Asthma *

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What is asthma?

Asthma is a disease that affects the airways that carry air in and out of your lungs. Asthma can make it hard to breathe and make the airways in your lungs swollen and sensitive. Your airways tend to react strongly to certain substances in the air.

When asthma becomes worse than usual, it's called an asthma attack. Many things can set off, or trigger, an asthma attack. Allergies, exercise, air pollution or a cold can trigger asthma. Asthma triggers are different for each person. In a severe asthma attack, the airways can close so much that important organs do not get enough oxygen. Sometimes, asthma attacks are so serious that you need to go to the emergency room or stay overnight in the hospital. (Source: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, 2010)

Who is at risk for asthma?
You are more likely to get asthma if:

• your parents have asthma
• you have allergies
• you have a skin allergy called eczema

You can get asthma at any age, but it often starts in childhood. Once you have asthma, it does not go away, although you could get much better. (Source: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, 2010)

How does asthma affect our community?

• In Michigan, nearly 1 in 10 people have asthma. Asthma is the most common reason children and teenagers miss school. Asthma is also the most common reason children have to go to the hospital. (Source: Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 2009)
• In Michigan, the total annual cost of asthma exceeded $374 Million in 2009. (Source: Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 2009)

What is the recommended care for asthma?
People with asthma should work with their doctors to make an asthma action plan. Recommended care includes taking two kinds of medicines to help you breathe better:

• Medicines for long term control: "controllers" or "preventers" are inhalers filled with medicine that work over time to decrease swelling in airways. If you use these 'controller' or 'preventer' medicines every day, you will be less likely to have an asthma attack.
• Medicine to get better faster: "quick relievers" are fast-acting inhalers filled with medicine that open narrowed airways within minutes. Quick relievers are for asthma attacks.

The medicines in these inhalers help you breathe better, feel better, and sleep better. The medicines also help protect you from serious long-term damage to your airways. It is important to work with your doctor to get the best combination of medications for you. (Source: Partner for Quality Care, 2010)

Use the quality reports on this site to compare how often patients with asthma in each physician organization got recommended medicines. In the report, higher scores are better.