Asthma is a disease of the lung airways. With asthma, the airways are inflamed (swollen) and react easily to certain "triggers," like viruses, smoke, dust, mold, animal hair, roaches, or pollen. When the inflamed airways react, they get narrow and make it hard to breathe.

Common asthma symptoms are:

* wheezing
* coughing
* shortness of breath
* chest tightness

When these symptoms get worse, it's an asthma attack.

More than 17 million people in the U.S. have asthma, and women are more likely than men to die from asthma, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Asthma is a growing concern in this country, especially for African Americans. African Americans go into the hospital more than Whites because of asthma and are more likely to die from asthma. These factors could increase the risk for getting asthma:

* air pollution
* poverty
* poor housing
* lack of education
* can't get to a doctor

Publications

1. American Lung Association Factsheet: African Americans and Lung Disease (Copyrigh © ALA) - This publication lists facts on the high rate of lung disease and lung cancer among the African American population. It includes statistics and discussions on factors that contribute to the disproportionately high rates of lung disease.

2. Asthma and Bone Health - This fact sheet discusses the increased risk of osteoporosis for people with asthma, and explains what steps asthmatics may take to prevent osteoporosis.

3. Asthma and Indoor Environments - This is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's web page on asthma. On the site, one may access the EPA's Asthma Newsletter, a section for children, as well as links to numerous other asthma resources.

4. Facts About Controlling Your Asthma - This practical, easy-to-read patient education brochure contains basic asthma information for both newly diagnosed and long-term asthma patients. It includes five reproducible handouts: Asthma Medications: Brand and Generic Names, How To Use Your Metered-Dose Inhaler the Right Way, Asthma Action Plan, How To Use Your Peak Flow Meter, and How To Control Things That Make Your Asthma Worse.

5. Frequently Asked Questions - Asthma - This publication contains information on asthma, what it is, what triggers an asthma attack, ways to avoid having an attack, and some medications that are used to treat asthma.

6. Living with Asthma: Special Concerns for Older Adults - This fact sheet helps older adults identify and understand asthma by answering frequently asked questions, such as What is asthma? How is it diagnosed? How can I talk to my doctor about asthma? It also lists resources for further information.

Organizations

1. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

2. American Lung Association

3. Indoor Air Quality Information Hotline, EPA

4. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Information Center, NHLBI, NIH, HHS

5. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, HHS