Asthma Description: A chronic condition in which progressively smaller airways called bronchioles undergo changes when stimulated by allergens or other environmental triggers that cause patients to cough, wheeze, and experience shortness of breath. Symptoms: An asthma attack can be induced by lung irritants such as animal dander, pollen, molds, and fungi; allergens such as dust mites (specifically mite feces, which are coated with enzymes that contain a powerful allergen); air pollution including cigarette smoke, diesel fumes, sulfur dioxide from power and paper industries, and nitrogen dioxide from exhaust and gas ovens; exercise; food allergies, occupational exposure to chemical triggers, cold air, thunderstorms, and extreme emotion; and genetic factors. Number of Americans diagnosed: More than 17 million Americans have asthma. Long-term problems/treatments: On a day-to-day basis, a strict drug regimen relieves severe symptoms best, including bronchodilators, medications that open the airways during an asthma attack. Asthmatics can take up to seven or more different drugs daily, including beta2 agonists, theophylline, and corticosteroids, also called glucocorticoids or steroids. An acute asthma attack may require hospitalization. Directory List Choose an illness from the menu below: Select here Allergies Alzheimer's disease Arthritis Asthma Bipolar disorder Chronic back problems Chronic bronchitis Chronic obstructive        pulmonary disease Cirrhosis Depression Developmental disabilities Diabetes Emphysema Endometriosis Epilepsy Glaucoma Hearing impairment Heart disease Hepatitis C High blood pressure Human Immunodeficiency        Virus (HIV) Kidney disease Lou Gehrig's disease Lupus Lyme disease Migraine Multiple sclerosis Muscular Dystrophy Orthopedic Impairments Osteoporosis Paralysis of the extremities Parkinson's disease Psoriasis Schizophrenia Sinusitis Stroke Thyroid condition         Previous      Next Resources Allies Against Asthma Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Home | Awareness | Patient Files | The Challenge | Your Stories | Outreach | Resources About the Program | About Fred Friendly Seminars | Our Partners | Site Map | Credits © 2001 Fred Friendly Seminars, Inc.