Asthma Asthma Basics

Asthma - Fighting for Breathing Space

Summary & Participants

For Cheryl, living with asthma meant living in fear of the next attack.

Medically Reviewed On: August 08, 2008

Webcast Transcript

CHERYL: It's a horrible feeling living with asthma. You never know, you can be good one moment and then sick the next moment.

ANNOUNCER: Cheryl is one of 20 million Americans who suffer from asthma. Her attacks were terrifying.

CHERYL: It's almost like somebody takes a concrete block and puts it on your chest and then they pinch your nose and then they put a soda straw in your mouth and you try to breathe out of that soda straw and then someone then tries to pinch the soda straw. So you're gasping for breath and you really feel like you're going to die.

ANNOUNCER: During an asthma attack, the bronchial tubes that carry air to and from the lungs become inflamed, making it difficult to breathe.

BETH E. CORN, MD, ASTHMA AND ALLERGY SPECIALIST: The most common manifestations of asthma are chest tightness, wheezing and coughing. Asthma can be fatal. So it's extremely serious.

ANNOUNCER: While many things can trigger an asthma attack, for most sufferers, allergies play a role.

BETH E. CORN, MD, ASTHMA AND ALLERGY SPECIALIST: At least 60% are allergic, so that could be cat, dog, ragweed, weed, tree, grass, dust mites, feathers. Then there are other triggers. Whether or not you have an allergic component, you can still have other triggers including cold weather; exercise; a virus, like the common cold; sinusitis can set off someone's asthma; and something called gastro esophageal reflux disease, GERD.

ANNOUNCER: The good news is that treatment for asthma has come a long way.

BETH E. CORN, MD, ASTHMA AND ALLERGY SPECIALIST: Asthma can't be cured yet, but there are some wonderful treatments so that people can lead an active, normal, productive life.

ANNOUNCER: The right treatment made all the difference for Cheryl.

CHERYL: I don't wheeze any more. I can breathe normally. I have peace of mind now.

ANNOUNCER: Thanks for joining us on today’s Once Daily.