Often worse at night, an acute attack comes on quickly when the bronchial tubes suddenly narrow. In chronic asthma, the symptoms are continually present. Asthma symptoms include cough, shortness of breath and wheezing. The severity of symptoms can range from a mild nuisance to life-threatening. Currently, there is no cure.
Treatment includes anti-inflammatory medicines and bronchodilators.
But with the right medical care and education, asthma symptoms can be controlled. ACEP was involved in developing new asthma guidelines released from the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The guidelines call for earlier treatment and more aggressive therapies to help the growing number of Americans with asthma and reduce the number of deaths.