BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Any disease can be overwhelming, but asthma in particular can make patients feel like they're missing out on a lot.
Asthma increases a person's bronchial tubes' sensitivity which causes them to swell up and restrict breathing.
"Asthma is a major concern in our community, especially among young children," Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein said. "It results in many emergency department visits. It decreases the quality of life. There are children who feel like they can't participate in sports or after school activities because of their asthma. A lot of missed school days."
26 million Americans have asthma and it causes nearly 2 million emergency room visits ever year.
Asthma can be diagnosed at any age. It's caused by genetics, allergies and pollution, both indoor and outdoor. Even a severe cold can trigger the disease.
And asthma rates are on the rise.
"Densely populated areas on the West side where there was heavy exposure to diesel fumes, the incidence of asthma in the child population was high," BMG Allergist Dr. David Green said. "And there's a lot of data on air particulate matter from vehicle air pollution that's associated with an increased incidence of asthma."
Doctors say recognizing asthma symptoms to getting people into the doctor's office because treatment can do more than just manage symptoms.
"The longer the asthma stays active, the harder it is to bring it back under control, and those individuals can end up in the hospital for several days to get everything 'cleared up,'" Dr. green said. "Anybody with asthma can achieve control with professional guidance and management. Adherence to the recommendations for asthma care are very crucial for successful outcomes."
Asthma is treated with both fast-acting and long-term management inhaler medications, as well as nasal sprays and avoiding allergies, like dust, pollen and pets, that cause asthma to act up.
Doctors say by taking these steps, asthma can even be reversed in many people.