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Asthma

It's Your Health

This article was produced in collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Help on accessing alternative formats, such as Portable Document Format (PDF), Microsoft Word and PowerPoint (PPT) files, can be obtained in the alternate format help section.

(PDF Version - 90 K)

The Issue

With the right information, treatment and support, most people with asthma can control their symptoms and lead active, healthy lives.

Background

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that can be fatal. An estimated 2.7 million Canadian adults and children (ages 4 years and over) have asthma. Asthma is also an important factor in school absences and hospitalizations in children.

Although 287 Canadians died of asthma in 2003, mortality rates for asthma have fallen since 1990. This coincides with various national efforts to improve control of the disease.

Causes and Symptoms of Asthma

The exact cause of asthma is not known, but it appears to result from the complex interaction of a number of factors, including:

predisposing factors, such as the tendency to have an allergic reaction to foreign substances;
causal factors, which may sensitize the airways (e.g. cat and other animal dander, dust mites, cockroaches or workplace contaminants); and
contributing factors, which may include such things as exposure to tobacco smoke during pregnancy and childhood, frequent respiratory infections, and indoor and outdoor air quality.

The symptoms of asthma include cough, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, and wheezing. Asthma symptoms and attacks (i.e. episodes of more severe shortness of breath) usually occur after exposure to "triggers." Some of the common triggers are allergens, viral respiratory infections (e.g. a cold), exercise, or exposure to irritant fumes or gases.

When people with asthma are exposed to triggers, the airways in their lungs become inflamed and swollen. As a result, the airways start to narrow and it becomes more difficult to breathe. During some asthma episodes or attacks, the muscles around the airways can also tighten and the airways can produce mucus. These conditions make it even harder to breathe.

The presence of "asthma-like" symptoms does not always mean that someone has asthma. A diagnosis is usually confirmed by medical tests.

Managing Asthma

There is no cure for asthma, but there are effective ways for people with asthma to manage their condition. This means preventing the onset of symptoms in response to triggers, and controlling symptoms, once they occur.

People with asthma, their family members and their health care providers all play important roles in co-managing asthma. Successful asthma management depends on the following:

learning about asthma and how to manage it;
avoiding or controlling triggers;
taking the right medicines in the right way at the right time;
ongoing monitoring and follow-up to assess symptoms and response to medication, and to measure lung function; and
a personalized asthma management plan.

There are two basic types of asthma medicines:

"preventer" medications to decrease the swelling in airways and help prevent asthma episodes. These medicines are inhaled through a device called a "puffer" or inhaler.
"reliever" medications. These are used during an asthma episode or attack to reduce symptoms quickly.

With the right asthma management plan, most people with asthma can lead healthy, active lives.

Minimizing Your Risk

If you (or your child) are diagnosed with asthma:

Work closely with your health care provider to develop an asthma management plan:
- Find out what your specific triggers are, and avoid them whenever possible.
- Use "preventer" and "reliever" medicines as directed by your health care provider. If you have a puffer, make sure you know how to use it properly.
- If you find you need "reliever" medicines more often as time goes on, talk to your health care provider about adjusting your asthma management plan.
- Remember, although asthma symptoms can almost always be controlled, they can also be fatal. Talk to your health care provider about the warning signs that you may need emergency treatment.
Do research and stay current on news about asthma treatment and management. There is a list of informative and reliable Web sites in the Need More Info? section below.

The Public Health Agency of Canada's Role

The Public Health Agency of Canada works through its Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control (CCDPC) to bring about effective measures to help prevent and control the health effects of chronic respiratory diseases, including asthma. In 2000, CCDPC published a report on The Prevention and Management of Asthma in Canada. This report has formed the basis of ongoing work involving surveillance, research, strategic planning, information sharing and public awareness campaigns. Work is also underway to complete an updated report on "Respiratory Disease in Canada". The first report was published in 2001. To carry out these activities, the CCDPC works with many partners and is a member of the Canadian Network for Asthma Care.

As part of an integrated approach to Chronic Disease Surveillance, CCDPC has recently established an external advisory committee to provide ongoing expert advice on surveillance activities.

Need More Info?

For more information, contact:

The Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control
120 Colonnade Road
Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9
Telephone: 613-957-0327

Also, visit the Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Web site.

The Prevention and Control of Asthma in Canada

Respiratory Disease in Canada

You can also find reliable information about asthma on these Web sites:

For additional articles on health and safety issues go to the It's Your Health Web site.
You can also call toll free at 1-866-225-0709 or TTY at 1-800-267-1245*.