Your child may not be the only one who is unfamiliar with some common asthma terms. That's why we've compiled this list to help you understand them.

Asthma
Asthma is 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 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, eliminating all the squeezing and shaking of inhalers and the hassles of spacers.

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.

Fast-acting inhaler (quick-relief or rescue inhaler)
A device that delivers asthma medicine that helps provide quick relief of sudden asthma attacks and asthma symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.

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

Inhalation
Taking air into the lungs.

Inhaler
A device that helps deliver medicine into the airways of the lungs. The device usually requires shaking and squeezing for proper dose administration.

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
Irritants and other factors such as dust, pollen, and smoke, which can cause asthma attacks.

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