WHAT?
what is asthma?

WHY?
why does asthma occur and what happens during an asthma attack?

SYMPTOMS?
what does it feel like to have an asthma attack?

HOW?
how do doctors help make asthma better?

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There are many different medicines that doctors may use to help people with asthma. Some medicines are swallowed (pills or liquids), some medicines are inhaled (breathed in through your mouth or nose), and some medicines are injected (given as a shot in one of your muscles or veins). For most people, inhaled medicines are used first because they start working very fast (usually in less than five minutes!) and they don't have too many side effects. This is because inhaled medicines go right into the lungs and not into other parts of the body.

Medicines can work in different ways to help people who have asthma.

• some medicines make the muscles around the airways to relax. These medicines are called bronchodilators
• some medicines lessen the swelling and irritation in the airways. These medicines are called anti-inflammatory agents (corticosteroids or steroids)
• some medicines are used to prevent asthma attacks from starting (cromolyn sodium)

How can I help someone having an asthma attack?

• get their inhaler for them
• go find an adult
• call 911 if their breathing doesn't get better