Asthma facts and information
Asthma is a disease that makes it hard to breathe. People with asthma may cough or make a whistling or wheezing sound when they breathe, but not everyone has the same symptoms.
1 Asthma symptoms are similar to the symptoms of other conditions, such as exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). That's why only a healthcare provider can
diagnose asthma.
Asthma and your airways
Asthma affects your airways (the tubes that carry air into your lungs). During an asthma attack (or "exacerbation"), the airways become narrow or blocked.
1 If you have asthma, things like smoke, pollen, and exercise are potential
asthma triggers that can lead to an attack.
1
People with asthma have airways that are sensitive to certain triggers. That's because their airways are always irritated (inflamed). Asthma triggers cause the muscles around the inflamed airways to tighten. The airways become narrow, and it can be very hard to breathe.
1 Asthma medicines like
ProAir® HFA work by relaxing the muscles around the airways.
You can learn more by watching our
video about managing asthma, or by downloading our brochure,
Living with Asthma.
Reference
- NHLBI Expert Panel Report 3 (EPR3): Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/asthma/asthgdln.htm. Accessed April 20, 2010.
ProAir
® HFA (albuterol sulfate) Inhalation Aerosol is indicated in patients 4 years of age and older for the treatment or prevention of bronchospasm with reversible obstructive airway disease and for the prevention of exercise-induced bronchospasm.
Important Safety Information
If your symptoms become significantly worse when you use ProAir
® HFA, contact your doctor immediately. This may indicate either a worsening of your asthma or a reaction to the medication, which may rarely occur with the first use of a new canister of ProAir
® HFA. Either of these could be life-threatening.
What to tell your doctor before using ProAir
® HFA: If you have a heart, blood, or seizure disorder, high blood pressure, diabetes, or an overactive thyroid, be sure to tell your doctor. Also make sure your doctor knows all the medications you are taking – especially heart medications and drugs that treat depression – because some medications may interfere with how well your asthma medications work. Do not exceed the recommended dose.
Side effects associated with ProAir
® HFA included headache, rapid heart beat, pain, dizziness, and irritation of the throat and nose.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit
www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.