Swine flu can create additional complications for asthmatics in comparison to non-asthmatics. Since the body creates mucus in response to the H1N1 swine flu virus, this mucus can block the narrow airways of asthma patients and create complications like pneumonia.

There are a total of 16 million adults suffering from asthma in the United States, as per the data collected by the National Institute of Health.

The treatment for asthma for children is quite similar to adults and the medications prescribed are primarily of two types, quick relief medications and long-term control medications. Both these types of medications are usually administered through inhalers which can be used safely by children at schools and elsewhere.

During acute asthma attacks, some patients might not respond to standard medication and their condition might deteriorate and they may even lose consciousness. In such attacks the patients need to be taken to hospitals for emergency care, wherein they might be required to be given oxygen, or nebulizer or even be given steroids intravenously.

There are a total of 22 million people suffering from asthma in the United States, including 6 million children, as per the data collected by the National Institute of Health.

Some of the visible effects of an asthma attack are wheezing or making a whistling sound while breathing, extended and difficult breathing, rapid heart rate and over inflation of the chest. In addition to this, in case of severe asthma attacks the pulse rate might be weaker during inhalation and stronger during exhalation.

Anybody having asthma could have a combination of symptoms such as persistent cough which gets aggravated at night, wheezing, tightness of the chest and shortness of breath. Almost all patients of asthma have similar symptoms at some stage of the disease.

The peak flow meter is the recommended asthma assessment tool, as per the guidelines of the US National Asthma Education and Prevention Program. The peak flow meter measures the flow of air moving out of the lungs and the variation in this number indicates any positive or negative changes in the asthmatic conditions of the patient.

There is no evidence to prove that train travel can trigger asthma attacks. Person suffering from asthmatic conditions can travel safely by any mode of transport as long as they take the necessary precautions and carry their medications.

Whether someone has developed asthma or not can be identified by four primary symptoms of asthma. These are persistent cough, wheezing or a whistling sound which comes while breathing, tightness of the chest and finally, difficulty in breathing, especially while lying down. If one or more of these symptoms are present, then most likely the person is already having acute asthma or is in the early stages of developing it.