How does asthma affect your life

Children are not always able to express in words that their asthma symptoms are worsening. They may have noticeable coughing and wheezing, but these are not always the first indications of breathing distress. Different children show asthma trouble in different ways. Just as we do not yet know exactly what causes asthma, we do not know why the disease is mild in some people and very severe in others.

National guidelines classify asthma severity into four levels:. A single individual's asthma does not necessarily remain in the same category permanently.

A person with seasonal asthma triggers may find that at a certain time of year — for instance, when ragweed pollen is in the air — he or she is in a higher severity group than during the rest of the year.

Asthma that starts during childhood also may become less severe as a person grows and his or her airways become wider. For any person with asthma, effective ongoing asthma control can help them move into a less severe category.

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Section Menu. Asthma Flare-Ups When you experience a trigger, the insides of your airways swell even more. For the days following a flare-up, be sure to: Avoid your asthma triggers Monitor your symptoms or check you airways using a peak flow meter Airway Remodeling Poor asthma management can lead to airway remodeling. What Is Asthma? Learn More. Download Summary Report.

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