To help educate you about asthma, we've compiled some common terms you may come across when talking about it.

Asthma
A lifelong chronic disease of the airways in the lungs, characterized by two main components: constriction and inflammation. Together, constriction and inflammation cause narrowing of the airways, which results in symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. It’s important to remember that asthma is always with you, even when you are not experiencing any symptoms. That’s why it’s important to continue daily preventative (controller) medication even when you are feeling fine.

Asthma attacks
When symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath become more severe, more frequent, or both. They are also called asthma flare-ups or asthma exacerbations.

Breath-activated
A device that delivers medicine when you breathe in.

Constriction (bronchoconstriction)
The tightening of the muscles around the airways.

Controller medicines for asthma (maintenance medicines)
Medicines taken for the long-term management of asthma. Also called Preventative medicines.

Fast-acting inhaler (quick-relief or rescue inhaler)
A device that delivers asthma medicine that helps provide quick relief of symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Talk with your doctor if you are using your fast-acting inhaler more than two times each week. Your asthma may not be controlled as well as it could be.

Inflammation
Swelling and irritation of the airways in your lungs. Airway inflammation is always there, even when you are not having symptoms.

Inhalation
Taking air into the lungs.

Inhaler
A device that helps deliver medicine into the airways of the lungs.

Peak flow meter
A portable hand-held device that measures how fast you can blow air out of the lungs.

Preventative medicines
Often referred to as controller medicines, they are medicines taken for the long-term management of asthma.

Triggers
Things that make your asthma worse. They may not be the same for everyone. Common triggers are tobacco smoke, dust mites, animal dander from fur or feathers, cockroaches, pollen, and stong odors.

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