Asthma is a long-term disease. It affects the tubes that move air in and out of your lungs. When you have asthma, those airways get inflamed and narrow, making it hard to breathe.

Typical asthma symptoms include:

• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath
• Chest tightness and pressure
• Feeling like you can’t take a deep breath

An asthma attack is when your asthma symptoms suddenly get worse. Triggers like pet dander, temperature changes, pollution, and even exercise can set off an asthma attack.

Asthma can be mild, moderate, or severe. Doctors classify types of asthma by what triggers them or when they occur.

Types of asthma include:

• Allergic asthma: Triggered by an allergy to mold, dust mites, pet dander, and pollen
• Non-allergic asthma: Caused by cold air, medicines, pollution, chemicals, and smoke
• Exercise-induced asthma: Happens during physical exertion
• Occupational asthma: Triggered by breathing in chemicals or industrial dust at work
• Cough-variant asthma: Asthma where a cough is the only symptom
• Childhood asthma: Usually shows up before age 5
• Adult-onset asthma: When asthma develops at any time after age 20
• Severe asthma: Asthma that’s uncontrolled despite proper use of medicines

Asthma is common in children. Symptoms may lessen at puberty but then return later in life. Asthma can also develop in adults of any age.

Asthma treatment in children and adults is similar. We help manage symptoms and avoid triggers. But there are also some differences.

Treating kids with asthma

If your child has asthma, their care team at Carilion Children’s may include both a pediatrician and a pediatric pulmonologist. If allergies play a role in your child’s symptoms, an allergist can also be part of their care team.

The main goals of care are to: 

• Control airway inflammation with the fewest possible side effects
• Help your child avoid triggers such as smoke, furry pets, and viruses
• Support their overall growth and development

Treating adults with asthma

If you’re an adult living with asthma, your care may start with your primary care team and extend to the pulmonologists at Carilion. You may also see an allergist for testing if allergies appear to trigger your symptoms.

Treatment focuses on:

• Preventing long-term damage to your lungs
• Managing other health conditions, such as obesity or reflux
• Reducing exposure to environmental or work-related triggers

There's no cure for asthma. But we offer a wide range of ways to manage it so you or your child can live a full, active life.

Treatment depends on how severe your asthma is, whether you have other health conditions, and what your triggers are. 

Lifestyle changes

Making healthy lifestyle changes can help reduce your asthma symptoms. To help your breathing and your overall health:

• Manage your weight
• Eat a heart-healthy diet
• Manage stress
• Quit smoking
• Develop good sleep habits
• Get regular exercise

Medicines

Your doctor may prescribe 2 main types of medicine to help manage asthma. You may take long-term control medicines every day. These help keep symptoms under control and reduce the chance of future asthma attacks.

You may also have quick-relief medicines. These work to prevent or ease symptoms during an asthma attack. You should keep any quick-relief medicines with you at all times.

Asthma action plan

We work with you to develop a step-by-step care plan. This is a written strategy with information and instructions on how to manage your asthma. You can share a child’s asthma action plan with teachers and school nurses.

An asthma action plan should include:

• What medicines you use and when to take them
• Knowing when your symptoms get worse
• What to do in an emergency

Special programs

Carilion offers programs to give kids, teens, and families extra support in managing asthma.

Our Asthma Clinic provides advanced testing and the most up-to-date treatments. Our team works closely with the allergy and immunology team to identify and address the root causes of your asthma triggers so that care can be more tailored and effective.

Kids and teens with asthma can also take part in Camp Catch UR Breath, a sleepaway camp. Campers enjoy traditional activities like swimming, sports, games, and arts and crafts while also learning skills to manage their breathing better. Just as important, they find encouragement and support from friends who understand what it's like to live with asthma.