Living with asthma means learning how to breathe in a whole new way but it s not quite as daunting as it sounds. When you and your doctor learn that you re living with asthma, you ll be prescribed medication that helps open air passageways to promote air flow and clean breathing. This medication may be taken every day, or as needed when breathing becomes a hassle. There are some things, like cigarette smoking, that asthma sufferers can never do. When you can t breathe easy, living with asthma seems like a real pain. But does it have to be? Some studies show that one in four Americans will be affected by asthma or allergies of some kind. No matter how you look at it, that s an incredibly high number. Living with teenagers with Asthma Teenagers with asthma are treated much the same as anyone else suffering from asthma, but because they are teenagers they are much more less likely to remember their medication. They should be reminded to take their medication even if they feel perfectly well all the time. 3) Flare up and get very severe, then disappear for long periods. 4) Symptoms can be mild, moderate, or severe for extended periods of time. The cause of asthma is not actually known; sometimes it appears genetic, but then identical symptoms pop up in a vacant gene pool of non-asthma sufferers. The sad truth is that, even with all our advanced knowledge of how things work and why, there is still not even any known 'cure' for asthma suffers. That s a symptom of asthma that s not uncommon in someone just beginning an exercise regimen, for instance. It s also symptomatic of being out of shape and pushing yourself too hard. Not doing correct warm-ups before, cool downs after, or keeping properly hydrated... the list goes on. So, yu see, there is no need to get worked up over nothing if you begin to experience asthmatic symptoms. So if you were in any doubt that your elderly relative has had a cold for too long, or they appear extra breathless or wheezy then it would probably be best to get them checked out by their G.P even though they may tell you they are fine. Taking care of the young with asthma will eventually change the trends of the elderly with asthma.