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•Airways
•Asthma
•Asthma Action Plan
•Asthma attack
•Chronic illness
•Dander
•Dry-powder inhaler (DPI)
•Dust mite
•Fast-acting inhaler
•Inflammation
•Long-term “preventative” medicine
•Metered-dose inhaler (MDI)
•Molds
•Mucus
•Nebulizer
•Peak flow meter
•Pollen
•Quick-relief inhaler
•Quick-relief medicine
•Spacer
•Triggers
•Wheezing
Airways — These are bronchial (BRONG-ke-al) tubes in the lungs that branch out from the windpipe.
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Asthma (AZ-ma) — Asthma is a long-term condition that involves the tightening of muscles around the airways, and swelling and irritation of the airways. The airways get narrow, leading to asthma symptoms and possibly an asthma attack (see Asthma attack).
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Asthma Action Plan — A written plan that you make with your doctor to help manage your asthma.
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Asthma attack — Refers to times when asthma symptoms, like wheezing, chest tightness, cough, or shortness of breath, suddenly become more severe, happen more often, or both.
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Chronic illness — A condition that is long-lasting (more than three months and, in many cases, lifelong) that needs to be managed long term.
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Dander — Tiny flakes of animal skin or hair that float in the air, settle on surfaces, and are a major part of household dust.
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Dry-powder inhaler (DPI) — A device for breathing in medicines that are sent into the airways in powder form.
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Dust mite — A tiny bug too small to see with your eyes. It's found in carpets, stuffed animals, stuffed furniture, and bedding. It is a common asthma trigger.
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Fast-acting inhaler — Asthma medicine that helps give relief right away from sudden asthma symptoms and attacks. It is also called rescue, or quick-relief, medicine.
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Inflammation (in-fla-MAY-shun) — In people with asthma, a term for the swelling in the airways of your lungs. Airway inflammation is always there, even when you are not having symptoms.
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Long-term “preventative” medicine — Medicine taken every day to control asthma symptoms. It is NOT used for quick relief of an asthma attack.
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Metered-dose inhaler (MDI) — A spray inhaler that sends a fixed dose of medicine with each puff.
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Molds — Common asthma triggers found in damp areas both indoors (bathrooms, basements) and outside (grass, leaf piles, mulch).
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Mucus — A thick liquid produced in the airways, nose, and sinuses. Too much mucus can block the airways and lead to asthma symptoms.
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Nebulizer — A device that sends a fine mist of medicine through a face mask or tube; it's very useful for people who can't use an inhaler well, like small children or people who are very ill.
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Peak flow meter — Small, hand-held device that measures how fast air comes out of the airways when a person breathes quickly and hard.
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Pollen — A fine, powdery substance given off by plants and trees. Pollen is a common asthma trigger.
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Quick-relief inhaler — Asthma medicine that helps give relief right away from sudden asthma symptoms and attacks. It is also called rescue, or fast-acting, medicine.
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Quick-relief medicine — Medicine that opens the airways quickly to relieve asthma symptoms. Quick-relief medicines are used when symptoms occur.
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Spacer — A device that attaches to a metered-dose inhaler and makes it easier to breathe in your full dose of medicine.
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Triggers — Things that cause asthma symptoms.
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Wheezing — High-pitched whistling sound of air moving through narrowed airways.
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