Asthma is a serious and persistent disease that affects the airways of both adults and children.5 It is a type of inflammatory lung disease with multiple triggers that can include influenza, allergies indoor, pets, dust mites, exercise and tobacco smoke. Asthma has been recognized since ancient Egyptian times. Researchers found prescriptions written in hieroglyphs. Aretaos of Cappadonia, an ancient Greek physician, wrote the initial clinical description of asthma. Aaezein is the Greek word from which the current medical term Asthma derives. The original Greek term means "sharp breathing". There are many people who have this chronic disease. Approximately 7.1 million children and 18.9 million adults are diagnosed; 8.2% of the US population. A diagnosis is the first step in arriving at effective treatments for asthma. One way to test for asthma is with a physical exam, in which health care providers ask questions about signs and symptoms and other possible health problems. Lung function tests can determine how much air moves in and out as you breathe. (Mayo Clinic) Spirometry is another process that estimates bronchial narrowing by checking how much air an individual can exhale after a deep breath and how quickly the patient exhales. Peak flow meters are a common testing procedure for asthma.1 The peak flow meter is a device that measures how forcefully you exhale or exhale. Lower readings on the meter show reduced lung capacity resulting in less effective breathing. It is generally a strong signal that an individual's asthma may be worsening.2 These measurements are repeated after using bronchodilators such as albuterol to open the airways. If the inhaler gets... paper... allergies that trigger asthma attacks. Health care providers should be alerted to changes in the patient's physical health. Any new condition can have an effect on asthma treatment. A plan in place today may be obsolete if health conditions change. Works Cited “Asthma Symptoms: Shortness of Breath, Chest Tightness, and More.” WebMD. WebMD, . Network. April 22, 2013.2 "Causes and triggers of asthma: allergies, foods, heartburn, exercise and more." WebMD. WebMD, Web. April 22, 2013.3Staff, Mayo Clinic. "Definition." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, May 26, 2012. Web. April 22, 2013.4 "Asthma Medications: Inhalers, Nebulizers, Bronchodilators, and More." WebMD. WebMD, . Network. April 22, 2013.5Staff, Mayo Clinic. "Definition." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 26 May 2012. Web. 22 April. 2013.