know, with asthma there are good days and not-so-good days. You feel good when it is under control. When breathing is difficult, or you feel as though your condition is running your life, it can make you miserable.

Asthma is a serious and chronic physical condition, but it doesn't have to control your life. With the right information and new skills that you will learn here, you will be able to manage your asthma on a daily basis. You'll find that your difficult days are fewer and farther between as you discover how much better you feel when you take your medicine and make a variety of changes to your lifestyle and attitude.

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What Is Asthma?

Here, you will learn

Written by Karen Serrano, MD

Emergency Medicine resident at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Reviewed by Lisa V. Suffian, MD

Instructor of Clinical Pediatrics in the Division of Allergy and Pulmonary Medicine at Saint Louis Children's Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine

Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, Saint Louis University

Board certified in Allergy and Immunology

Last updated June 2008