1. Asthma

2. Asthma inflammation of air passages causing temporary narrowing of airways that transport air from nose and mouth to lungs

3. Symptoms allergens or irritants are inhaled into lungs, resulting in inflamed, clogged and constricted airways.

4. Symptoms Difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, and tightness in chest.

5. Deadly In severe cases, asthma can be deadly

6. Cure There is no cure for asthma

7. Management Asthma can be managed with proper prevention and treatment.

8. Genetics If one parent has asthma, chances are 1 in 3 that each child will have asthma.

9. Genetics If both parents have asthma, 7 in 10 children will have asthma.

10. Common Disease It is one of this country's most common and costly diseases.

11. Cost The annual cost of asthma is estimated to be $18 billion.

12. Every Day Facts 40,000 people miss school or work 30,000 people have an asthma attack

13. Every Day Facts 5,000 people visit the emergency room due to asthma. 1,000 people are admitted to the hospital due to asthma. 11 people die from asthma.

14. Prevalence 20 million Americans suffer from asthma (1 in 15)

15. Prevalence Nearly 5 million asthma sufferers are under age 18. It is the most common chronic childhood disease, affecting more than 1in 20.

16. Morbidity Asthma is the #1 cause of school absences. More than 14 million missed days of school.

17. Treatment Most people with persistent asthma use a combination of long-term control and quick-relief medications

18. Long-term control medications These medications need to be taken every day Inhaled corticosteroid. Long-acting beta-2 agonists (LABAs) Leukotrienemodifiers Cromolyn and nedocromil (Tilade). Theophylline

19. Quick-relief medications Also called rescue medications are used during an attack. Short-acting beta-2 agonists Ipratropium (Atrovent) Oral and intravenous corticosteroids

20. Medications for allergy-induced asthma These decrease body sensitivity to a particular allergen or prevent immune system from reacting to allergens. Immunotherapy Anti-IgE monoclonal antibodies