Number 1: Asthma

What is asthma? Asthma is a common condition affecting the lungs that causes a variety of variable symptoms including shortness of breath, chest tightness, wheezy breathing, cough, and production of sputum or phlegm. The big difference between asthma and other obstructive lung conditions (chronic bronchitis, emphysema) is the great variability in symptoms from day to day, week to week and season to season; symptoms may not be present for long periods and can respond, often dramatically, to treatment. Also, asthma does not lead to emphysema or heart disease. Thus, although asthma needs to be taken seriously, it should not cause alarm because the aim of treatment is to render the patient completely free of symptoms.