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Cold air or exposure to second-hand
smoke can trigger an asthma attack
What parents, caregivers
and teachers need to know about asthma
Asthma is a chronic (long-term) disease that makes it hard to breathe. At its worst,
asthma can be fatal. Asthma can't be cured, but it can be managed. With proper
treatment, people with asthma can lead normal, active lives.
The more red and
swollen your airways are, the more twitchy they become. Many different things can set
off your asthma symptoms. Each person with asthma has her own set of asthma inducers
and asthma triggers.
Asthma inducers:
If you breathe in something you're allergic to- for example, dust or pollen- or if you
have a viral infection- for example, a cold or the flu- your airways can become
inflamed (red and swollen).
Asthma triggers:
If you breathe in an asthma trigger like cold air or smoke, or if you exercise, the
muscles around your airways can go into spasm and squeeze together tightly. It's
important for every person with asthma to know what they triggers and inducers are, so
they can avoid them.
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