She spent six years in and out of hospitals with her asthmatic daughter before new drugs helped considerably. In many cases the family doesn't even know they are in misery. They just remain caught in the cycle of poorly controlled asthma because they don't know that life could and should be different. When people with asthma are exposed to things that irritate their condition, the airways in their lungs constrict and limit breathing. The lungs can become filled with thick mucus that hampers breathing further.
Breathing can stop altogether.
A variety of irritants can trigger an attack, including cigarette smoke, dust, molds and animals. People with allergies often have problems with asthma, too. Doctors say Florida is a hot spot for the disease because the mild climate allows molds and other irritants to flourish year-round. The survey, sponsored by the AstraZeneca drug company, was released last month at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.