There are currently over 17 million adults and 7 million children in the U.S. who suffer from asthma, and the disease has been identified as one of the country's most common and costly illnesses. Asthma is a chronic pulmonary condition in which the airways become blocked or narrowed when stimulated by allergens or other environmental triggers. Patients with asthma often experience difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath.

During an asthma attack, the lung passages constrict, making breathing more difficult. Asthma is frequently misdiagnosed and causes more hospital admissions, more visits to the emergency room, and more work and school absences than any other chronic disease.

Asthma is manageable with proper medical care and understanding of the disease.

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