Asthma is a disease of the airways that can make it hard for a person to breathe. In asthma, airways become swollen and narrowed, and they produce too much mucus. The medical terms describing these problems are inflammation, hyperresponsiveness, and bronchoconstriction. There is still no cure. However, asthma can be controlled, usually with a combination of medicine and other measures.
Asthma differs greatly from person to person.
It may be very mild and intermittent, or severe and persistent, or somewhere in between. Typical asthma symptoms include coughing, wheezing, and a tight feeling in the chest.