Asthma causes wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. Asthma is more common in children than adults. People who had asthma in childhood may not have it when they are adults. Or it may come back later in life. Others may have asthma for the first time as older adults.
You may start coughing or wheezing:

• When you exercise.
• When you breathe in something you are allergic to, such as dust, pollen, mold, or animal dander.
• When you breathe in something that irritates your lungs, like cold air, viruses, and tobacco smoke.

When this coughing and wheezing happens, it is called an asthma attack.

 

An asthma attack may:

• Last a few minutes or for days.
• Be mild, moderate, or severe.
• Happen anywhere, at any time.
• Be fatal.

It is very important to get treatment for asthma so you can live a healthy, active life.

 

If you have asthma, the airways in your lungs are always a little swollen. When you exercise or breathe something you are allergic to or that irritates your lungs:

• The insides of your airways get more swollen.
• They start to make more mucus than you need.
• The muscles in the airways start to tighten.

When this happens, your airways get smaller. It's harder for air to move in and out. You may:

• Wheeze.
• Cough.
• Feel short of breath.
• Feel tight in the chest.