Asthma is a lung disease that causes the airways in your lungs to become swollen, narrowed, or blocked. This alters the normal flow of air in and out of the lungs, which can make it difficult to breathe. Asthma affects an estimated 17.3 million people in the United States. It is the most common chronic childhood disease and a leading cause of childhood disability. According to a report from the Environmental Protection Agency, about 5% of Hispanic children have asthma.

So, if you have asthma, you should see your doctor regularly. You will need to learn what things cause your asthma symptoms and how to avoid them. Your doctor will also prescribe medicines to keep your asthma under control.

Taking care of your asthma is an important part of your life. Controlling it means working closely with your doctor to learn what to do, staying away from things that bother your airways, taking medicines as directed by your doctor, and monitoring your asthma so that you can respond quickly to signs of an attack. By controlling your asthma every day, you can prevent serious symptoms and take part in all activities.

If your asthma is not well controlled, you are likely to have symptoms that can make you miss school or work and keep you from doing things you enjoy. Asthma is one of the leading causes of children missing school.