Asthma Family Issues: Prevention and Control

Asthma is a chronic condition that affects the airways of the lungs. In patients with asthma, certain triggers can cause inflammation and swelling of the airway lining, tightness of the chest muscles, and production of thick mucus. All these processes reduce airflow in and out of the lungs, making breathing difficult and causing wheezing and coughing. Managing asthma can be very challenging for individuals with asthma and their families, but by making healthy behaviors the norm, exacerbations can be prevented or controlled. This entry focuses on the measures that can be taken by the family in order to prevent and control asthma symptoms.