Asthma is the leading cause of chronic illness in children. It affects as many as 10 to 12 percent of children in the U.S. and, for unknown reasons, is steadily increasing. It can begin at any age, but most children have their first symptoms by age 5.

What makes a child more likely to develop asthma?

There are many risk factors for developing childhood asthma. These include:

Presence of allergies Family history of asthma and/or allergies Frequent respiratory

By monitoring symptoms and practicing self-management, people who have asthma can control their asthma symptoms. An important part of learning to control asthma is keeping a daily asthma diary. The asthma diary is used to:

Record daily peak expiratory flow (PEF) readings and asthma symptoms Compare PEF readings with asthma zones, and Keep track of how often rescue medications are used

Recording this information will help you become aware of early signs of asthma

The airways in a person with asthma are very sensitive and react to a variety of external factors, or "triggers." These triggers cause the airways to tighten and become inflamed and blocked with mucus, resulting in difficulty breathing. An acute asthma attack can begin immediately after exposure to a trigger or several hours or days later.

There are many kinds of triggers, and responses to them vary from person to person. A trigger may be harmless to some asthmatics but contribute to

Asthma medications are the foundation of good asthma control.

This handout has been prepared to help you understand and follow your or your child's asthma action plan. Learn all you can about your or your child’s asthma medications. Know what medications are included in the action plan, when these medications should be taken, their expected results and what to do when they fail.

Helpful facts and tips

There's no medication to cure asthma. Asthma medications are

To diagnose asthma, your doctor will review your medical history, family history, and symptoms. He or she will be interested in any history of breathing problems you might have had, as well as a family history of asthma or other lung conditions, allergies, or a skin disease called eczema. It is important that you describe your symptoms in detail (coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness), including when and how often they occur.

Your doctor will also perform a

What is asthma?

Asthma is a disease of the bronchial tubes or airways of the lungs. Air is normally taken into the body through the nose and windpipe and into the bronchial tubes. At the end of these tubes are tiny air sacs (alveoli) that deliver fresh air (oxygen) to the blood. The air sacs also collect stale air (carbon dioxide), which is exhaled out of the body.

During normal breathing, the bands of muscle that surround the airways are relaxed and air moves freely.

Allergy and Asthma Network (AAN)
3554 Chain Bridge Rd., Suite 200
Fairfax, VA 22030
703.385.4403 or 1.800.878.4403

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI)
555 East Wells Street, Suite 1100
Milwaukee, WI 53202-3823
414.272.6071

American Academy of Dermatology
PO Box 4014
Schaumburg, IL 60618
866.462.DERM (3376)

American Academy of Ophthalmology
P.O. Box

Sulfites are chemicals used as preservatives to inhibit browning and discoloration in foods and beverages during preparation, storage, and distribution. Sulfites have been used in wine making for centuries.

Sulfites are found in certain foods and beverages, and in a variety of medications. The use of sulfites as preservatives in foods and beverages increased dramatically in the 1970s and 1980s. Due to cases of severe reactions to sulfites, a ban by the FDA went into effect in August,

Allergy sufferers looking for relief at the local pharmacy are faced with many product choices. To make the right choice for you, you first need to recognize and understand your allergy symptoms. Then, learn what medicines are available over-the-counter, how each medicine works, and which symptoms each type of medicine is designed to treat.

What’s happening: The allergic response

Allergies are the immune system’s response to normally harmless substances that it mistakes for

How can I tell if it's allergies or just a common cold?

Symptoms of allergies and colds can be similar, but here's how to tell the difference:

Occurrence of symptoms -- Both allergies and colds cause symptoms of sneezing, congestion, runny nose, watery eyes, fatigue, and headaches. However, colds often cause symptoms one at a time: first sneezing, then a runny nose and congestion. Allergies cause symptoms that occur all at once. Duration of

What are allergies?

Allergic disorders affect an estimated 1 in 5 adults and children (40 to 50 million people) and are the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the United States, according to the Allergy Report from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAI).

Allergies are the immune system’s inappropriate response to a foreign substance. Exposure to what is normally a harmless substance, such as pollen, causes the immune system to react as if the

What is a food allergy?

A food allergy occurs when the immune system responds defensively to a specific food protein that is not harmful to the body. When that food is first eaten, the immune system responds by creating specific IgE antibodies. When the food is eaten again, the IgE antibodies go into action, releasing large amounts of histamines, which work to expel the food protein from the body. Histamines can affect the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, skin, and

Why should I use cabinet locks?

Cabinet locks are important to use if you have small children in your house. Many cabinets in your home contain medicines, household cleaning supplies, outside cleaning supplies and lawn and garden chemicals, or sharp objects that could cause serious injuries or even death if ingested or played with by a child.

Typically, which cabinets or drawers are most in need of cabinet locks?

Lock all cabinets that are located:

In

How do I protect my eyes while playing sports?

Americans love sports and they love to look fashionable. And we oftentimes insist that sports and fashion go together, sometimes to our own detriment. For while protective eye gear may never be the latest craze in tennis or baseball, think for a moment about the logic of not protecting our eyes. We wear helmets to protect our heads and pads and braces to protect our bones and joints, so why not take the extra step to protect our eyes?

All bike riders should wear a bicycle helmet. Each year in the United States, approximately 800 bicyclists are killed and another 500,000 end up in hospital emergency rooms. About two-thirds of the deaths and one-third of the injuries involve the head and face. Wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of head injury to bicyclists by as much as 85%.

What safety information should I look for when purchasing a helmet?

Look for the Consumer Product Safety Committee—the CPSC

Soon you will be taking your baby home from the hospital. The best way to ensure that your baby arrives home safely is to use a safe and properly installed car seat. Every state has laws that require infants to ride in car safety seats. For the best possible protection, keep your infant in a rear-facing child safety seat in a back seat for as long as possible--up to the height or weight limit of the particular seat. For many children, that will be 30, 35, or even 40 pounds. Many kids will be

What is a toxic substance?

A toxic substance is any chemical or mixture that is harmful to the environment, animals, or to human health if inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through the skin. A poison is another name for a toxic substance that kills, injures or impairs a living organism.

Toxic substances can be found in many of the common products used around the home, including:

oven and drain cleaners laundry detergents floor and furniture polish paints

Q. I’m planning a vacation on board a cruise ship. Should I plan on bringing my own medical kit and if so, what products should be included?

A. It’s always wise to bring a medical kit with you on vacation, and especially for extended vacations. Even though you will be on board a cruise ship for a portion of your travel, you will be disembarking for day long or longer excursions at various ports of call. Therefore here are some suggested items to pack in your

Talk to Your Partner and Physician About Sexual Health Issues

Sexuality is an integral part of being human. Love, affection, and sexual intimacy contribute to healthy relationships and individual well-being. But along with the positive aspects of our human sexuality, there also are illnesses, mixed emotions and unintended consequences that can affect our sexual health. An open discussion of sexuality issues is important to promoting sexual health and responsibility.

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What is second-hand smoke?

Second-hand smoke (also called passive smoke or environmental tobacco smoke) is the combination of smoke from a burning cigarette and smoke exhaled by a smoker. The smoke that burns off the end of a cigarette or cigar actually contains more harmful substances than the smoke inhaled by the smoker. This means that people who don’t smoke but are regularly around those who smoke are exposed to the health risks of cigarette smoking.

How does