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  5. Learn About Asthma

Learn About Asthma

The more you can learn about asthma, the better you and your loved ones can manage living with this disease, making the most of every day and maintaining a high quality of life.

Asthma is a chronic (or lifelong) disease that can be serious—even life-threatening. There is no cure for asthma. The good news is that with proper management, you or your loved one with asthma can live a normal, healthy life.

What Is Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that makes it harder to move air in and out of your lungs. It can start at any age. Understanding can help put you on the right path to managing asthma.

Asthma Basics

Take some time to learn more about asthma by participating in our online learning module, Asthma Basics.

Causes & Risk Factors

No one knows exactly what causes asthma. But certain factors play an important role in the development of asthma.

Types of Asthma

Depending on the type of asthma that you have, there are different management steps and treatment options that can help.

Asthma Facts

More than 25 million Americans have asthma, including 5.5 million children. It causes millions of lost school and workdays every year and billions in healthcare costs. Learn more about asthma trends and disease burden in our Asthma Trends Brief.

Get facts

For Health Professionals

As a health professional, asthma educator or patient advocate, learn ways to provide asthma guidelines-based care and education and find other tools to support the important work you do every day.

Research

Asthma research helps us understand how the disease is caused, how it develops and how it is best treated.

Lung Health Navigators

Our Lung Health Navigators empower people to understand and manage their lung health. We offer FREE one-on-one education programs to support those living with lung disease including asthma.

Learn about programs

Join the Patient & Caregiver Network

Your community is here to support you. Whether you’re a patient living with a chronic lung disease or a caregiver, join the Patient & Caregiver Network to get direct access to timely education, support, and connection.

Join now

Reviewed and approved by the American Lung Association Scientific and Medical Editorial Review Panel.

Page last updated: March 19, 2025

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