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Asthma: Most Popular Articles

These articles are the most popular over the last month.
Asthma Symptoms
What are the symptoms of asthma? Asthma symptoms can be con-specific and somewhat confusing. Learn about the symptoms that you need to know to suspect asthma.
Asthma Flares
When your asthma symptoms worsen and an asthma attack is starting you need to know what to do. Learn how your asthma care plan will guide you through an asthma attack and the specific symptoms you need to look out for.
Chest Tightness
Chest tightness is one of the classic asthma symptoms and, while chest tightness is common, you need to make sure your symptoms are not due to a more serious condition. Learn what it means, when you should call your doctor, the questions your doctor is likely to ask, and what tests your doctor may order.
Albuterol Medication Guide
A medication guide for the albuterol inhaler. Learn about uses of albuterol, how your doctor may prescribe albuterol, and what the possible side effects and drug interactions might be.
Chronic Cough & Asthma
Chronic cough is one of the 5 most common reasons people see a doctor. Is your cough related to your asthma? What do you need to know and do to better care for your asthma?
Adult Wheezing and Asthma
What is wheezing? What does it sound like? What do I need to do about it? Learn what you need to know and to related to wheezing.
basophil
Definition of a basophil
Infant Asthma
Getting an asthma diagnosis in your infant can be difficult. Learn about the similarities and differences between infant asthma and asthma in adults.
Asthma Medication Types
Your doctor has an arsenal of potential medications to treat your asthma. You need to understand which medications you should be on, how and when to take your asthma medication, and the potential side effects.
Shortness of Breath & Asthma
Shortness of breath is a common asthma symptom. Learn what it means and what you need to do.
What Is Asthma?
What is asthma? Learn about what asthma is, statistics about asthma, types of asthma, and general information regarding diagnosis and treatment of asthma.
Asthma & FEV1
What is the definition of forced expiratory volume or FEV1?
Asthma Treatment
Close monitoring of symptoms,avoiding asthma triggers, and medications are important parts of your asthma treatment. Learn about essential parts of your asthma treatment.
IgE and Asthma
Some patients with poorly controlled asthma may have elevated IgE levels, and benefit from treatment. Learn what you need to know and do about IgE and asthma.
Flovent
Flovent is an inhaled steroid used in the treatment of asthma. What you need to know about indications, formulations, safety information and how to get the most out of your Flovent.
Pathophysiology Asthma Attack
A number of different things happen in your lungs during an asthma attack that may make your symptoms worse. Learn more about the asthma pathophysiology of an asthma attack.
Normal Peak Flow
Measuring your peak flow is an important part of your asthma care plan? If the measurements are going to be meaningful, you need to know how to figure out what your peak flow should be. Learn several different ways to determine what your normal peak flow should be.
Viral-Induced Asthma
Viral-induced asthma is what can happen when viruses cause asthma symptoms. When it comes to asthma, sometimes a simple common cold can be anything but simple. Viruses, such as those that can cause a cold or the flu, can lead to the development or worsening of asthma symptoms -- even if you never had asthma to start with.
Asthma Medcation Side Effects
You may take a number of different medications for your asthma, but what do you know about asthma medication side effects? All medicines have side effects - some are bothersome, some worrisome, and some emergencies. Learn what you need to know about your asthma medicine’s side effects.
Asthma Pathophysiology
If you can understand the pathophysiology of asthma, you can understand why your doctor prescribes certain medications or asks you to do certain things in treating your asthma. Learn more about the pathophysiology of asthma.
Antihistamines
Antihistamines can control your allergy symptoms and may help you get better control of your asthma.
ICS
What are inhaled corticosteroids? How do they work? What are the side effects? Learn what you need to know and do to get better control of your asthma.
Asthma Tests
During the diagnosis or treatment of asthma, you are likely to undergo a number of asthma tests. Learn about asthma tests, what they are like, and what the results mean.
Asthma & Vital Capacity
What is vital capacity?
LABA Bronchodilator
LABA bronchodilators can be an important part of your asthma care plan, but there are some safety concerns you need to be aware of. Learn what you need to know about LABAs.
Cough Variant Asthma
Sometimes cough alone may be the only symptom of asthma. Learn about this asthma type, how it is diagnosed, and treated.
Asthma Diagnosis
Sometimes finding out that your symptoms are caused by asthma can be difficult, which can be kind of scary. Here you will find out how you and your doctor can go about figuring out if your symptoms are from asthma. You will learn about making an asthma diagnosis and asthma diagnostic testing.
Singulair & Asthma
Singulair is in a class of medications called leukotriene modifiers. This class of drugs is one of the potential add on drugs for your asthma regimen. Learn what it does, how it works, if you might benefit and potential side effects.
Asthma_immune
The immune system and the allergic cascade
Asthma & Spirometry
Spirometry is an important tool in both the diagnosis and management of asthma. Learn what you need to know about spirometry.
Asthma Triggers
Exposure to many different substances may worsen your asthma. Identifying which asthma triggers make your asthma worse and learning how to decrease your exposure to these asthma triggers is an important part of your asthma treatment plan.
Difference Between COPD and Asthma
Do you know the difference between COPD and asthma?
All That Wheezes
An important tenet in asthma care is that 'not all that wheezes is asthma.' Learn about some of the common and not so common causes of chest wheezing.
Timothy Grass Pollen - Summer Allergy Trigger
See this picture of Timothy Grass pollen, so that you can work to avoid a common asthma and allergy trigger: grass pollen. Knowing what triggers asthma symptoms can help you with asthma control.
Oral Steroids
Oral steroids or systemic corticosteroids are just one of the possible treatments for your asthma. Learn about why you may need them and potential side effects.
Extreme Weather & Asthma
Extreme weather can be an asthma trigger in people who are sensitive to very hot or very cold climate conditions. Climate change has also had an impact on asthma incidence and severity.
Qvar
Qvar is an inhaled steroid used to treat asthma. Learn about how Qvar works, when it is used, and potential side effects of Qvar.
Summer Allergy / Asthma
Allergies and asthma often worsen during certain seasons of the year, depending on your triggers. Find out what you need to know about summer allergies and seasonal allergies and asthma.
Pulmonary Function Testing
Doctors often order pulmonary function testing for people who have persistent asthma. PFTs such as spirometry and others measure different aspects of how the lungs are functioning and give the doctor a better sense of the severity of the asthma and how well the treatment is working.
Asthma Pneumonia
Does asthma cause pneumonia? Can pneumonia lead to asthma? Read more and find out.
Types Of Asthma
What asthma type do you have? Asthma classification is important and can help guide your asthma treatment. Learn more about several ways to identify the types of asthma.
Nebulizers
Nebulizers are just one of the delivery methods for your inhaled asthma medications. Learn about the different types of nebulizers, advantages and disadvantages of different nebulizers, and other important information about nebulizers before you make a decision.
Child Asthma Attack
As a parent, knowing how to handle asthma attacks in kids is essential. Asthma is the most common chronic childhood illness. Repeated child's asthma attacks cannot only interfere with a child's school and play activities, but they can result in trips to the ER when breathing problems get out of control. Learn what to do to prevent an asthma attack, and handle one should it occur.
Dust Mites - Common Indoor Trigger
This picture of what dust mites look like is misleading. They are, in reality, too tiny to be seen readily with the naked eye. Dust mites are a common indoor asthma and allergy trigger.
Pollen-Allergen/Asthma Trigger
Pollen is an airborne allergen known to trigger asthma and nasal allergies. This means that asthma symptoms may worsen when people who are also sensitive to pollen come in contact with it.
Wheezing- Less Common Causes
Not all that wheezes is asthma. While asthma is a common cause of wheezing along with COPD and vocal chord dysfunction. Learn about some of the less common conditions that may cause you to wheeze.
Inhaled Corticosteroids
Inhaled steroids, also known as inhaled corticosteroids (or ICS, for short) have become the mainstay of asthma treatment for persistent asthma in children and adults. These controller medicines work in various ways on the immune system to prevent inflammation of the airways.
ICS Side Effects
Do you know what inhaled corticosteroids side effects you need to watch out for? Learn what you need to know.
Asthma Severity
Measuring your asthma severity is one of the keys to getting control of your asthma. By doing so, your doctor can recommend specific treatments and you can see how your treatment is progressing.
Fatal Asthma
Learn if you might be at risk for a fatal asthma attack and what you need to do if you are.
Diet and Asthma
Can you improve your asthma by improving your diet? Find out what you need to know and what you need to do about your diet and asthma.
Hay Fever and Asthma
Is the runny nose, sneezing and itchy-watery eyes that you experience at the beginning of allergy season related to your asthma? What you need to know and do if hay fever is making your asthma worse.
Bronchial Tubes
Do you know what bronchial tubes are? Learn more about bronchial tubes.
Asthma Medicine
Learn about common asthma medicines with these asthma drug profiles.
Asthma Action Plan
Use this asthma action plan as a guideline for daily and emergency care if you or your child have asthma. It tells you what to do in case of an asthma attack.
Living With Asthma Tips
Living with asthma can be challenging. Our tips and advice can help you make living with asthma and asthma management more successful. It IS possible to have a high quality of life with asthma.
Over the Counter Asthma Medication
Many patients ask whether there are any over the counter asthma medication option in lieu of more expensive prescription medication. Learn about the risks and benefits of over the counter asthma medication.
Running And Asthma
Many asthma patients don't think running is good for them. Find out how you can keep yourself running with asthma.
EIA
If you wheeze, cough, or develop shortness of breath with exercise, you may have exercise induced asthma. Exercise induced asthma is a common, but under recognized problem. Learn more about the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of exercise induced asthma.
Status Asthmaticus
Status Asthmaticus, or SA for short, is a severe asthma attack usually of long duration or abruptly sudden in onset. In SA, asthma symptoms persist and respiratory function declines, despite standard treatments.
Pulmicort
Pulmicort is a controller medication for asthma. Learn about the indications, side effects, and other important aspects of this asthma medication.
X-rays and Asthma
Is a chest x-ray for asthma a usual part of pulmonary function testing? While most asthma specialists do not usually find a chest x-ray helpful in diagnosing asthma, they may suggest one to determine if other conditions of the lungs, heart or chest are present. A chest x-ray may also be ordered when a patient with asthma is hospitalized or treated in the ER because of a severe asthma attack.
Alveoli Definition
Definition of alveoli.
Aspirin-Induced Asthma
Aspirin-induced asthma is a non-allergic type of asthma, where medication becomes and asthma trigger. Asthma attacks induced by aspirin and NSAIDS are often severe and can even be life threatening.
Genetics and Asthma
It's normal to wonder whether you may inherit asthma, and the answer is probably yes but not certainly, since it depends on a variety of factors.
How Do I Know If I Have Asthma
Do I have asthma? Diagnosing asthma can be difficult. Learn about the symptoms that may cause you to think of asthma.
Primatene Mist
Primatene mist and other generic epinephrine inhalers are the only over-the-counter asthma medications available. Learn what you need to know to use these products safely.
Asthma & Peak Flow
Using a peak flow meter is important for your asthma. Learn why. Learn how to perform peak flows and use your peak flow meter correctly.
Advair and Symbicort
Combination inhalers like Advair and Symbicort combine 2 different asthma medications into one inhaler. .
Asthma Attack and Your Lungs
Three main things are occurring in your lungs during an asthma attack. Your symptoms and treatment are targeted around them.
Nocturnal Asthma
Nocturnal asthma is one of the common asthma types. Symptoms predominate and typically occur at night.
Pollen Counts & Mold Counts
Monitoring pollen counts and mold counts makes it easier to avoid pollen and mold when they are your asthma triggers. There are many ways you can monitor pollen counts and mold counts.
Asthma Doctor and Asthma Care
What kind of doctor can take care of your child's asthma. Learn about the differences between different providers of asthma care.
Dander & Asthma
Your pet may be the reason for your worsening asthma. Is there anything you can do? Learn how you might decrease your dander exposure and improve your asthma.
How to Use an MDI With Spacer
It is important to know how to use a metered dose inhaler with a spacer (if that is how your doctor prescribes it) so that you get the correct amount of asthma medicine into your airways.
Airway Remodeling
Airway remodeling in asthma is a process in response to long-term, unresolved airway inflammation that results in permanent structural changes in the airways. Airway remodeling is the strongest argument for asthma control.
Asmanex Twisthaler
Asmanex Twisthaler (generic name mometasone furoate) is an inhaled steroid for asthma treatment. It is what is known as a controller medicine and is used for long-term relief and prevention of asthma symptoms.
Side Effects of Steroid Treatments for Asthma
Corticosteroids effectively treat asthma, but they can also cause side effects. Here's how to help reduce side effects.
Symbicort
Symbicort can be an important part of your asthma treatment plan. Learn about when it's used, potential side effects, and other important information.
Bronchoprovocation Testing
Sometimes bronchoprovocation challenge testing is necessary in diagnosing asthma.
Allergic Asthma
There are many different types of asthma. Learn what you need to know to improve allergic asthma
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is one of the many potential treatments for your asthma. Just like other medications, it has risks and benefits. Learn about the benefits of immunotherapy and what you need to consider before embarking on this treatment.
Xolair
Xolair (omalizumab) is a medication used to treat allergic asthma when your doctor is having problems controlling your symptoms with other medication. Learn what you need to know about Xolair (omalizumab) including indications, how it works and important side effects.
Bronchoconstriction
Definition of bronchoconstriction.
Asthma Controller Medicines
Asthma controller medicines help prevent asthma symptoms when taken every day as prescribed. These preventive asthma medicines include not only the highly recommended inhaled steroids, but also leukotriene modifiers, long-acting beta agonists, and immunomodulators.
Asthma & Triggers
Understanding asthma triggers is necessary to get asthma under control and key for asthma prevention. Many different things may trigger your asthma. Learn about indoor and outdoor allergens, medications, foods, and other asthma triggers.
Rescue Medications
Rescue medication are an important part of your asthma care plan with different medications utilized in different clinical settings. Learn how these medications work, when they might be used, and important side effects to look for.
Asthma Types
Did you know there are several different types of asthma? While there are similarities, there are also important differences in the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. Learn what you need to know and do to figure out what type of asthma you have.
Albuterol and SABAs
Albuterol and other short acting beta agonists (SABA) provide quick relief for asthma symptoms. Learn what albuterol and other SABAs do, how they work, and what side effects you need to look for.
Bronchodilator
What is the definition of a bronchodilator?
Managing Asthma Symptoms
Your asthma symptoms can only be treated effectively if you know both the signs of asthma and your asthma symptoms. If you can identify and track your asthma symptoms, you can get your asthma symptoms under control.
How Is Your Asthma Control?
Based on your symptoms you can determine how well your asthma is controlled.
Dust Mite Exposure and Asthma
Nearly every home in the U.S. has a Dust mite exposure. Learn how to decrease your dust mite exposure.
Active Listening
Definition of active listening.
What Does Spirometry Measure
What does spirometry measure?
Albuterol Side Effects
Understanding side effects of all your asthma medications is nearly as important as understanding how to take your medications. You need to know the symptoms and what to do about albuterol side effects.
How to Avoid Pollen
These tips on how to avoid pollen should reduce asthma symptoms. Avoiding pollen is important if pollen is one of your asthma triggers. Taking steps to avoid pollen can help keep your asthma under control and prevent asthma symptoms.
Histamine
What Is The Definition of Histamine
Pulmonologist Asthma Treatment
A pulmonologist is a skilled asthma specialist doctor who has specialized knowledge about lung conditions and diseases.
Mild Persistent Asthma
Mild persistent asthma is one of the types of asthma. More than 22 million Americans suffer from asthma. However, there are varying degrees of asthma. People who suffer from mild persistent asthma generally have symptoms more than twice a week, but no more than once a day. Treatment is specific to the patient's mild asthma case and requires medical guidance and testing.
How to Use an MDI
Rinse your mouth after using your metered dose inhaler to avoid unwanted side effects.
Bermuda Grass
See this picture of Bermuda Grass, so that you can work to avoid a common asthma and allergy trigger: grass pollen. Knowing about what triggers asthma symptoms can help you with asthma control.
Patient Assistance Program
Asthma medications are very expensive, and a patient assistance program may be helpful to you in obtaining your asthma medications. Learn what you need to know about these important programs, such as who qualifies and what you have to to become qualified.
Uncontrolled Asthma
If you have uncontrolled asthma, one of these five conditions could be contributing. Learn about the symptoms, how you can get diagnosed, and treated.
House Mold & Asthma
House mold whether it is in your basement or in your shower may be the cause of your worsening asthma symptoms. Learn what mold is how to get control of it in order to improve your asthma
Beta 2 Agonists
What is the definition of beta 2 agonists?
Advair
Learn about about Advair Diskus and how it can help your asthma.
COPD VS Asthma
Is it asthma or COPD? It's not always easy to tell.
How Long Will My Inhaler Last?
How Long Will My Inhaler Last? When will my inhaler run out? You can figure out how long your inhaler will run out so you do not run out of medication.
Moderate Persistent Asthma
Moderate persistent asthma is one of the types of asthma. More than 22 million Americans suffer from asthma. However, there are varying degrees of asthma. People suffering from moderate persistent asthma have daily asthma symptoms and nighttime symptoms more than once a week. Treatment is specific to the patient's asthma classification and requires medical guidance and testing.
Asthma And Acupuncture
Acupuncture may help some people with asthma breath better, but the evidence supporting this procedure for the treatment of asthma is significantly lacking.
HEPA Filter
A HEPA filter, which stands for high-efficiency particulate air filter, is a screen that filters out particles in the air. HEPA filters are used in vacuum cleaners and air purifiers. Learn more about HEPA filters and their usefulness for those with asthma.
Asthma Capitals of the Year
Each year, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America ranks certain urban areas in the U.S. as being the worst places to live for people who have asthma. Where does your area rank this year?
Asthma COPD
Sometimes asthma and COPD occur together. Learn what you need to know and do if you suffer from both of these conditions.
Uncontrolled Asthma & GERD
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is a common condition that can lead to uncontrolled asthma symptoms.
What Is Spirometry?
What Is Spirometry?
Intermittent Asthma
Based on your asthma symptoms, there is an asthma classification that will guide your asthma treatment. Learn what you need to know about intermittent asthma.
What Is a Live Virus Vaccine?
What types of vaccines are available? What is the difference between inactivated and activated vaccines?
Asthma Symptoms & Wheezing
What is wheezing? What does it sound like? What do I need to do about it? Learn what you need to know and to related to wheezing.
Asthma Attack Risk Factors
Do you know all of the things that can increase you risk of an asthma attack? Some are under your control, while others are not. Learn more about the risk factors that may be making your asthma worse.
Coping With Asthma
Coping with asthma, a chronic illness, can be difficult. Unlike a headache, the flu, or a broken bone, a chronic illness like asthma never goes away. A chronic illness can cause pain, fatigue, stress and disruptions in daily life. Get asthma coping tips here.
Personal Best Peak Flow
While you can look up what your predicted or best peak flow should be in a chart or online, the most useful measure of peak flow is your recent personal best peak flow. Learn how to calculate your personal best peak flow and what you can do with this number.
Asthma and Sex
Your doctor asks you a lot of questions about your asthma. How often do they ask you about your sex life? Do you think your asthma is affecting your sex life?
House Mites
House mites can make your asthma worse even though you can't see or feel them. Learn how to eradicate these little buggers.
Do Dust Mites Bite
Have you ever wondered if dust mites bite? Learn about dust mites and if they bite like other mites.
Xopenex - Levalbuterol
Xopenex, generic name levalbuterol, is a fast-acting quick-relief inhaler that is used to relieve acute asthma symptoms. Similar to Albuterol, this medication relaxes tight airways, relieving wheezing and shortness of breath.
Peak Expiratory Flow Rate
Peak Expiratory Flow Rate
Do I Need a Specialist?
How do I know if I need an asthma specialist? Why should i be referred to an asthma specialist? Is the care from an asthma specialist better?
Asthma and Families
Asthma and families - When one family member has asthma, the disease affects the entire family, not just the person with the illness. The stress of living with a chronic disease like asthma reveals itself in many ways among the various family members.
How to Use a Peak Flow Meter
A peak flow meter is a portable, hand-held device that helps you check how effectively your asthma is controlled by measuring how well you can push air out of your lungs. To get the most out of your peak flow meter, it is important to know the correct way to use the device.
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis, or allergic shock, is a life-threatening emergency. It is important to know how to respond to anaphylaxis quickly and correctly to avoid disaster.
Severe Persistent Asthma
People who suffer from severe persistent asthma usually experience asthma symptoms throughout the day on most days and have frequent asthma symptoms at night as well. These symptoms limit the physical activity of the asthmatic. There are different ways of making asthma classifications. Severity of the asthma is one method of separating the different types of asthma.
Atopic Dermatitis - Eczema
Atopic dermatitis is the medical term for an inflammatory skin disease often associated with allergies and asthma, especially in children with asthma. One type is eczema.
Essential MDI Tips
Here are a few additional tips on how to use your MDI and get the most from it. Metered dose inhalers are highly effective asthma inhalers-- as long as you know how to use them correctly.
Treating Asthma With Herbs
In treating asthma herbal medicine is commonly used. Herbal medicine is the use of plants or plant extracts to promote health and while not widely used by medical practitioners, between a third and one half of patients admit to using herbal products to treat their asthma.
Quitting Smoking & Asthma
Smoking and asthma is not a good combination. If you have asthma, or your child has asthma, quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do. Here's why.
Ragweed Allergy
In late summer and early fall some 36 million Americans begin to suffer from seasonal allergy symptoms that worsen your asthma symptoms. Learn what ragweed allergy is and what you need to know to prevent ragweed allergy from worsening your asthma.
Asthma in Children
Asthma in children is common today, so as a parent it is important to learn the facts about childhood asthma so that you can help your child with asthma live as happy, active, and healthy a life as possible. Asthma in children doesn't mean your kids can't still live normal, active lives.
Common Asthma Triggers
This overview of possible asthma triggers will help you figure out what might be setting off your asthma symptoms. Knowing what allergens and irritants trigger your symptoms is the first step to preventing asthma attacks.
Clear Communication & Asthma
Clear communication is a key to getting your asthma under control. Clear communication, both from you to your doctor and from your doctor to you, is essential to understanding and caring for your asthma. Learn questions you can ask your doctor to improve clear communication and better care for your asthma.
Wheezing Definition
Wheezing Definition
Allergy Shots vs Allergy Drops
Find out the difference between the two types of immunotherapy -- allergy drops / allergy shots. What are the pros and cons of each?
Mild Intermittent Asthma
Mild intermittent asthma is the least severe type of asthma. People with this asthma classification typically have symptoms that come and go. Usually episodes occur twice a week or less, with nighttime symptoms occurring twice a month or less.
Asthma Embarrassment
Each person's experience with asthma is unique, but feelings of social stigma or embarrassment due to the disease are commonly experienced by many asthma sufferers. This is particularly true for children and especially adolescents, who may already be struggling with a lack of self-confidence.
Monitoring Asthma
These six steps will give you the essentials for monitoring asthma symptoms and getting your asthma under control.
Maple Pollen - Spring Pollen Producer
This picture of maple pollen is greatly magnified. In reality, maple pollen is too tiny to be seen with the naked eye, but millions of grains circulate each spring, bringing seasonal allergy misery to sufferers. Tree pollen is a common asthma trigger.
Spring Allergies and Asthma
Allergies and asthma often worsen during certain seasons of the year, depending on your triggers. Find out what you need to know about spring allergies, seasonal allergies and asthma.
Respiratory Distress
While none of us wants to experience respiratory distress, it is important for us to recognize the signs of respiratory distress so that we can take action.
Nasal Allergies/Rhinitis
Nasal allergy is the laymen's term for the medical condition known as allergic rhinitis. Nasal allergies can be seasonal (hayfever) or year-round, and they are closely related to allergic asthma.
Preforming Buteyko Breathing
Preforming this exercise may help you get better control of your asthma and use less medication.

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