Asthma has dramatically risen worldwide over the past decades, particularly in developed countries, and experts are puzzled over the cause of this increase. The mechanisms that cause asthma are complex and vary among population groups and even from individual to individual. Many asthma sufferers have allergies, and some researchers are targeting common factors in both these conditions. Not all people with allergies have asthma, however, and not all cases of asthma can be explained by allergic response.

There are things in the environment that bring on your asthma symptoms and lead to asthma attacks. Some of the more common things include exercise, allergens, irritants, and viral infections. Some people have asthma only when they exercise or have a viral infection.

Genetic factors: asthma tends to run in families, and many people with asthma also have other allergic conditions such as rhinitis (inflammation of the nose lining). "Allergy" is a hypersensitivity to some proteins foreign to the body; a small dose of the "allergen" will produce a violent reaction in the person concerned.

Many people with asthma have allergic reactions to particles breathed in through the air, such as animal dander and pollen. These common substances are called allergens, meaning that they cause an allergic reaction. The tendency to react to allergens by having an asthma attack is probably genetic.

Treatment and care of asthma is directed toward immediate relief of the attack. Parents of asthmatic children may anticipate an approaching attack and medication that provides sedation and bronchodilation. The control of asthma depends on finding the cause and eliminating it. No smoking for adults who have asthma. There are two kinds of asthma medicines: those that relieve airway constriction and those that reduce swelling and inflammation like steroids. They are usually given via inhalers but pills are used as well. In some cases, studies have shown that coffee, can help relieve an acute asthma attack, supposedly because of the caffiene and heat.

Long-term control medications are taken daily to maintain control of persistent asthma. They primarily serve to control airway inflammation.

The quick-relief medications are taken to achieve prompt reversal of an acute asthma "attack" by relaxing bronchial smooth muscle.

· Accolate Oral

Zafirlukast is used to prevent asthma symptoms and to decrease the number of asthma attacks in people 5 and older. It helps make breathing easier by reducing swelling (inflammation) in the airways. Regular use of this medication can help control your asthma, improve your ability to exercise, and decrease the number of times you need to use your rescue inhaler.

Long-acting beta-2 agonists (LABAs). These medications are part of a group of medications called bronchodilators, which open up constricted airways. Long-acting beta-2 agonists, such as salmeterol (Serevent Diskus) and formoterol (Foradil Aerolizer) last at least 12 hours. They're used to control moderate and severe asthma and to prevent nighttime symptoms. Salmeterol or formoterol should always be combined on a regular schedule with inhaled corticosteroids and should not be used as the main treatment for asthma.