Asthma affects millions of people worldwide. It is one of the disease where the incidence of disease is increasing year by year. It is also the most common chronic disease affecting children. Here are some important facts about asthma that everybody must know about asthma.

1. Asthma is not a communicable disease. You cannot get infected and get asthma by any asthma patient. Asthma is disease where genetic and environmental factors play role.

2. Asthma is caused by the chronic inflammation (swelling) of airways of lungs.

3. Airway inflammation contributes to airway hyperresponsiveness, airflow limitation, respiratory symptoms.

4. Atopy, the genetic predisposition for the development of an immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated response to common aeroallergens, is the strongest identifiable predisposing factor for developing asthma.

5. Viral respiratory infections are one of the most important causes of asthma execerbation and may also contribute to the development of asthma.

6. The main symptoms of asthma are wheezing, coughing, recurrent breathlessness or shortness of breath, tightness of the chest, and pain or pressure on the chest.

7. Diagnosis of asthma is made by detailed medical history, physical exam focusing on the upper respiratory tract, chest, and skin and spirometry.

8. Asthma is not a contraindication for doing exercise. Many great athletes suffer from asthma.

9. Two main categories of asthma medication are relievers (used to treat symptoms and exacerbations) and preventer (agents for long-term control, used to achieve and maintain control of persistent asthma) medication.

10. Inhaled route is the most preferred way to deliver asthma medication as it delivers drugs directly to lung airways. So the action is fast and drug side effects are very low.

11. Asthma is one of the most common potentially life-threatening condition complicating pregnancy. Read pregnancy and asthma.

12. Remember that asthma is a treatable disease and you can live a healthy and productive life like any body else with proper treatment.