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Asthma is a chronic condition that affects the airways and lungs by narrowing the airways making it difficult to breathe. Asthma tightens the muscles around your airways causing them to narrow which makes it more difficult to take in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. Asthma can inflame and constrict your trachea leading to coughing and breathing difficulties. It can cause vocal cords dysfunction, It can cause mucus buildup in your pharynx. It also affects your lungs.

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Shortness of breath

Chest tightness or pain

Wheezing

Coughing/wheezing attacks

trouble sleeping from shortness of breath

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Asthma is caused by genetic and environmental factors. It’s not possible for someone to be born with asthma but you can get it at any age. Asthma is diagnosed by checking your medical history to see if any relatives have asthma and then you go through a physical exam, and after testing to rule out other diseases and finally testing to determine its asthma

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Asthma is very common, 7.7% of Americans have asthma. Of these 24.9 million are adults and 20.2 million are children. Asthma is more likely to occur in adults than children and more likely in females rather than males.

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Treatments for asthma include medicines like: Albuterol, Ipatropium, or prednisone. Some flu and pneumonia vaccines to prevent complications and the inhaler. There is no cure for asthma.

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“Asthma: Testing and Diagnosis.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 25 Jan. 2024, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma/in-depth/asthma/art-20045198.

“Asthma.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 8 Mar. 2025, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma/symptoms-causes/syc-20369653.

“Facts and Stats - 8.3% of Americans Have Asthma.” ACAAI Patient, 13 Feb. 2024, acaai.org/asthma/asthma-101/facts-stats/.

Cherney, Kristeen. “How Can Asthma Affect the Respiratory System?” Healthline, Healthline Media, 17 Mar. 2025, www.healthline.com/health/asthma/how-does-asthma-affect-the-respiratory-system#other-respiratory-parts.

“Asthma.” NHS Choices, NHS, 7 Apr. 2025, www.nhs.uk/conditions/asthma/#:~:text=There’s%20currently%20no%20cure%20for,if%20your%20asthma%20is%20severe.