Allergies
a reaction of the body (such as sneezing or coughing) to a substance (such as grass or pollen) that is usually harmless to other people

Asthma
a lifelong or chronic condition that interferes with your breathing by preventing air from flowing freely into and out of your lungs

Bronchodilator
a "reliever" asthma medicine that helps to relax the muscles that tighten around the airways during an asthma attack and to open the blocked airways

Chronic
lasting for a long period of time

Controllers
an asthma medicine that helps to reduce inflammation and swelling in the lungs

Corticosteroid
a natural substance found in the body that helps to fight inflammation

Dilate
to widen or expand

Dust mites
a tiny bug

Environment
an individual's surroundings

Evolve
to occur over time

Expiration
breathing out or expelling air from the lungs

Humidity
Moisture or dampness

Inflamed
red and swollen

Inflammation
reaction of the body to irritation, injury, or infection that causes pain, swelling, and redness

Lubricant
a substance that is oily or slippery

Obstruction
a blockage or clog

Oral Candidiasis
a yeast (fungal) infection of the mouth or throat

Oral Corticosteroid
a "controller" medicine taken by mouth that helps to reduce inflammation and swelling in the lungs

Peak Flow
the maximum flow rate of air breathed out

Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR)
how well you can move air out of your lungs as measured by the peak flow meter

Pharynx
A part of the throat

Pharyngitis
A sore throat

Relievers
an asthma medicine that is used to reduce asthma symptoms and treat an asthma attack; they help to relax the muscles that tighten around the airways during an asthma attack and to open the blocked airways

Respiration
the process of breathing

Respiratory
having to do with the process of breathing

Sinusitis
inflammation of the sinus, the air pockets in the bones of the forehead and the face that connect to the inside of the nose by small passageways

Trachea
the windpipe or passageway between the throat and lungs

Trigger
something that may start an asthma event (such as weather changes or pollen)

Wheezing
a "whistling" sound that can occur when you breathe out