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Article: Asthma; Facts to Know.
- Article from:
- NWHRC Health Center - Asthma
- Article date:
- September 4, 2008
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 National Women's Health Resource Center. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Asthma is a chronic lung condition caused by heightened sensitivity to various things in the environment, such as pollen, dust and smoke. Exposure to these "triggers" causes the air passages to become swollen and inflamed, causing the hallmark symptoms of an asthma "attack": increased mucous production, wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and difficulty breathing.
Asthma can't be cured, but it can be controlled with a variety of medications. If not well controlled, asthma can be life threatening. Lifelong management is necessary.
The rate of asthma is higher in children than in adults (7.3 percent of adults have asthma, compared to 9.4 percent of ...