N C C A M: The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

At the National Institutes of Health NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health

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Asthma

Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory lung disease affecting more than 22 million people in the United States. Asthma symptoms may appear at any time in life, but often begin in childhood. The most common form is triggered by allergens, such as dust mites or pollen. Nonallergic asthma is triggered by factors such as anxiety, exercise, cold air, and other irritants. Symptoms include coughing and wheezing, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing.