Asthma is a common, chronic condition that affects your airways - the tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs. When you have asthma, these airways can become inflamed and narrowed, making it hard to breathe.
Asthma often starts in childhood but can begin at any age. Symptoms like wheezing, coughing or chest tightness may be mild or severe, and they may happen often or only once in a while.
While asthma can be serious, most people can manage it with the right care. At Banner Health, our experienced and compassionate team is here to help you breathe easier and live well.
Asthma symptoms occur when your airways tighten or swell and produce extra mucus. Common signs include:
Not everyone with asthma experiences the same symptoms. You may have just one or two symptoms - or all of them. They can also vary in severity from one asthma attack to the next.
An asthma attack happens when your airways narrow suddenly, making it hard to breathe. This is caused by:
Mild asthma attacks are more common and usually respond well to quick-relief inhalers. Severe attacks are less common but can be life-threatening and may require emergency care.
If you have asthma, it’s important to treat even mild symptoms early to prevent more serious attacks.
Asthma is classified by how often and how severely symptoms occur:
Your doctor will determine your classification and create a personalized asthma management plan.
Asthma can be triggered by different things and affect people in different ways. Common types include:
Asthma that begins in childhood is often linked to allergies and may improve with age. Pediatric asthma care focuses on helping children manage symptoms and avoid triggers.
More than half of people with asthma have allergies that trigger symptoms. Common allergens include:
Managing allergic asthma involves treating both your allergies and your asthma.
This type isn’t triggered by allergens but can be caused by:
Non-allergic asthma often develops in adults and can be more severe.
This type causes worse symptoms at night, affecting sleep quality. Triggers may include indoor allergens, body position or natural changes in hormones while you sleep.
This happens when exercise triggers airway tightening. It affects about 90% of people with asthma and can also happen in people without asthma. Symptoms may appear during or shortly after physical activity.
Exposure to substances at work - such as chemicals, dust, or fumes - can lead to asthma. It’s more common in jobs like baking, farming, manufacturing and cleaning.
This type causes a chronic dry cough - often without other typical asthma symptoms. It may be a sign of early asthma and should be evaluated if it gets worse or occurs with exercise or cold weather.
Asthma may not go away, but with the right treatment plan, most people can live full and active lives.
Treatment may include:
At Banner Health, we tailor asthma care to your needs and help you stay ahead of symptoms. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or looking for better control, we’re here to support your long-term health.
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