Your health care team will work with you to design a daily treatment plan. The goal is to control your asthma and prevent symptoms. You'll learn how to tell when your asthma is getting out of control. You'll also find out what to do if it does.

Asthma is a serious and often life-threatening disease. If you want to feel good, maintain your health, and lead a normal life, you have to get into a routine.

When familiar asthma symptoms flare or new ones crop up, how do you know if your symptoms are worthy of an immediate call to the doctor? Here are some guidelines for when to self-treat, when to call the doctor, and when to seek emergency care.

Many Americans suffer from at least one chronic disease, and most rely on regular tests and treatments to be healthier, more comfortable and more productive. But many people with chronic illnesses find it daunting to keep up with prescribed treatments.

The most important factor in controlling asthma is spotting the early warning signs of an attack.

Your health care team will help you fill out your Action Plan. Provide the information requested to see how well you are managing your asthma.

Immunotherapy is a treatment to reduce a person’s allergic reaction to allergens such as pet dander, bee stings or pollen.

Asthma can't be cured, but you can control it to reduce the amount and severity of your symptoms.

Most people with asthma should have two written plans. They have a day-to-day plan that lists the steps required to treat and monitor asthma, and they have an emergency plan.

Part of the treatment for chronic conditions involves adopting the same healthy lifestyle habits that are important for everyone.

Monitoring your peak flow can help tell you how open your airways are—even before you have symptoms. It's done with a device called a peak flow meter. Your peak flow is how fast you can push air out of your lungs at any one time.

Peak flow monitoring lets you know how well you’re controlling your asthma. It does this by telling you which asthma zone you’re in. If needed, you’ll be given an action plan that tells you what to do if your asthma gets out of control. Your healthcare team will explain how your symptoms or peak flow numbers can help you know which zone you’re in. This chart helps you understand each zone.

This test may be done to help your health care provider give you a more accurate prognosis or craft your treatment plan.

Try to breathe evenly while chewing. If you begin feeling short of breath, take a break between bites.

Exercise is good for everyone, including people with asthma. Exercise can improve your health. It also helps your body make better use of oxygen. This can reduce asthma symptoms. Just be sure your exercise program is one designed to keep your asthma under control.

Exercise is important for everyone, including people who have asthma. Here are some tips for exercising safely when you have asthma.

If you've been diagnosed with EIA, you probably don't have to sacrifice your favorite workouts or sports.

EIA causes coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath, usually 10 to 15 after beginning exercise, or up to 20 minutes after stopping exercise.

When the weather turns cold, it's a good idea to move your workout indoors.

One of the major triggers for asthma attacks is cigarette smoke. Cigarette, pipe, or cigar smoke is especially harmful to people with asthma because it damages the cells in the lungs that make the protective coating lining the bronchial tubes.

Pregnant women with asthma are just as likely to have healthy, normal babies as women without asthma -- as long as their disease is kept under control.

When symptoms fail to respond to prescribed daily medications, it could be a case of a more serious asthma attack.

Shortness of breath is an uncomfortable feeling of not getting enough air and can be a symptom of a serious medical condition.

Early diagnosis is one key to effective asthma management. This helps you prevent or minimize damage to airways and lungs that accumulates over time. Once the disease is diagnosed, it's important you take control of it. Proper treatment includes seeing your health care provider regularly.

You may think of the ER as a source of the most immediate medical attention, but if your situation is not a real emergency, this isn't true.

Whether you pack a suitcase every week or once a year, you probably know that traveling takes a little extra preparation when you have asthma.

For many allergy sufferers, pollen and mold are the main problems.

Autumn means pumpkins, colorful leaves and, for some, worries about asthma.

Some experts believe that you may reduce your asthma symptoms by eating certain foods.

College can pose challenges for the student with asthma. New and unfamiliar living quarters, school and social stresses, and other factors can trigger a flare-up.

Occupational asthma is caused by being exposed to irritants in the form of vapors, fumes, gases, particles or allergens like dust in the workplace.

"I've worked very hard over the years at doing all the things I need to do to keep my asthma under control," says Jerome Abram Bettis.