Asthma is a disease of the lungs that often leads to repeated episodes of wheezing, chest tightness, breathlessness, and early morning or nighttime coughing. Asthma affects more than 7 percent of adults and more than 18 percent of children in North Carolina. In 2006, 123 North Carolinians died due to asthma. While asthma impacts all North Carolinians, African Americans, Native Americans, women, the elderly, and children are among the groups most affected by asthma.

Find out more about asthma by reading the CDC's "Basic Facts About Asthma", which includes information about the following topics:

(All links below open in new windows.)

• What is Asthma?
• How is Asthma Diagnosed?
• What is an Asthma Attack?
• What Causes an Asthma Attack?
• How is Asthma Treated?
• Important Asthma Triggers

You may also download a PDF version of the CDC's "Basic Facts About Asthma". (You will need the free Adobe Reader to view the file.)

• Information about Asthma in Spanish - Datos Básicos sobre el Asma
• Take the Asthma Control Test - (en Español: Prueba de Control del Asma)