If you have asthma, the tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs become swollen and narrow. This makes it difficult to breathe. You may have had asthma since you were a child, or you may have gotten it as an adult. Some people get asthma for the first time later in life, in their 60s or 70s.

There are many treatments that work well. They can help you breathe more easily. And they can keep you from getting symptoms.

Which treatments work best? We've carefully weighed the research and divided these treatments into categories. We've looked at everyday treatments and emergency treatments. You'll need to see your doctor regularly to check that your asthma is under control. You may need to change your medication if your asthma isn't under control.

• Corticosteroid inhalers: These are used regularly to keep symptoms from happening. They help keep your asthma under control.
• Short-acting beta-2 agonist inhalers: These treat symptoms when they happen.
• Long-acting beta-2 agonist inhalers and corticosteroid inhalers: You can use two different inhalers to keep your symptoms from happening. There are also inhalers that combine both drugs in one inhaler.

• Leukotriene antagonists: Pills you take to keep your symptoms from happening.
• Learning about asthma: You can take part in an education program to learn more about your asthma and how to treat it.
• Being treated by a specialist: You may see a doctor or nurse who has been specially trained in how to look after people with asthma.

• Corticosteroid inhalers and leukotriene antagonists: This is a combination of pills and an inhaler to keep your asthma symptoms from happening.

• Beta-2 agonists: These drugs can help you breathe more easily. You may need to breathe them in using a special machine.
• Corticosteroids: These drugs can help you breathe more easily. You can take them as an inhaler or as pills or shots.
• Ipratropium and short-acting beta-2 agonists: These two drugs help you breathe by widening the airways in different ways.

• Magnesium sulfate: This medication may help you breathe. You have it as an infusion straight into your veins.
• Oxygen: You may need to breathe extra oxygen through a mask or through tubes in your nose.
• Using a ventilator: This is a machine that breathes for you. It can save your life if your breathing gets very bad.

• Helium and oxygen (heliox): You can breathe a mixture of helium and oxygen through a mask or through tubes in your nose.