Asthma is classified into five groups based on severity:

1. Exercise-induced asthma, or exercise-induced bronchospasm, is typically experienced during periods of sustained physical activity.

2. Moderate persistent asthma is diagnosed when symptoms occur almost every day or when they frequently awaken you at night.

3. Mild intermittent asthma is diagnosed when mild symptoms occur twice a week or less and rarely awaken you at night.

4. Mild persistent asthma is diagnosed when symptoms occur several times a week or occasionally at night.

5. Severe persistent asthma indicates that symptoms occur almost continuously and can limit your activity level.

You Are Not Alone
- Nearly 15 million Americans have asthma. More than 4 million of them are 14 years of age or younger.
- Asthma begins most frequently in childhood and adolescence, but it can develop at any age.
- Asthma is the third leading cause of preventable hospitalizations in the United States and causes 5,000 deaths annually.