Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that cause airway hyper responsiveness, mucosal edema, and mucus production. This inflammation ultimately leads to recurrent episodes of asthma symptoms: cough, chest tightness, wheezing, and dyspnea.
Asthma differs from other obstructive lungs diseases in that it is largely reversible, either spontaneous or with treatment. Patients with asthma may experience symptom free periods alternating with acute exacerbation that last from minutes to hours or days. Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood and can occur at any age. Despite increased in knowledge regarding pathology of asthma and the development of better medications and management plans, the death rate from this disease continues to increase. For most patients, asthma is a disruptive disease, occupational choices, physical activities and general qualities of life.

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SYMPTOMS OF ASTHMA

1. Wheezing
2. Dyspnea ]
3. Cough
4. Chest tightness
   But the three most common symptoms are cough, dyspnea, and wheezing, while in some instances, cough may be the only symptom.

PREVENTION

Patients with recurrent asthma should undergo test to identify the substances that precipitate the symptoms, possible causes are dust, dust mites, roaches, and certain types of cloth, pets, horses, detergents, soap, certain foods, molds, and pollens. Patients are instructed to avoid causative agents whenever possible.
Save life by educating patients the reasons why checkup and appropriate medication essential and unavoidable. KNOWLEDGE IS THE KEY TO QUALITY ASTHMA CARE.
Check textbook of medical surgical nursing eleventh edition pg (710) for more details