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Asthma

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. It can affect both children and adults. Asthma symptoms include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness.

During an asthma attack, the airways in your lungs get swollen and your chest feels tight. You may cough, wheeze or have trouble breathing. This happens when your lungs are exposed to a trigger, such as dust. The swelling in your lungs can occur slowly, and you may not realize it is happening.

In most cases, we don’t know what causes asthma. While there is no cure for asthma, the disease does not have to prevent you or your child from leading an active and healthy life.

Asthma Management

Achieve and maintain asthma control:

  • Take medication as prescribed
  • Avoid asthma triggers
  • Learn self-management skills

People with asthma should get a COVID-19 vaccine and the flu vaccine unless they have clear contraindications.

Managing Asthma at School

Your school needs to know if your child has asthma. That way, your child can take advantage of health programs that will help keep their asthma under control. Submit an Asthma Medication Administration Form so your child can use their asthma medication at school.

Community-Based Asthma Services

The following resources offer services for people with asthma:

  • The Office of School Health provides various services for children in school, including medicine administration and education.
  • The East Harlem Neighborhood Health Action Center has several programs that offer free counseling, education and other support services for children with asthma.
  • The Tremont Neighborhood Health Action Center offers cost-free pest control services for eligible families. To qualify for the program:
    • You must live in the Bronx.
    • There must be at least one child or youth (age 17 or younger) diagnosed with asthma living in your home.
    • Your home must show signs of pests such as cockroaches and mice.

    For more information, call 718-508-0643 or email ipm@health.nyc.gov.

  • The Healthy Neighborhoods Program provides free home assessments for children and adults diagnosed with persistent asthma by a health care provider. If staff find environmental asthma triggers or other home health hazards, they will work with property owners to correct the problems.
  • In partnership with CABS Health Network, Doctors for Asthma Integrated Pest Management provides integrated pest management services to children up to 21 years old diagnosed with asthma that meet eligibility requirements.

Environmental Triggers

Be aware of possible environmental triggers and how to avoid them. Triggers are different for everyone and can exist inside or outside of your home. Learn more about the Health Department’s programs to address asthma triggers in the home (PDF) and how you can get a free home assessment of indoor environmental triggers.

Asthma and Climate Change

Increasing temperatures and extreme weather due to climate change can worsen asthma.

  • Warmer temperatures can contribute to earlier and longer pollen seasons.
  • Increased rainfall and flooding can increase the risk of mold, a common asthma trigger.
  • Poor outdoor air quality, for example from wildfire smoke, can also trigger asthma.

For more information, visit Climate and Health.

Additional Resources

More Information