Risks and Symptoms

• What Is Asthma?

• What Asthma Looks Like

• What Causes Asthma

• Asthma Symptoms

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Common pollutants, such as traffic exhaust and secondhand smoke, are well-known causes of lung problems, including asthma. But there are a number of other irritants—some of them found in your own home or car—that can also trigger asthma symptoms.   View slideshow

Asthma is more common in children than in adults, and H1N1, also known as swine flu, seems to strike younger people more often than older ones—a complete flip-flop from seasonal flu.  Read More

With more than 100,000 species worldwide, roughly a thousand of which are native to the United States, molds are literally everywhere on the planet. In nature, mold can be healthy—but in our homes, it can trigger dangerous asthma and allergies.   View slideshow

If you’ve ever seen a brown haze of pollution hanging over your city, most likely your response was, “Ugh. How can I avoid breathing that stuff?” But let’s face it, even if you know it’s a bad air day, you probably need to grab some sunshine, get in an outdoor run, or get to work.  Read More

Although the cause of asthma is still a bit mysterious, much is known about the risk factors for the disease—some factors you can change and others you cannot. For example, asthma is more common in boys than girls and in children in urban areas than other parts of the country; plus, it is more likely to be diagnosed in people who are obese than in those who are slender.  Read More

It’s no surprise that most people have at least heard of asthma. Nearly 23 million people in the United States, including more than 6 million children, have the respiratory condition, and cases are on the rise. Even if you don’t have asthma, chances are you have a friend, relative, or child who does. But how much do you really know? Find out by taking our quiz.  Read More

• What Happens During an Asthma Attack

• How to Prevent Asthma Attacks

• When Call a Doctor or 911

• How Exercise Can Trigger Asthma

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